James Barr’s Straight Jokes is a powerful reminder of why queer people need to keep sharing their stories

I’ll never forget the energy in the room at Sydney Bi+ Network’s first Bi+ Visibility Day event, BiLines, back in 2019. With standing room only at Redfern Town Hall, we gathered for our storytelling event to celebrate bi+ people and communities, our unique experiences, and joys.

Ellen ended in May 2022 following allegations of a toxic work environment and abusive behavior behind the scenes."I'll never forget this," Chance said of the phone call. "I just remember hearing on the other side of the phone, just yelling [and] beratement: 'What type of mother are you? Do you realize that I went out of my way to get this for you, and he can’t sit down and watch it?'"He briefly quit music to attend college, a decision he described as his way of giving a "middle finger to the industry." He returned to his career with the album Portraits in 2019 after finding joy in making his own music again."When I look at the interviews and I look at my eyes, I can see so much anxiety," Chance added.

In 2019, Lil Nas X made musical history–in more ways than one. Not only did his country-rap smash “Old Town Road” spend a record-setting 19 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles chart, but in the middle of its chart triumph, on the final day of Gay Pride Month, Nas X, then 20, came out as gay.

a new report released by PEN America at the start of this year's Banned Books Week.Some LGBTQ+ advocates say the report is reflective of a larger "organized national attack on LGBTQ youth."Book bans have been on the rise in the U.S. over the last few years, according to the report PEN America released on Monday.

The NSW Teachers Federation’s and transgender service provider The Gender Centre’s applications to march in the 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) Parade has been rejected.In an open letter to members, NSW Teachers Federation General Secretary Maxine Sharkey revealed “with great disappointment” that their application to march in the 2023 SGLMG Parade was rejected, despite having marched in the last several parades. Sharkey acknowledged the Union’s support for Mardi Gras in the past, “including providing spaces in our conference centre and encouraging members to volunteer as marshals or float participants in Mardi Gras parades. Sharkey stressed, however, that even though the Union would not be marching in the Parade, “we will contribute to the Sydney WorldPride Amplify program.”The Gender Centre health and communications manager Eloise Brook said “We provide over 90 per cent of trans-specific services to the community in NSW,” According to an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald, SGLMG received so many applications “far exceeding our total capacity.”This year’s Mardi Gras Parade is part of Sydney WorldPride 2023.Sydney WorldPride 2023 takes place from February 17 to March 5, 2023 with nearly 1 million people expected to take part in the 17-day celebration.© Star Observer 2022 | For the latest in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, be sure to visit

Marcia Gay Harden said her Tony-winning role as Veronica in “God of Carnage” helped shape the character she plays in the new CBS dramedy “So Help Me Todd.”“‘So Help Me Todd’ is blending the drama with the comedy, and that’s right up my alley,” Harden, 63, told The Post. “It’s truly what I prefer to do.

The Advocate. The event was sponsored by the Christian group 29:11 Mentoring Program and held at Living Faith Christian Center in northeast Baton Rouge.While the event was billed as a "college and career fair," some students and parents later said that it was more focused on pushing religious indoctrination than providing any real career advice. The event allegedly featured sexist lessons taught after students were separated by gender, while transgender students were allegedly discriminated against and experienced bullying that those in charge allowed to take place.Brittney Bryant, a teacher Woodlawn High School and the mother of a transgender student who attended the event, said on Facebook that she had been forced "to endure watching over 2,000 children's rights be violated" while acting as a chaperone at the "traumatic event.""Inside the church, boys were instructed to go outside while the girls were left in the church for 'girl talk,'" wrote Bryant.

FreeState Justice on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against its former executive director who has accused its board of directors of having a “white supremacist culture.”

Recently retired and/or disgraced far-right wrestling mogul Vince McMahon is once again having his past aired out by his own former wrestlers.This most recent display of the former CEO’s business was made on wrestler Kevin Nash’s Kliq THIS podcast. On it, Nash re-aired a story told by his late friend and colleague Scott Hall, in which he recounts McMahon’s “first homosexual experience.”It apparently all started with McMahon pitching a new storyline to the wrestlers.

