Just in time for Pride Month, we have a new video going viral of an outraged white woman being escorted out of a hotel pool area in Sacramento after allegedly complaining about the fact that two women were publicly kissing with children present.
Now, we should preface this by saying we have no idea what transpired before the video was shot, and we have only the Instagrammer’s description of events and this report by CBS Sacramento to go on. The incident took place Sunday at the Kimpton Sawyer hotel in Sacramento, and a rep for the hotel calls it an “unfortunate disagreement between guests” that was later resolved peacefully.
But according to witnesses and those in the pool, including one of the women who was yelled at by these other guests, a group of people were being affectionate in the hotel pool, but two women in the group who were kissing were the only ones approached by these two outraged mothers — who didn’t want their children exposed to what was going on.
In the video seen below, people in the pool can be heard shouting, “Shame! Shame!” at the outraged people as they leave the pool area. CBS Sacramento reports that the complainants and the two kissing women were questioned by hotel staff about the conflict, and it looks like the “Karens” in question decided to pack up and leave.
A blond woman storms out and confronts the group for apparently calling them racist “for being white,” and she says, “Fuck off!” while flipping off the camera.
One woman does not want to go quietly, and declares herself a “Jewish woman from New Jersey” who now lives in Oakland — when accused of being “suburban” she replies, “I live in Oakland, you fucking asshole.”
This woman’s name appears to be “Deb,” according to the Starbucks cup in her hand, and to be more precise, she says to the people yelling “Shame!”, “I have never met anyone like you guys. Are you kidding me? I have never been more embarrassed in my life for the human race. I am a Jewish woman from New Jersey, you’re a disgusting piece of shit.”
It should be noted that the woman’s children appear to still be nearby as she’s swearing like a sailor.
She also pulls the “Do you have any children?” card, to which they reply that they don’t want kids, and she throws in, “Good, ’cause you’d be a fucking terrible dad.”
The Instagram poster is named Art Kaligos, and he writes, “This woman asked a female couple to stop kissing in a public pool because her kids were present. So we gave her the Cersei Lannister treatment while they were escorted out by security.”
One of the women who was scolded for kissing, Domonique Veasley, told CBS Sacramento, “This is not okay anymore, it’s 2021.” As she explains, “My initial reaction for the children was ‘Oh yeah,’ and then I was like ‘You are asking me to stop being me.'”
The pandemic brought out a lot of white outrage about public-health orders and mask wearing, with a lot of Trump supporters and virus skeptics who wanted the world to know that they believed such orders violated their rights.
Now we’re back to some good old-fashioned conflict between some libertine LGBT people living their lives and some more socially conservative moms who probably can’t hang in your average boutique-hotel pool party situation anyway, children or no.
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It’s finally Pride Month! After a year of being cooped up indoors, this is for sure going to be a Pride to remember. It’s always good to wear your gender and sexuality as loud and as proud as you want to, but it’s that time of year that large companies start mass-producing rainbow-themed goodies. Big-name corporations tend to debut Pride Collections in the early summer, and while we always support showing off your support for the community, keep an eye on where your proceeds are going (many companies donate Pride Month revenue to worthy causes, but others do not). This way, you don’t have to worry about where your money is going—you can feel confident your Pride purchases are going directly to the LGBTQ community itself.
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There are tons of queer-owned companies, both online and probably even in your own neighborhood. You can find local businesses that are a part of the LGBTQ community through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and if you’re a fan of online shopping and supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs across the country, here are 20 queer-owned businesses you can support today and all year round!
1. Otherwild
Otherwild, which opened in LA in 2012 and now has a second location in NYC, was founded by Rachel Berks. Berks is a queer woman who you might remember as the one who brought back “The Future is Female” shirt, after seeing the imagery from HerStory. Berks doesn’t just sell awesome stuff. She also uses her small business to give back to the community by donating to organizations like Planned Parenthood, The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Lesbian Herstory Archives, and Black Lives Matter. Her shop sells a variety of LGBTQ-inspired apparel, accessories, housewares, media, and apothecary that range from loud and proud to silly to subtle.
Fluide is a queer-owned beauty company that produces makeup for men, women, and everyone in between. Co-founders Isabella Giancarlo and Laura Kraber started this “radical, community-based beauty business” back in 2018 after wanting to see “queer beauty represented by queer people.” Fluide’s collection covers all gender expressions, identities, and skin tones so everyone can find something for them. The variety of makeup available is cruelty-free, glitter-free, and free from potentially harmful chemicals like parabens and formaldehyde, so you have one less thing to worry about.
