Sexual Wellness Trends

a statement said.

David Taffet | Senior Staff Writertaffet@dallasvoice.com The North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce is holdi

TAMMYE NASH | Managing Editornash@dallasvoice.com andCARIS WHITE | Washington Blade Courtesy of National LGBT Media Association Officials with Tarrant County this week confirmed the first k

Jaida Essence Hall

RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writerrich@dallasvoice.com Lee Walter is no stranger to fabulou

The Turtle Creek Chorale performance at Carnegie Hall on July 9. (Photo courtesy Suzanne Taffet)

non-binary. Growing up I knew that I wasn’t a boy, and it seemed quite apparent to me from an early age that being a girl resonated far more. I came out as a trans woman at age 17, which was over ten years ago, and the term non-binary wasn’t nearly as commonly known as it is now. While being a woman is something that’s always fitted me best, being non-binary is also something that I deeply connect to, as I have never experienced my gender in a simple, clear cut way. So for me it’s a complex relationship, but it makes me so happy that society is opening up to different ways of seeing gender.That’s why I’m happy we have things like non-binary awareness week this week, which is where we give focus and voice to non-binary people and encourage people to learn more and hear the stories of non-binary people. Being non-binary simply means identifying outside of the gender binary of men and women — it means that you can experience your gender as a mix of both, neither or fluid in between.Growing up, I wish there had been a lot more awareness about the term ‘non-binary’ because it would’ve undoubtedly helped me and other people come to terms with our identities sooner.

Should you buy a house despite higher interest rates? Well, that depends on where you want to put your money. 

Raveena is here to share more of her spiritual journey.

Provincetown, Massachusetts once before during the winter season and even then, I enjoyed my time there. Of course, P-Town is much slower during the colder months than it was during my most recent visit, but I still enjoyed the small-town charm of this iconic coastal destination.Provincetown is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations in the country, if not the world. From the moment you arrive by ferry or by car, you are quickly transported into a rainbow oasis which makes it seems as if you are on an island where you are free to express yourself in any way you please.As soon as I stepped foot off the Bay State Cruise Company ferry from Boston, I checked in to the Foxberry Inn, a beautiful property located less than a mile from the heart of P-Town.

Meet Windi, a 3-year-old domestic shorthair mix. She’s a pretty little kitty with striped gray fur and a white underbelly and paws. Windi appeared to be a little shy when she first arrived at the SPCA of Texas, but that turned out not to be the case at all. She loves attention and is generally affable to meeting new people. She is energetic, loves to play and is a fierce hunter of toys. Windi came to the SPCA of Texas from Kaufman County where she was found living with other animals in less-than-ideal conditions. She was pregnant at the time and has subsequently given birth to a healthy litter of kittens. Those kittens have been adopted, now it’s Windi’s turn to find a forever home. Like all pets from the SPCA of Texas, Windi is now spayed, microchipped and current on all her necessary vaccines. She is housed at the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas and available by appointment.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

The latest CDC numbers show that Washington, D.C. ranks 30th of all U.S. metropolitan areas in HIV transmissions and the same study showed 2.4 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the U.S., with some STIs like syphilis increasing by 254 percent! And while COVID-19 has garnered the lion’s share of media attention, the new CDC report indicates it is just one of many public health crises facing the U.S.

According to data published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the number of recorded sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cases in Ireland has increased by almost 45% in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period last year. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is the State’s infectious diseases monitoring body, which publishes […]

Why are tan lines SO intoxicating?! (Image via selfie)

Brussels has launched legal action against Hungary over its ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda’ law which bans content that ‘promotes’ LGBTQ+ themes.

Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for “Stranger Things” season 4.

You’re about to be erased, but rather than focus on the real enemy, you’re wasting time frightening off the people who might be the foot soldiers willing to fight at your side. Let me ask a question: What is important to you? Your marriage? Your right t

Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has revealed his character Will Byers is gay.After previously addressing fan speculation around Will’s sexuality and saying it was “up to the audience’s interpretation”, Schnapp has since confirmed rumours.“It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends? Now that he’s gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing,” the actor told Variety.“Now it’s 100 per cent clear that he is gay and he does love Mike [Finn Wolfhard]. But before, it was a slow arc.

