Year in Review 2021: LGBTQ on screens, big and small

Florida’s pro-Nazi, anti-LGBTQ Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently being ripped to shreds on Twitter after he voiced his support for the archaic “Don’t Say Gay” bill that is gaining momentum in the Florida Legislature.The bill, which was introduced by state Republicans last month is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting of Senate Education Committee, would make it illegal for teachers to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida primary schools.“Schools need to be teaching kids to read, to write,” DeSantis told reporters this week.

Joe Rogan has walked back his apology for repeatedly using racist slurs on his podcast.Quick recap: Earlier this week, Rogan issued an apology after a video montage of him using the N-word and comparing black people to apes dozens of times began circulating on social media. Shortly after that, Spotify quietly removing more than 100 episodes of the podcast from circulation.On yesterday’s episode of his show, Rogan addressed the ongoing controversy once again.

Chantale Wong has made history by being confirmed as the United States Director of the Asian Development Bank.

The LGBTQ+ community in Derry is divided over a Foyle Pride membership dispute, where members of the public have voiced concerns about the requirement of membership forms to join the Association. Concerns from the public about GDPR and the potential “outing” of members has prompted the launch of a petition which is now circulating online. […]

Nature is healing and clubbing is firmly back on the LGBTQ+ agenda. Our friends at Mother have had their club back open for a few weeks and this weekend, they will be open on Friday and Saturday night! They have tickets on sale for Friday and Saturday will be cash on the door.  They have […]

ABOVE: Happy 62nd to Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I, of course, loved them at the time, but I never became enough of a fan to deeply investigate the group's history. Holy shit, this (restored) perf they gave at Hope & Anchor 40 years ago is fucking HARD. Holly had a crazy body under his later, label-mandated sarcastic preppy look! Also, love this earlier version of “Relax.” The “I don't wanna die!” is haunting in light of the impending AIDS epidemic.

Go, girl! Heather Dubrow praised her and Terry Dubrow‘s daughter Kat after the 15-year-old came out as a lesbian.

A searing new article describing “the real Jared Kushner” has been making the rounds on social media, and boy, do people have strong feelings about him.In “Shame Cometh: The Jared Kushner Story,” novelist and journalist Greg Olear presents a blistering highlight reel of Kushner’s lineage and misdeeds. Olear profiles his esteemed grandparents, “a heroic Nazi-fighter and a great builder,” and his power-hungry, criminal father.

The highly anticipated 2022 Oscar nominees were revealed yesterday afternoon and were met with mixed reactions of shock and delight as, despite the many LGBTQ+ nominations, some felt like other worthy contenders were snubbed. LGBTQ+ Oscar nominees came through with some of the most beloved performances from 2021, including actors Ariana DeBose and Kristen Stewart, […]

Marcus Proctor, an Australian of Irish descent, spent six years backpacking across the world visiting 21 countries in total, and he had several international adventures. Now, he’s written a book about those experiences entitled Happy Traveller, a book which he describes as “not for the faint-hearted”. In six years he travelled more countries than most […]

After the UK health officials issued a warning over the infectious disease, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is now closely monitoring cases of Shigella in Ireland. Shigella is a bacterium that upsets the stomach and can be passed on through infected faeces (poo). It can be transmitted to other people through sex that involves contact […]

Melania Trump has a new grift, y’all.Parler just announced a new “special arrangement” with the ex-FLOTUS that involves her sharing “exclusive communications” on the social media network.The platform, which is popular among Donald Trump supporters, conspiracy theorists, and far-right extremists, says Melania will share “exclusive communications on Parler,” adding that it is already powering her website, MelaniaTrump.com.Related: Melania’s hat auction ended up being a money-losing crap out“In the time that Parler and Mrs. Trump have been working together, we have found a new level of productivity and engagement with both her, her team, and her brand,” Parler CEO George Farmer said in a statement this morning.Did you catch that, folx? Melania Trump is apparently a “brand” now, even though the only thing she sells are NFTs on her website.

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And Just Like That Mario Cantone recently opened up about an incident in 1986 when alleges he was kicked off The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for being too gay. The revelation came during Cantone’s recent appearance on Allison Kugel’s podcast, Allison Interviews.Cantone shared that he’d been booked by Carson’s talent coordinator for the show, who was initially happy with his set.

The top vote-winning school board candidate for an Oklahoma school board seat was filmed delivering a speech attacking LGBTQ flags in the classroom while lamenting Christian flags are not allowed, calling Black Lives Matter a “Marxist organization” that’s designed to “overthrow America,” and railing against Coexist bumper stickers as being against “the Creator.”

Joe Biden has promised to support the LGBTQ+ community as Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill makes its way through state legislature.

Blu Hydrangea opened up about their gender identity after an intimate discussion on Drag Race UK vs the World.