Founded in 2013, Wildfang sells a variety of clothing, accessories, and shoes for all women ranging from casual to professional styles. Co-founded by former Nike employees Emma McIlroy and Julia Parsley, Wildfang is queer-owned and an inclusive feminist-leaning business. Some of its more well-known products are the Wild Feminist collection and the Empower Suit that comes with ACTUAL pockets and tons of flexibility. It doesn’t hurt that the company is great at giving back, too—in 2018 alone, Wildfang raised over $400k for charities that support reproductive, immigrant, and women’s and human rights.
Rebirth Garments sells gender non-conforming wearables and accessories for people on the full spectrum of gender, size, and ability. Founder Sky Cubacub, a nonbinary queer and disabled Filipinx human, really understands that the trans and disabled communities, in particular, have very specific clothing needs that are rarely—if ever—properly fulfilled by mainstream clothing designers. Rebirth Garments “challenges mainstream beauty standards that are sizeist, ableist, and conform to the gender binary.” This is an incredible website for those of you who felt as though you could never find clothes that truly fit your body or identity—and they have an Etsy shop too.
The dfrntpigeon fashion brand was created much differently than most other brands you shop. This company was started as a partnership between the digital design firm AKQA and Portland’s New Avenues for Youth. Their business model is simple: Design professionals mentor homeless youth, 40% of whom identify as part of the LGBTQ community. These kids are then paid to design and market a clothing line that derives from their own lives and experiences; this then helps them fuel their careers and propel them into the working world. The store sells a variety of clothing, mugs, pins, patches, journals, stickers, and more. You even have the option to donate a shirt to a youth in need. This is an incredible idea and even more miraculous that this community-run business is gaining so much success.
Peau De Loup sells “androgynous-style clothing designed for all bodies with curves regardless of gender identity.” Founders Adelle Renaud and Erin McLeod were just like a lot of women out there—slightly tomboy-esque and wanting to wear “men’s” clothing but soon realized it wasn’t suited to fit the curves most “women” have. So they started by designing a well-made button-down for bodies with curves. In every “Alpha” shirt, there’s a secret inner pocket on the left breast to keep your cards, cash, or phone safe when you’re out and about. Think of it as a better hiding place for your things than your bra, because that’s where the idea came from. Peau De Loup also makes it a point to use upcycled fabrics so nothing is ever wasted.
Flavnt Streetwear is an Austin-based independent clothing company that promotes self-confidence and self-love through clothes. Co-owners Courtney and Chris Rhodes don’t believe in men’s and women’s clothing—just clothes that make you feel your most confident, truest self. The sisters are both LGBTQ and say their company is “by queer people for queer people.”
Founded in December 2013 in Pittsburgh, Steer Queer was first a quarterly queer arts and literature magazine, and now a retail shop run by Cat Conley, a genderfluid jewelry-maker who’s the genius behind this whole operation. Steer Queer’s store is jam-packed with zines, gay jewelry, vintage knickknacks, and more. I fell in love with their jewelry fast—I mean the detailing in some of the wooden rings is impeccable (ex: the Golden Girls rings)?!?! love it). The giant They/Them hoop earrings are a mood and you can pick what color you want them made in. You can really tell how much work goes into each piece, which is incredible considering how affordable each of the items is.
Bianca Negron is the queer Latinx designer behind Bianca Designs, a small accessory shop run out of Queens, NY. Negron has been selling inclusive pins and fun accessories since 2017 that are bound to make your gay heart smile. I personally had to stop myself from buying everything off of this small site, especially her adorable embroidered shirts.
Made by queers, for queers, Queerly Designs is a Philly-based Etsy store that specializes in a variety of gay pride shirts. I personally can’t get enough of quirky queer shirts, especially with puns I haven’t heard before. If you plan on going to a Pride parade, there are a bunch of options to wear for that, ranging from edgy Stonewall merch to a variety of “Vaccinated Top” and “Vaccinated Bottom” shirts to choose from—to let people know right from the start what they’re getting into. Seeing your family for the first time in over a year? Why not rock the “Gay Cousin” shirt and just get that over with? Don’t let anyone misgender you with one of these cute tops, like “Too cute for a gender identity.” There’s really something for everyone here, queer or ally alike!