Page Six, adding that she's still strutting in her famous "six-inch heels".They added that the "pain has been excruciating but fortunately she's dealt with it, and she's OK now."It comes as Joan sparked concern among her fans as she shared a sunny snap from her Monaco trip.The award-winning actress told her fans that she had since been rushed to hospital after having a "trapped nerve" in her leg.She penned: "Enjoying a great day out, one week before I had to go to the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco for a trapped nerve in my leg."Not fun! But they were great!"#monaco #princessgracehospital #princessgrace #hospital #trappednerve #funinthesun #imonaboat," Joan added at the end of her post.A pinched nerve occurs when excessive pressure is applied to a nerve by the surrounding muscles, bones or cartilage, according to the Mayo Clinic.In the post, the Hollywood actress put on a leggy display in white shorts, teamed with a blue and white shirt.It's not the first time that the Hollywood legend has been rushed to hospital in pain.Dame Joan previously credited pilates for getting her in “the best shape [of] my life”However, three years ago the star told how she was left needing medical assistance after a “clash” in Los Angeles.The Dynasty star said she “didn’t let anybody know” about what happened following her being rushed to hospital.On her pilates woes, Dame Joan commented: “I woke up just screaming in agony in the middle of the night and I was rushed to hospital.”Luckily, Joan told how it was likely an injury she sustained from doing pilates.She said: “It was worse than childbirth, but it was just a pulled muscle.“I didn’t let anybody know.

As drivers flock to SUVs and crossovers, it’s as if the ubiquitous four-door sedan—poof!—has suddenly disappeared. Yet some steadfast sedans remain, including two absolutely fabulous rides below. 

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called on the government to “rapidly ensure that an appropriately coordinated and resourced approach” is taken to combat the monkeypox outbreak.

Elon Musk, music artist Grimes, has split up with transgender activist and WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning after just four months together.Singer Grimes, 34, and Chelsea Manning, 34, were revealed as an item just four short months ago but reports indicate that the pair have now split.The couple had started dating after Grimes split from the father of her two children, Musk, 54, for the second time.READ MORE: World's 'most inhumane' jail where 'prisoners eat bodies of dead lags to survive'But sources now claim that the Wikileaks whistleblower and Delete Forever singer have split up despite reports that they had been getting "pretty serious" after Grimes had split with the SpaceX CEO.Grimes and Manning had reportedly been living together in Austin, Texas, where the singer is raising her two young children with Musk.Despite the move to Texas for Manning, the WikiLeaks whistleblower had kept hold of her Brooklyn-based apartment.It is unclear how the couple had met or when they began dating, but sources have claimed that the pair have ended their relationship with one another after "breaking up for a while".

Owain Wyn Evans came crashing into our lives in April 2020 when he posted a video of himself drumming his heart away to the BBC News theme tune.The weather presenter quickly went viral and has proved to be an unstoppable force ever since.That summer, he was announced as a patron of the LGBT Foundation, and he went on to have appearances on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel and Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof.Today, we’re thrilled to announce that Owain is taking on the role of Metro.co.uk’s LGBTQ+ Agony Aunt.Dear Owain, I came out to my family during the pandemic, but we still haven’t really spoken openly about it face to face. My family is so open and kind and has supported me all the way but for some reason, I still freeze when it comes to my sexuality and them – and them only. I recently got a boyfriend and I really want to tell them about him but I’m struggling to find a way I feel comfortable with – can you help?What you must be feeling at the moment is what so many LGBTQ people have felt at some stage in their lives, although that doesn’t make it any easier.

Netflix has released the first trailer for Neil Patrick Harris’ new gay dramedy, Uncoupled.

The post Scene • 07-15-22 appeared first on Dallas Voice.

LOVE Island viewers have accused Gemma Owen of bullying after making a catty comment about her villa best pal. The Islanders scrambled around the villa last night as they desperately tried to stay out of the way while Tasha Ghouri's plot to make Andrew Le Page her boyfriend played out.

Stranger Things and that hints about his sexuality have been there from the beginning.The beloved Netflix show's fourth season has just come to an end and throughout the series, Will alluded to the fact that he is in love with his friend, Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard)."It was hinted at in Season 1. It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends? Now that he's gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing," the 17-year-old said in an interview with Variety."Now it's 100 percent clear he is gay and does love Mike."Fan theories that Will is gay have long been circulating on social media and the character gives a touching speech in Season 4 that heavily hints at this when he explains how Eleven feels to Mike, but he is actually describing his own feelings.This representation in Stranger Things has prompted a lot of appreciation from fans, Schnapp said."People have come up to me [and said,] 'This Will character made me feel so good.

Thousands of schools from across the UK participated in the sixth annual School Diversity Week.

Gloria Allen, a transgender activist whose experiences running a charm school in Chicago for at-risk transgender youth inspired an acclaimed documentary film, “Mama Gloria” and play, “Charm,” died on June 13 at her home in Chicago. She was 76. The cause was respiratory failure, said Luchina Fisher, a close friend and the director of the documentary.