While in various states, Republicans are pushing to censor literature and discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation, Australia is considering a Religious Discrimination Bill.  The legislation would allow faith-based organizations to discriminate against protected groups.Amid floor debate of the bill, MP Stephen Jones spoke about his teenage nephew who recently died by suicide.For me this is not an academic issue," he said of the bill. "Last week my family said farewell to my nephew Ollie. He was just 15 when he took his own life.

February 7, 2022It’s unclear who Cawthorn may be referring to here. Freeskier Eileen Gu, 18, was raised in the US by her Chinese mother and an American father.

Oscar-nominated LGBTQ talent: Kristen Stewart in Spencer (Pic: Pablo Larraín), Ariana DeBose in West Side Story, and the film Flee

Chrishell Stause is revealing the truth about her friendship with Simu Liu.

Doors open at 12:30 a.m., so I had plenty of time to do my research about what the BDSM party entails because I was nervous. I grew up a closeted, conservative Black man.

Their routines typically do not depict romantic pairs, as is the norm in pairs figure skating."Ashley and I are just different in that way; we've never done a romantic story and we've never been a romantic pair.

married Saturday. It’s a love story inextricably bound up with politics, as Malcolm is currently a history-making Pennsylvania state representative and is now seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. senator from his state.

A post shared by Ben Platt (@bensplatt) Actors Ben Platt and Noah Galvin put on an amorous display on a dancefloor recently. Platt posted images of the couple dancing and exchanging a sweaty, passionate kiss to Instagram.

Most online images are just a right-click away from being in someone’s personal collection. They’re free, pretty much. So it’s tough for charities to fundraise with them. That is, until 2017 when non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, came along. Unlike regular pieces of digital media, NFTs can’t be so easily copied. And for as long as they have existed, there have been conservation charities using them for fundraising.

The 2022 Brit Awards took place yesterday (8 February). The glamorous ceremony recapped another year of incredible talent, including standout LGBTQ+ acts. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite queerest moments straight from the night.

The sentencing of the three men found guilty for the gang rape of a gay man in South Africa has been delayed yet again.

LGBTQ+ museum is due to open in London in spring 2022.The museum, created by the charity Queer Britain, will be located in Kings Cross in north London, in part of a building owned by Art Fund, the national charity for art.It will be a ‘fully inclusive space that celebrates the stories, people and places that are so intrinsic to the queer community in the UK’, the charity declared.Queer Britain, established in 2018, plans for the museum to allow visitors to explore and learn about the past, present and future stories of the LGBTQ+ community.The director and co-founder of Queer Britain, Joseph Galliano, said: ‘It’s time the UK had an LGBTQ+ museum for all, and we are delighted to have found our first home in beautiful Granary Square, with Art Fund as our first landlord.‘It’s a prime location accessible to swathes of the country, and in a part of town with a rich queer heritage.’The new museum will include four galleries, a workshop, an education space, a gift shop, and offices for the Queer Britain team.The space will be fully accessible with lifts and ramps and will be free to enter, with donations welcome to support its work.Queer Britain’s archive is currently housed at the Bishopsgate Institute and is accessible by appointment to the public and researchers.A trustee of Queer Britain, Lisa Power, shared: ‘I’m really excited that Queer Britain is finally going to have a space to show what we can do and that we’re here for all the community, from old lesbian feminist warhorses like me to young queer folk of all genders and ethnicities.‘Queer Britain aims to tell our many and diverse histories, and now we have a home to do that from.’The director of Art Fund, Jenny Waldman, said the charity was ‘delighted’ to welcome Queer

Twitter. "That last comment, though ambiguous, could be perceived as TERF-y.

In a sincere moment of vulnerability, Blu Hydrangea confided in their RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World costars, Cheryl Hole and Jujubee, about their complex gender journey and confusion around pronouns. “The main thing that I struggled with with drag is that I found I put Blu first,” Hydrangea told their sisters. “She was […]

Will Young catapulted to fame when he won ITV's singing competition, Pop Idol in 2002.Going up against Gareth Gates in the nail-biting final of the popular evening show, Will stole the nation's hearts with his undeniable talent, outspoken nature and amazing vocals.Becoming the first winner of the worldwide Idol franchise at the age of 22, the heartthrob was the centre of media attention shortly after when he came out as gay preempting a tabloid newspaper from "outing him".Despite the controversy at the time, Will continued to have a successful career in music with a number of top 40 hits including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now.However, the star did later face tragedy down the line, with label feuds and the untimely death of his twin brother.Daily Star has taken a detailed look inside Will Young's life.Shortly after being crowned the winner of Pop Idol in the early noughties, in March 2002, Will told the nation that he was gay.However, the star also admitted that he never hid his sexuality and was comfortable with who he was.In September 2020, Will spoke openly on news night about homophobia and the terrible comments he's received regarding his sexuality.He explained: "There's intentional homophobia and there's unintentional homophobia."People get too muddled up with it and worry they'll say the wrong thing. Listen, I say the wrong thing the whole time and I'm so happy to be educated."Gay shame...