Dapper Boi is a gender-neutral, everyday clothing line for individuals of all body types. Founders Vicky and Charisse Pasche’s goal is to make people feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Vicky mentions on the site about how she used to shop in the men’s department and how it was not only an uncomfortable experience, but “men’s” clothing just isn’t made to fit the curves that “women’s” bodies have. Dapper Boi’s button-ups have room for curves, and even some hidden snaps on the button placket to ensure there is no chest gap—which in my opinion, is genius. They have a variety of clothing from jeans and jackets to joggers and swimwear.
Started in 2010 by Stoney Michelli and Uzo Ejikeme, Stuzo is a gender-free clothing company that is one of the few I found in my research to put an emphasis on the BIPOC queer community. As they so cleverly put it, “Our pieces are unisex, or gender-free as we prefer to call them, because clothes don’t have any organs last time we checked.” Celebrities such as Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), and Jada Pinkett Smith are some of the many, many people from all walks of life that wear Stuzo-brand clothing.
Founded in 2015, gc2b is a trans-owned company based out of Maryland. Founder Marli Washington actually created the first binders that were designed and patented specifically for gender-affirming chest binding. So, the original chest binders were designed by trans people for trans people—how warm and fuzzy is that? They come in two different styles and 11 different colors, they’re swim-friendly, and their cotton blend inner panel provides comfortable compression. The gc2b website even has a very thorough guide on how to properly determine your size to get the best fit. And you can find more than just binders when you shop their site—they’ve expanded to sell cute pride-themed merch as well!
Pride Factory, which opened its doors in Fort Lauderdale in 1996, is a staple of the South Florida gay scene. Queer-owned and founded by Matthew and Lori Deak, the store itself is more than 8,300 square feet of men’s swimwear, underwear, and fashion apparel, with tons of novelty items alongside and it’s all available online as well. Their variety of gym wear is quirky yet functional, and is clearly loved since they’ve been going strong for over 20 years.
Founded in LA in 2017, SUAY Sew Shop is an ethically sourced gay-owned home goods and clothing brand. Suay products are made from a combo of “post-consumer waste, deadstock and domestically, organically grown fibers.” If you have any clothing that has a broken zipper or ripped jeans or any other flaws, you can send it in to be fixed for a small fee. Through this green production process and providing people the opportunity to repair their clothes, Suay has diverted 500,000 lbs of garment waste from landfills since 2017. All of their clothes are super unique and their home goods section has a gorgeous collection of comfy pillows. If you’re all about living sustainably and don’t mind spending a little extra for it, SUAY Sew Shop is the way to go.
Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Pumkinfish is a store of strange wonders—and it’s queer-owned too! If you’re the type of person that loves knick-knacks but also wishes they could get some use out of those weird treasures they find, this is the place for you. They have an eclectic collection of unique gifts and goodies from all over the world, ranging from bath soaps to cocktail mixers to raunchy potholders to Cat Wine (yes, it’s for your cats). You’ll surely be able to find something that tickles your fancy here—something that you didn’t even know you wanted, but once you see it, you’ll need it immediately. And you can bookmark this for later and do all your holiday shopping in one go, all while supporting an LGBTQ business.
A Tribe Called Queer was created by Sabine Maxine Lopez, a queer femme of color from LA. This shop has tons of queer and Black pride products that are affordable, fashionable, and make a statement with phrases like “Femmes Can Be Thems” or “Women of Color Are the Backbone of America.” With shirts, pins, beanies, bucket hats, phone cases, and more, there will definitely be something here for you. For several of their products, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Emergency Release Fund, an organization that works to ensure that New York City’s trans community is able to make bail when arrested so no one is forced to remain in detention before trial.
When I first came across this shop, I was like “A whole store dedicated just to bowties? Really?” But then I considered, where have queer femmes ever been able to get fashionable bowties besides men’s suit shops where you get a bunch of weird side-eyes and judgement? Founder Robin Williams had this problem in 2014 when they were in search of a bow tie for their best friend’s bridal shower and couldn’t find one that both fit their style and was affordable. So what’d they do? They learned to sew and made their own! Bowtie Behavior creates pieces that are bold and flavorful; pieces that outfits are built around. Every single bowtie is handmade with quality fabric. You can purchase them pre-tied or not, and even with a matching pocket square.