A lyric in the production number “Build a Prom” in smash musical The Prom, now on tour, inspires its queer stars Kaden Kearney and Kalyn West with its message of joy and hope for an inclusive future even amid challenging times.“My favorite lyric in this show is at the end when we're singing, ‘Build a prom for everyone…How the world could one day be it might come true if we take a chance until that day comes time to cue the drums, it's time to see,” Kearney tells The Advocate.“It’s acknowledging that we're not there yet, the day hasn't arrived…when we have reached equality and equity. But until the day comes, we can dance, we can claim our joy, we can stand in the center of who we are, and celebrate who we are, and acknowledge that we have work to do,” Kearney says.In the tour of The Prom (finishing its run in Buffalo, NY on Oct.

Prince Andrew and his ex wife could lose the home they share together in Windsor as the new King puts his mark on the Royal Family.The Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson are reportedly expecting to have to pack their bags and leave the 31-bedroom Royal Lodge they live in that is owned by the Crown Estate. Following the death of the Queen, it is thought to be only a matter of time that Andrew’s older brother King Charles goes forward with the royal reshuffle he previously hinted at.The Crown's abundance of property, which spans over 500,000 acres of land across the UK, is likely to fall under the King's impending review but Andrew could be set to get a lot of money if he is “kicked out”.

new interview with Rolling Stone, singer-songwriter Greyson Chance opens up about his traumatic experiences working with Ellen Degeneres over the years, saying of the TV personality: “I’ve never met someone more manipulative, more self-centered, and more blatantly opportunistic than her.”At 12 years old, Chance became a national sensation after a video went viral of him performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at school. In the wake of Justin Bieber‘s success, music industry execs were scouring the internet for untapped talent, and Chance was exactly that when Degeneres and her team asked him to guest on her daytime The Ellen Degeneres Show in 2010.Needless to say, the first years were a whirlwind for the young musician.

We can thank the gay gods for Randy Rainbow.

Hey y’all, hey! Last week, the husband and I went to the Twenty-One Pilots concert. They are one of my absolute favorite bands. It’s kinda funny that I rarely listen to female bands or artists anymore unless I am trying to learn new music. I love and adore so many female singers, but no matter who it is, it feels like work. It’s stupid, I know. So, when I am in the car or relaxing,

SANDRA VALLS, COMIC, ACTOR, SINGER, AND LGBTQ+ AND LATINA ADVOCATE WILL EMCEE (MIAMI, FL – September 22, 2022) The National LGBTQ Task Force will honor LGBTQ+ and gun violence prevention activist X Gonzalez with the Changemaker Award at the 26th Annual National LGBTQ Task Force Gala on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Organizers also announced that Sandra Valls, comic, actor, singer, writer, and all-around lesbian Latina badass, will emcee this year’s gala.

Two gay candidates, one a Democrat, the other a Republican, are vying to represent a New York district in the U.S. House of Representatives.Democrat Robert Zimmerman and Republican George Santos are running for the seat in the state’s Third Congressional District, which includes most of Long Island’s north shore. The incumbent, Democrat Tom Suozzi, is not seeking reelection.

The internet has long been a space for people to communicate and interact with like-minded individuals. Now, it is home to Discord, a free-to-use social tool used to build online communities for users with shared interests – including the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ members can enjoy multiplayer games, connect with people in real-time, and enjoy other community-building activities on this popular platform.

Netflix has released our first official look into the making of the second season of Heartstopper, and there’s SO much to unpack. From group hugs and new faces to Kit Connor picking up everyone he can, this behind the scenes peek is nothing but good vibes.Let’s dive in…Our very own Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, a.k.a.

Related: Gay baseball player Bryan Ruby describes “hyper-masculine” locker room experience after coming outTo the tune of the Village People’s “Macho Man,” the bodybuilding champ gave the crowd something to cheer as he stripped down to nothing but a Speedo and sneakers.So what if the ball went wildly off course?  A post shared by 横川尚隆 (@yokokawa_naotaka)“I love baseball,” Yokokawa wrote on Instagram, adding that the experience was “a dream come true.”Related: WATCH: Baseball player’s butt steals the show and the Internet can’t get enough“It would have been cool to have a strike,” he also shared, “but it would be Naotaka Yokokawa who would end up with a big wild pitch.”Watch:?????????????????????? #???? ?????????????@YokokawaNaotaka#Bs2022 @Orix_Buffaloes pic.twitter.com/AnYxpxBy0J— ?????.com / ???? ?????TV???? (@PacificleagueTV) September 19, 2022The sporting moment became an instant crowd favorite:The last frame of this collage should be sculpted in marble. His form is obviously beautiful and it’s impressive to see how the musculature works.Naotaka Yokokawa pitching for baseball game.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Mondaine Jones (D-N.Y.) announced on his Twitter that he received his second dose of the monkeypox (MPV) vaccine.In the tweet and accompanying video, Jones discussed how the virus impacts LGBTQ+ folks and communities of color particularly hard.