Spencer, while DeBose has earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of Anita in the remake of West Side Story.Two openly LGBTQ+ actors being nominated in acting categories in the same year has prompted praise and joy from fans.Stewart identifies as openly queer, telling InStyle in 2020: "Living in this world, being a queer person, there are things that hurt constantly."While many fans have pointed out on social media that if DeBose wins in her category, she will be the first queer woman of color to take the prize.The stars join only a handful of other openly LGBTQ+ actors who have received a nomination in an acting category at the Oscars.Ian McKellen, who is gay, was nominated for his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 20 years ago.Two queer-identifying actors who have been nominated for Oscars since then are Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie, who are both bisexual.Jeremy Blacklow, director of entertainment media at GLAAD said many actors are not out when they are nominated because "LGBTQ+ actors have long faced blatant employment discrimination and have felt forced to hide their sexual orientation and/or gender identity if they hoped to work at all."He added to Vanity Fair: "Once they come out, lesbian, gay, and bisexual actors have rarely been considered for straight leading roles and they haven't been cast for leading lesbian, gay, or bisexual roles either."Fans of both stars have been reacting to their nominations today."With Ariana DeBose & Kristen Stewart this year we have two queer icons nominated for acting Academy Awards!" reads one tweet.With Ariana DeBose & Kristen Stewart this year we have two queer icons nominated for acting Academy Awards!

News of Love, Victor’s upcoming third season being its last has sparked a passionate response online from fans.

Adele declared her love for “being a female artist” as she took home the gender-neutral award for Artist of the Year at the Brits.

Gemma Collins has shared a first look at her upcoming moving documentary where she opens up for the very first time about her painful battle with self-harm. The Channel 4 programme, which will air on Wednesday 16 February, sees Gemma going on a personal journey, as she tells her loved ones how she secretly struggled for two decades.

TikTok has updated its community guidelines to ban an array of anti-LGBTQ+ content, including deadnaming transgender people.

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An extreme Christian sect is being probed for spreading gay hate and anti-vaxx propaganda among its followers.

Heather Dubrow, 53, is sharing more intimate details about her family’s story, and this time, it involves her other daughter: 15-year-old Kat. One year after her eldest daughter, Max, 18, came out as bisexual, her younger daughter Kat is also sharing some news: she’s a lesbian.

In the midst of Black History Month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tuesday delayed a vote on whether to reappoint a Black lesbian to her seat on the city's juvenile probation commission. The decision was shadowed by her role in the campaign to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

Joe Biden is defending LGBTQ students by slamming the "Don't Say Gay" bill proposed by Florida Republicans.The legislation, coined as the "Don't Say Gay" bill by naysayers, seeks to ban the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. The Republican-led Senate Education Committee gave initial approval of the controversial proposal in a 6-3 vote Tuesday despite condemnation from activist groups.Biden took to Twitter promising LGBTQ students he would stand up for them."I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are.

“Yeah. Almost every night for the last two weeks.”One of her eyebrows went up. The movement looked rehearsed, like a trick she’d learned in medical school meant to convey the proper level of concern.

press release described her as “a leading authority in international development policy with over 30 years of experience in the multi-disciplinary field that includes finance, technology, and the environment.”Wong has said she was inspired by the late Congressman John Lewis, a longtime civil rights leader. Lewis, she wrote in a Facebook post last year, “taught me about making good trouble but necessary trouble.” She accompanied Lewis on his annual visits to Selma, Ala., where he was beaten by police during a 1965 voting rights demonstration, and videotaped his appearances.Wong is founder of the Conference on APA Leadership, which encourages young Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to pursue careers in public service. The LGBTQ Victory Institute, which advocated for Wong’s nomination and confirmation, issued a laudatory statement Tuesday.

The Advocate. “I’ve always been a big kid growing up, and I was always happy.”It wasn’t until others started pointing out his “imperfections” that the actor, beloved for his role as Guillermo de la Cruz in the hit FX series What We Do In The Shadows, even began to question if he was beautiful.

star Heather Dubrow is opening up about her family's journey when it comes to her children freely expressing their sexual identities with their parents' support. In a new interview with, the 53-year-old reality star shares that her 15-year-old daughter, Kat, has come out as a lesbian.

Heather Dubrow’s daughter Kat is coming out to the world.

Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law late last month that repeals the statute that criminalizes sexual penetration while infected with a venereal disease or HIV under certain circumstances.