Designed, founded, and run by a trans woman (who was featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30), Carmen Liu Lingerie was inspired by the frustration that there were no existing products out there for trans women and nonbinary people. Selling affordable feminine underwear for people who have more stuff to fit in down there and matching bras for those who don’t necessarily have as much to fill in up top, Carmen Liu’s lingerie brand empowers trans and nonbinary people everywhere and really helps to let people feel like their true selves. There’s even a package for “Carmen Liu Kids,” designed for trans girls and non-binary children discovering themselves.
TomboyX is a queer-owned brand that makes awesome underwear, apparel, and swimwear. Owners Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez started this business like many others—to fill a need: they wanted to provide “underwear that anybody could feel comfortable in, regardless of where they fell on the size or gender spectrum.” Through their own “human agenda,” TomboyX offers a huge variety of styles, designs, fits, and sizes available, ranging from XS-4X.
This retailer was under some hot water last summer, with some reports of horrible misgendering at TomboyX photoshoots. And although its underwear is said to be for “everyone,” when asked about why its marketing photos typically exclude trans women, the company responded by saying, “All of our underwear styles are made from soft, stretchy fabrics and feature a wide gusset to accommodate all types of anatomy. That said, we do occasionally see feedback that the Bikini and Thong don’t provide enough room in the front for some customers.” These are important factors to consider as you shop for the best, most comfortable clothing for your body.
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After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis kicked off Pride Month by signing an anti-transgender bill into law, the Sunshine State becomes the fifth state this year expected to be added to California’s banned taxpayer-funded travel list for state employees and college athletic teams. It will bring to 17 the number of states on the “no fly” list.
During a June 1 signing ceremony, DeSantis, a Republican, signed into law legislation requiring transgender youth play on sports teams based on their sex assigned at birth. Florida is now the eighth state to enact such legislation that primarily is targeted at transgender female athletes in middle school up through college.
“The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act will empower Florida women & girls to be able to compete on a level playing field,” wrote DeSantis in a tweet. “This will help ensure that opportunities for things like college scholarships will be protected for female athletes for years to come.”
Immediately afterward the Human Rights Campaign announced it would sue Florida over the law. The national LGBTQ rights organization lashed out at lawmakers across the country for enacting such bills without providing any evidence that they are needed.
“The Human Rights Campaign will always stand up to anti-equality forces on behalf of transgender kids, and that is exactly what we plan to do by legally challenging this ban on the participation of transgender girls and women in sports,” stated HRC President Alphonso David. “Governor DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are legislating based on a false, discriminatory premise that puts the safety and well-being of transgender children on the line.”
In April, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) signed into law a similar bill that bans transgender girls and women from participating in sports at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level consistent with their gender identity. The Mountain State should now also be added to the Golden State’s “no fly” list.
The onslaught of attacks against transgender athletes, mostly directed at girls and women, led the NCAA to reiterate its support for trans athletes earlier this month and its commitment to only hold championship sports games in locations where the hosts can provide safe and healthy environments free of discrimination. Yet, as the Associated Press reported in May, the NCAA has chosen schools in Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee as championship host sites for upcoming regional softball tournaments even though all three states have passed bills banning the participation of transgender women and girls in sports consistent with their gender identity.
It prompted criticism from various groups, including HRC, who called on the NCAA to adhere to its stated policy. The other states that have adopted trans youth sports ban laws are Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho, while South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) signed two executive orders having a similar effect.
“Transgender kids are kids; transgender girls are girls. Like all children, they deserve the opportunity to play sports with their friends and be a part of a team,” stated David. “Transgender youth must not be deprived of the opportunity to learn important skills of sportsmanship, healthy competition, and teamwork.”
California lawmakers in 2015 banned state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBTQ people with the enactment of Assembly Bill 1887 authored by gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell). The Golden State’s no-fly list covers government workers, academics, and college sports teams at public universities.
There is a waiver for trips deemed essential, such as sending emergency assistance in response to a natural disaster, otherwise any travel to the states on the banned list cannot be funded by public tax dollars. State officials and college sports teams have found ways to get around the travel ban by having alumni associations or other groups pay for the travel costs to attend athletic matches or conferences in the banned states.
When governors of other states enact anti-LGBTQ laws, the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta reviews them to see if it triggers placing those states on the no-fly list. In addition to Florida and West Virginia, Bonta is expected to also add Arkansas, Montana, and North Dakota to the travel ban list.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed into law April 22 Senate Bill 215, which LGBTQ advocates contend is an expansive religious refusal bill that could grant a license to discriminate against Montanans and visitors, including LGBTQ people, people of faith, and women, across a wide range of goods and services in the state.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R) April 19 signed into law House Bill 1503, which permits student groups at colleges, universities, and high schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) March 25 signed into law Senate Bill 354, which bans transgender women and girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
At the moment the 12 states on California’s list are Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.