The jury in the trial of an out gay Queensland man, accused of raping his female friend, has been disbanded after it failed to arrive at a majority verdict. Trigger Warning: This story discusses a sexual assault, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Judge Catherine Muir of the Brisbane District Court discharged the jury and scheduled the matter for July 14, 2022, when the court will decide on a retrial in the case. The jury, comprised of seven men and five women, and deliberated for around 10 hours on whether 28-year-old Dominic Hansson was guilty of raping his female friend in her inner city Brisbane apartment on December 7, 2019 .

Gay educator Willie Carver Jr., Kentucky’s 2022 Teacher of the Year, has officially decided to leave K-12 teaching behind.After 17 years of teaching, Willie Carver Jr. said that he has decided to leave the classroom and take a position in student support services at the University of Kentucky due to the homophobic and conservative conditions affecting public education today.Late last month, Carver spoke publicly about their hesitation to return to the classroom after the ‘21-’22 school year in the wake of the recent conservative focus on public school goings-on.“If I am, every few weeks, having to stop and undergo some sort of investigation over what’s happening in my class, I’m not going to be mentally able to do this work,” Carver told EdWeek.“Then what are my students seeing? A stressed-out, unhappy LGBTQ adult.

proposed rule impacting how Title IX, the federal law prohibiting discrimination “on the basis of sex,” will be enforced — including protecting LGBTQ students from discrimination — in schools and colleges that receive federal funding.Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced the changes to the way the law is enforced on Thursday, which marked the 50th anniversary of passage of the landmark law. Under Title IX, schools can be denied federal funds if they are found guilty of discrimination, excluding individuals from certain benefits or activities, or allowing harassment to continue without disciplining perpetrators.Under the Biden administration’s proposal, LGBTQ students would be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics, and schools that enable such discrimination could potentially lose federal funds.“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this landmark law, our proposed changes will allows us to continue that progress and ensure all our nation’s students — no matter where they live, who they are, or whom they love — can learn, grow, and thrive in school,” Cardona said in a statement.The administration’s new rule would also change how schools handle sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations, marking a reversal from Trump administration rules that sought to avoid aggressively penalizing individuals accused of assault and harassment, on the grounds that they should be given a chance to defend themselves.

In response to a policy of the Biden administration that protects LGBTQ+ students from discrimination, a Republican senator is considering scrapping a bipartisan deal to extend school meal funding. As funding for the program expires on June 30, Democrats are scrambling to pass the bill and send it to President Biden before the deadline. Without this bill, millions of children face hunger and food insecurity.In contrast to previous attempts to extend the funds for a year, Republican leadership has not threatened to block these efforts this time, according to Politico.

Unfolding inside a small but stylish box set, Jitney tells the story of several unlicensed cab drivers in 1970s America. It’s part of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle of 10 plays – which chronicle the African-American experience during each decade of the 20th century, and is perhaps most famous for the film adaptations of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences. Jitney is the second play from this cycle we’ve had the opportunity to see, after reviewing the London production of King Hedley II in 2019.

name its theater after him due to student backlash over transphobic remarks he has made over the past several months. During a dedication speech at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Northwest Washington, D.C., the comedian told the audience that he didn’t want his name to distract students from their art.The announcement came as a surprise to the crowd assembled Monday night for the ceremony.

A 27-year-old out gay man in Queensland has been accused of raping his female friend. The accused, identified as Dominic Edmund Hansson, has pleaded not guilty and is facing trial before a District Court in Brisbane, reported The Courier Mail. Trigger Warning: This story has details of a sexual assault, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.According to the police, Hansson has been charged with allegedly sexually assaulting his female friend, after turning up at her inner city Brisbane apartment in 2019.

UK students have opened up about the importance of School Diversity Week and Pride Month. 

Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Pride flags on its campus after being told to take them down. Bishop Robert J McManus of the Diocese of Worcester said that the Nativity School of Worcester is ‘prohibited’ from branding itself as Catholic because the school supports movement ‘inconsistent with Catholic teaching.’ McManus noted that the LGBTQ flag contradicted the church’s teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Manuel Betancourt The title of Rose Troche’s film, “My Fake Boyfriend,” may be clunky, but it captures the outrageous premise of this latest gay romantic comedy. When stuntman Andrew (Keiynan Lonsdale, of “Love, Simon” fame) is stuck in a toxic relationship with a self-absorbed narcissist, his best friend Jake and his girlfriend Kelly (Dylan Sprouse and Sarah Hyland) decide the only way to break the cycle is with a white lie: the creation of a new (fake!) online boyfriend.