Nicola Peltz is clearing the air on those wedding dress drama rumors with her mother-in-law Victoria Beckham!

The cast of ‘Founders, Keepers’ by Echo Theatre. (Courtesy photo)

Lil Nas X trolled protestors outside of one his shows, and he fell in love in the process.

Emily is facing the decision of her life.

For fans of the show, Bridgerton, welcome news presents itself for one of the show’s actors. It’s been announced that Jonathan Bailey fans can prepare for a wicked transformation as the out British actor who plays Anthony Bridgerton prepares to portray Fiyero in the forthcoming Wicked movies.Variety was first to report Wednesday morning that he was in conversations to join the production. Then, on Wednesday evening, director Jon M.

Tis the season! Hallmark Channel is skipping right over the autumn season and getting fans into the holiday spirit with the announcement of its annual “Countdown to Christmas” lineup.

Grab the popcorn, folx!After dragging her feet all summer, Ginni Thomas, the extreme right-wing wife of extreme right-wing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has finally–finally!–agreed to sit down with the January 6 committee. Although we use the word “agreed” loosely.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor The late great songwriter Allee Willis was celebrated Wednesday night with a fashion show and party benefiting the Willis Wonderland Foundation. Willis, whose credits included the Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You,” better known as the “Friends” theme song, Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” (yesterday was the 21st) and a gaggle of disco-era hits, started the foundation to support the arts in underserved communities. She passed away from a cardiac event in 2019 at age 72. “She was a visual artist, performer, collector, party thrower extraordinaire with a whole amusement park full of kitsch-tastic colorful fashions,” Willis’ partner and the foundation’s CEO Prudence Fenton said. “Everything she did was all about making people happy. She lived to inspire others to express their own inner and outer creativity in every way. Creating art and music makes life worth living.”

Mpho Andrea Tutu van Furth, the lesbian daughter of the late South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has been barred from conducting her godfather’s funeral.Martin Kenyon, who died last week at age 92, had specifically asked Mpho Andrea Tutu van Furth, an Anglican priest, to preside over his funeral when she and her wife visited him in April, Voice of America reports. The service was to be held Thursday in England. However, the Church of England has decreed that Mpho Andrea Tutu van Furth cannot conduct the service because she is in a same-sex marriage.Her wife, Marceline Tutu van Furth, “said the church told them it accepts priests in same-sex relationships but not if they are married,” according to VOA.Mpho Andrea Tutu van Furth was ordained in 2003.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK is returning for it's fourth series tonight (September 22). The British version of the hit American reality competition first hit screens in 2019 and has seen huge success since. The 2022 series is set to see a host of new queens competing to become the UK's next Drag Race superstar as well as some well-known guest judges including Alison Hammond, Joanna Lumley and Mel B.But the series will also see the return of some familiar faces, including head judge Mama Ru as well as Michelle Visage.

Knock At The Cabin about a pair of young dads and their daughter away on a weekend retreat (aww!) that turns downright apocalyptic when some mysterious visitors show up (AHHH!). Because nothing good ever happens at a secluded cabin in the woods.As the sweaty, armed—but notably mild-mannered—visitors put it, they’ve arrived at this particular family’s doorstep to force them to make a “horrible decision.” But wait, there’s more: If they don’t, the visitors believe it will bring about the end of the world.Sounds pretty twisted, strange, and downright Shyamalan-ian if you ask us!Related: ‘Freddy’s Revenge’, and 10 other screamingly sexy queer Halloween horror filmsAs we’ve previously reported, the horror stars gay actors Jonathan Groff (Looking, Glee) and Ben Aldridge (the upcoming Spoiler Alert) as the parents who will do anything to protect their daughter (Kristen Cui).

Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities, and voters just weeks away from casting ballots in November, in Rockford, Mich., are outraged by an online post by a school board candidate.An image posted on Donald Trump’s social media network Truth Social by Rockford’s school board candidate Craig Ladyman shows Pride flags distorted into swastikas, Grand Rapids-area Fox station WXMI reports.Above the post, Ladyman asks, “Like my new Pride flag?”Ladyman told the station he got the image from a posting from Far-right British actor Laurence Fox who had shared it earlier this year around Pride Month. The posting was recently sent to Superintendent Steven Matthews by concerned parents and voters, Matthews told WXMI. He said that it angered him to see a symbol with such a toxic history used and that that iconography does not represent the community.“It makes me feel angry.

Donald Trump workshopped his latest excuse for allegedly illegally moving all those top secret docs to Mar-a-Lago, and we’re going to call this one the Barbra Eden defense.Related: Donald Trump’s fraud lawsuit takes a grim turn as Bernie Madoff’s lawyer enters the chatFresh off his latest legal defeat — earlier in the day a three-judge panel ruled that the FBI may use the documents in its ongoing criminal investigation — Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that as president, he could declassify things just by “thinking about it.”“You have said on Truth Social, a number of times, you did declassify,” Hannity said.“I did declassify,” Trump responded.“What was your process to declassify?” Hannity asked, to which Trump said, “There doesn’t have to be a process, as I understand it. You know, there’s different people, say different things.”“If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, ‘it’s declassified’ — even by thinking about it.”It’s as simple as that!“There doesn’t have to be a process … I declassified everything” — Trump on how he declassified documents (this is false — there is a process Trump didn’t follow) pic.twitter.com/ehX8QqTnmB— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2022Regardless, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the, “declassification argument is a red herring because declassifying an official document would not change its content or render it personal.”Still, it’s made for some good responses:Hi ?.

Emily Longeretta Netflix has renewed several of its popular unscripted love and dating shows, including “Love on the Spectrum” and “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.” Additionally, JoAnna Garcia Swisher will host the upcoming series, “The Ultimatum: Queer Love.” “Love on the Spectrum,” the docu-reality series following people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating, will return for a new season following its three Emmy wins. Karina Holden and Cian O’Clery executive produce the Northern Pictures series. “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On,” which debuted in April 2022 and spent four weeks on the Top 10 list, will return for a second season with six new couples all on the verge of marriage. Per the official description, “One partner is ready to get married, the other isn’t quite as sure. An ultimatum is issued – and in just over eight weeks, they must commit to marriage, or move on. In the meantime, each will choose a new potential partner from one of the other couples, in a life-changing opportunity to get a glimpse of two different possible futures.”

Shocking video posted to social media showed the moments a man punched a defenseless flight attendant in the back of the head on a flight from Mexico yesterday.The attack took place yesterday on American Airlines flight AA377 from Los Cabos, Mexico to Los Angeles International Airport in California. According to a report from CBS News, the man was upset he had been refused access to the first class bathroom.In the video shot by a passenger, a flight attendant is standing in the aisle, blocking the man from entering the first class section of the plane.“Are you threatening men?” the flight attendant can be heard asking on the video.

In a world that still attempts to snuff out the voices of those most marginalized, telling our stories as LGBTQ people is not just important, it’s a necessity. Whether they be based in fiction, reality, or a mix of both, they need to see the light of day.

Attorney Ira Sorkin, probably best known for defending disgraced financier/Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, is weighing in on Donald Trump‘s fraud lawsuit in New York.Yesterday, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a 222-page civil lawsuit with the State Supreme Court in Manhattan against the Trump Organization.It accuses the Trumps of “grossly” inflating the ex-president’s net worth by billions of dollars and giving false and misleading financial statements to lenders for at least a decade.The lawsuit seeks a $250 million judgment and to ban the Trumps from ever leading companies in their home state of New York ever again.Related: Tiffany Trump gets the last laugh, excluded from family fraud lawsuit in New YorkSpeaking to NewsNation yesterday, 79-year-old Sorkin said he would be open to representing Trump, if the one-term, twice-impeached ex-president asked him to.“Everyone’s entitled to a defense,” he said. “The problem he’s run into, of course, is that he apparently doesn’t listen to his lawyers.