In response to the Bay Area Reporter’s emailed question on when Bonta would add the quintet of states to the no fly list, his office didn’t indicate a timeline and referred to the webpage where it maintains the updated list of banned states.
“While we can’t speak to any potential legal strategy, the California Department of Justice will continue to implement AB1887 and push back against LGBTQ+ discrimination,” stated his office.
The office of San Francisco’s city administrator keeps a similar list banning taxpayer-funded travel for non-essential trips to states that have adopted anti-LGBTQ laws since 2015. It also outlaws city departments from contracting with businesses located in those states.
The city also now bans its employees from using taxpayer dollars to travel to states that restrict access to abortion services. Thus, 24 states are now on San Francisco’s list, with Montana expected to become the 25th state to be added to it.
Due to having restrictive abortion policies Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, and West Virginia have all been on San Francisco’s banned travel list since January 1, 2020. They should now receive a double asterisk marking to note each state has enacted both anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ laws.
UPDATED 7/2/2021 with comment from AG Bonta’s office.
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Longtime LGBTQ community advocate Sheila Alexander-Reid, who has served since 2015 as director of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs, is stepping down from her city job in mid-July.
Alexander-Reid told the Washington Blade she will take a few weeks of accumulated leave beginning June 15 to recuperate from follow-up knee surgery before officially leaving her current job to take on a new role as a private sector consultant in the area of workplace bias and diversity training.
She said will announce the name of the private sector company she will be joining as a senior vice president when she begins her new job in mid-July.
Among her duties at the Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office has been to lead the office’s staff in providing LGBTQ related diversity or competency training for D.C. government employees at all city agencies.
According to the office’s website, other activities it carries out include connecting LGBTQ residents with city services they may need, advocating on behalf of programs and policies that benefit the lives of LGBTQ residents, providing grants to community-based organizations that serve the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ homeless youth; and host events that “enrich, promote, and bring together” the LGBTQ community in D.C.
“That work is always going to be part of who I am,” Alexander-Reid said. “But now I will be expanding on that work to look at racial equity and gender bias as well as LGBTQ bias,” she said. “I feel like I will be doing the same work but in a different format.”
Prior to starting her job at the mayor’s office, Alexander Reid served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Washington Blade, Director of Strategic Engagement at the Washington City Paper, and Founder and Executive Director of the D.C. based Women in the Life Association. She has also served as host of Inside Out, a local FM LGBTQ radio show.
Alexander-Reid noted that when she began work at the LGBTQ Affairs Office in late January 2015, less than a month after Bowser took office as mayor, the office consisted of two full-time employees, including her, with a budget of $209,000. In the current fiscal year 2021, the office now has four full-time employees and two additional detailed employees, from the Department of Health and Department of Human Services It currently has a budget of $561,000.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say what a pleasure it has been to work for Mayor Bowser,” said Alexander-Reid. “I was excited to work for her and I don’t regret it for one second. “It’s been an amazing journey and I appreciate her having faith in me.”
She said she expects an interim director to be named to run the office in mid-July while a search is conducted for a permanent director.
With pride month currently underway, there’s no time like the present to learn more about the world’s first LGBTQ ETF, the LGBTQ + ESG100 ETF (NASDAQ: LGBT). CNBC’s Seema Mody filled in as host on “ETF Edge” to discuss LGBT and its holdings with Tom Lydon, ETF Trends CEO, Bob Tull of Procure Holdings, and Andrew McOrmond, managing director of Wallachbeth Capital.
LGBT is one of the first funds designed to serve the principles and values of the LGBTQ community and its allies. The fund provides investors with the methodology and results related to the performance of the top corporations that embrace ESG principles and advance equality in the workplace.
Additionally, LGBT offers investors access to U.S. large cap equity securities of companies that have demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, along with ESG compliance, as part of their corporate social responsibility fundamental mandates.
The ESG Factor
Lydon notes how the ETF has arrived at the right time, with great people and advocates standing behind it. Spokesperson Martina Navratilova promoting these values in the corporate community means people will pay more attention.