Massachusetts Catholic school can no longer call itself Catholic after a local bishop declared that its Pride and Black Lives Matter flags were incongruent with church teachings.In April, Bishop Robert McManus issued a statement opposing Nativity School of Worcester's display of Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ Pride flags.  By doing so, he expected the school to comply and remove the flags, but administrators have refused.Now, McManus has forbidden the school from identifying as Catholic.On Thursday, the Diocese of Worcester posted a decree about Nativity School on its website."The Nativity School of Worcester is prohibited from this time forward from identifying itself as a ‘Catholic’ school and may no longer use the title ‘Catholic’ to describe itself," McManus declared.In an open letter published in May, he claimed that "These symbols (flags) embody specific agendas or ideologies (that) contradict Catholic social and moral teaching." His issue with the school's Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ Pride flags is that they send a message of support."It is my contention that the 'Gay Pride' flag represents support of gay marriage and actively living a LGBTQ+ lifestyle," McManus notes.While seemingly invalidating the social justice movement, he explains his opposition to the Black Lives Matter flags.

A Vermont father was arrested and charged with harassment in New Hampshire on Tuesday after allegedly threatening his daughter's school. The man said if his daughter were exposed to transgender students or drag queens he would commit a mass shooting, according to authorities. A judge has now granted an extreme risk protection order, barring the man from purchasing or possessing dangerous weapons for at least six months.Shane Gobeil, 36, of Canaan, Vt., was shopping in a grocery store in neighboring New Hampshire on Monday when he threatened The Canaan Schools — a campus that shares both an elementary and high school — to two students in the store, according to a police affidavit obtained by The New Hampshire Union Leader.The affidavit states that during a conversation about dress codes with the teens, which video cameras recorded, Gobeil says, "The school's changing.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Pride flags on its campus.Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Diocese of Worcester announced on Thursday that the Nativity School of Worcester is "prohibited" from branding itself as Catholic moving forward.This comes at a time when the majority of American Catholics support gay marriage, a percentage that has continuously increased since 2006, according to Gallup, and Catholics across the nation are speaking out about the relationship between the BLM movement and the church, according to Catholic News."As Diocesan Bishop, it is my sacred duty and inherent responsibility to determine when a school claiming to be 'Catholic' is acting in such a way that is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church and disregards my legitimate authority as the guardian and overseer of Catholic education in the Diocese of Worcester," Bishop McManus said in the statement on the Diocese of Worcester website."Despite my insistence that the school administration remove these flags because of the confusion and the properly theological scandal that they do and can promote, they refuse to do so.

The third installment of the House select committee’s hearings on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is underway, and viewers are being presented with evidence of former President Donald Trump pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 election.As anyone could have predicted, Trump is less than thrilled with the national spotlight focused on his attempted coup.Hours before the hearing kicked off, Trump took to his Truth Social account to vent his frustration, railing against the news networks for failing to give him equal screen time to present his evidence of “massive Voter Fraud & Dem Security Breach!”Related: Ginni Thomas may need a “great f***ing criminal lawyer” after latest revelation“The Fake News Networks are perpetuating lies, falsehoods, and Russia, Russia, Russia type disinformation (same sick people, here we go again!) by allowing the low rated but nevertheless one sided and slanderous Unselect Committee hearings to go endlessly and aimlessly on (and on and on!),” he wrote.

TikTok and Instagram.

Media Matters.Last month, threats of violence forced a school district in Wisconsin to take drastic security measures.The Kiel Area School Board canceled the remaining in-person school year for children in its district because of multiple bomb threats. In addition, the school announced that it dropped a Title IX investigation after weeks of threats, local TV station WFRV reports.

the news broke that Lady Gaga was in early negotiations to join Joaquin Phoenix in director Todd Phillips’ sequel to his Oscar-winning supervillain origin story, Joker, and it’s got the internet in a tizzy.Does this have “disaster” written all over it? Could it be a future camp classic? Fans of both Ms. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta and the iconic Batman nemesis seem divided, though if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Gaga’s press tour for this would be wild. Considering what she gave us while promoting House Of Gucci—stories about feeling drunk from prop wine, swarms of flies sent from Patrizia Reggiani herself—just think what will come if she plays a murderous Clown Princess Of Crime.But rumors have been floating for a while now that Gaga might play The Joker’s psychiatrist-turned-love interest-and-sidekick Harley Quinn (also currently being played by Margot Robbie).

Lady Gaga is reportedly in talks to join Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming Joker sequel.