Terry Loftis is a giant in the Dallas Arts community, and his impact can be felt across all facts of our LGBTQ community. From producing Broadway musicals, to raising money through The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) to serving at the senior co-chair of Black Tie Dinner, Loftis’ handprint has left an indelible impression. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing — not until he came to terms with his true self and found his tribe.

Squirt.org, the internet’s “hottest hook-up site,” is on the hunt for the perfect peach. Yes, it’s that time of year again for Squirt.org’s Best Ass competition! Even though the nomination period ended on September 14, the site is still looking for people to get involved with the voting. Members of the site have until September […]

The Cheek – an all-new club night for the gays, theys and curious babes is coming to Dublin City this Saturday, September 24 at The Wiley Fox. The Cheek celebrates the art of drag along with pop, house and techno music in an inclusive non-judgmental space. The lineup of the night features previous GCN cover […]

The minister of a church designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center recently told his followers he enjoyed using the word “f*gg*t,” but preferred using the word sodomite rather than homosexual because the latter was insufficiently negative in his opinion.Paster Aaron Thompson of the Sure Foundation Baptist Church in Vancouver, Washington, made the remarks in a sermon, excerpts of which were posted to Twitter by Hemant Mehta and reported by MetroWeekly.After saying “f*gg*t” three times within a single sentence in the clip, Thompson, who sports a classic bear physique, opined why he believed “sodomite” is the best description for gay men.“You can say homosexual, but it doesn’t have the negative connotation that it should have,” he said. “The negative connotation that it should have is that they’re a bunch of freaks and that God pronounces the death penalty upon them in Leviticus 20:13.

Twitter in defence of the production, I simply decided to go see the play before making any judgments – and it was an absolute triumph. I, Joan explores Joan’s life as an inspiring figure to anyone that has ever felt unheard, or made to feel less for who they are.

Emily Longeretta It may be the first day of fall, but for Hallmark Channel, that means it’s only one month away from their annual “Countdown to Christmas” and “Miracles of Christmas” events. Variety can exclusively reveal the 40 new movies coming this holiday season — 31 on Hallmark and 9 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Chinese streaming service iQiyi removed ten LGBTQ+ television shows from its Singapore servers on 20 September.

ABOVE: Marketing.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday reiterated his administration’s commitment to LGBTQ and intersex rights abroad.

Danny Beard: Yes, if they're fit.Starlet: Um, isn't that breaking girl code?Le Fil: Well what's the gap we're talking about here. If it's like ten years then it's okay.Black Peppa: I don't know, if you're my friend, what am I taking your ex for? I'm too loyal for that, that's a bit dutty.Cheddar Gorgeous: I think the real question is is that a normal thing to do, or an abnormal thing to do? I didn't know we were going to get into an issue of morality today! I'm just happy to be wherever I am with whoever I am.Dakota Schiffer: No. Am I a freak? Absolutely not.Danny Beard: Yeah, major red flag.

As life seems to imitate art in an ever-increasing way, it has become a part of our collective consciousness that Missouri senator and ultra-MAGA, anti-LGBTQ+ Republican  Josh Hawley seems to have abandoned gender as a construct.In a Wednesday campaign email, the senator — who raised his fist in support of former President Donald Trump's supporters who were outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021 —  implored his supporters to respond to a survey regarding “transgender propaganda” being taught to children “as young as first graders.” A screenshot of the email shared on social media reveals the following irony.“We want to keep socialist lies OUT of the classroom, but we need your help by taking our survey,” the email continued.“Do you want to keep transgender propaganda OUT of our classrooms today?” the prompt asks.“YES — keep transgender propaganda OUT or NO — Teach young children there is more than one gender.”New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel spotted the email and drew attention to it first, tweeting, “JOSH HAWLEY wants to stop schools from teaching “transgender propaganda,” like that “there is more than one gender.” A key issue manufactured wedge issue for the Republican base this election cycle has been opposition to transgender rights, against which Hawley has been railing. During a recent speech at the National Conservatism Conference, he talked about how America is the “heir to revolutionaries of the Bible,” the St.