For Tull, who created and launched the fund, the timing was key, but the other crucial element is the members of the community. There’s much loyalty there, which applies to the sediment composition of the LGBTQ100 ESG Index (LGBTQ100). This index identifies the top 100 corporations that most-align with the LGBTQ community across America.
McOrmond speaks to the young talent being that will drive the fund and ESG into the long-term future. As has been made clear, millennials fueled the growth of sustainable investing throughout the 2010s, contributing $51.1 billion to sustainable funds in 2020, compared to less than $5 billion five years ago. Additionally, concerns over climate change have been a huge driver of growth.
Other aspects of ESG include the support for inclusion, which falls under the social area. As a result, top talent will be more attracted to the companies holding onto this ideal.
“That’s really the kind of hidden thing in here that’s going to drive better performance,” McOrmond adds.
Watch the Entire “ETF Edge” Episode with Tom Lydon:
Singer Adam Lambert compared being openly gay in the music industry a decade ago to the “Wild West”.
Lambert found fame in 2009 after finishing runner-up on American Idol and has since established himself as an international star, performing with rock band Queen.
He said there has been “much progress” in terms of LGBT representation since he first broke onto the scene.
Adam Lambert has discussed being openly gay in the entertainment indsutry (Joseph Sinclair/Gay Times/PA)
Lambert, who appears on the cover of Gay Times’ AMPLIFY! to launch Pride Month, told the magazine: “I wanted to connect with other queer people in the music industry because I know that when I started 10 years ago, it was sort of like the Wild West for me.
“There weren’t a lot of us on the mainstream level. It was an obstacle course. I didn’t have that many examples of how to go about things, and it was quite an adventure.
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“10 years later I can see there’s been so much progress, and there’s so many more queer artists out there right now. We’re now allowed in that space.”
Lambert, 39, founded the LGBT advocacy group the Feel Something Foundation in 2019.
He said he was heartened by the young LGBT talent in the industry and reserved special praise for barrier-breaking hip hop star Lil Nas X.
The 22-year-old rapper – who came out as gay in 2019 – has attracted both praise and criticism for exploring his sexuality in his music.
“I am so excited about what Lil Nas X did,” Lambert said. “I just think it’s high time we had somebody out there being exactly who they are.
“The thing I love about what he’s doing is not just to say the statistic of a queer person having this many streams and all that, but I also love the tone of what he’s doing.”
The music video for Lil Nas X’s song Montero (Call Me By Your Name) featured the musician sliding down a pole into hell before giving the devil a lap dance.
Lambert added: “It’s finally challenging the double standards. We have straight artists creating this type of entertainment and we’ve grown accustomed to it over the past 25 years, but when it came to gay artists we had to tone it down, or make sure that it wasn’t too sexualised, or aggressive, and it had to be safe and easy to digest.
“What Lil Nas X is doing is being a rockstar about it. He’s being subversive and it’s great.”
WATERTOWN — The local man who took down a Gay Pride flag in front of City Hall last June was found not guilty of tampering with someone else’s property.
Donnie Lee Barrigar, 37, broke down and cried once the jury came back after 45 minutes of deliberations Wednesday afternoon.
On June 23 of last year, Mr. Barrigar was charged with third-degree criminal tampering after he allegedly took down the flag, which hung in front of City Hall in celebration of Gay Pride. June is recognized as Pride Month.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Barrigar said he was well within his constitutional rights to take down the flag. He insisted that he was protected by his First Amendment rights to use the Gay Pride flag in his protest, saying he gets his views about homosexuality from his religious beliefs.
“Read your Bible, boys,” he told prosecutors after the verdict. “Read your Bibles.”
He was accused of lowering the Gay Pride flag and stuffing it into a City Hall mailbox. The not guilty verdict culminated a two-day trial.
Prosecutor Nolan Pitkin said he respected the jury’s decision.
“I respect the judicial process,” he said. “I thought our office presented the best possible proof we could prove.”
There was no question that he removed the flag from in front of City Hall, since he posted a video of himself doing it to his YouTube channel minutes afterward. But the question was whether he caused “substantial inconvenience” to anyone to correct the situation.
During the trial, a police officer testified she was at the scene for an hour when she could have been on other calls. A city public works employee told jurors he had to return to City Hall after working for the day. Apparently, prosecutors were unable to prove that part of the legal question.
After the verdict, prosecutors were able to talk to jurors about their decision, who told them they had questions about the timing of returning the flag to the flag pole.
Before the trial, City Court Judge Anthony M. Neddo ruled that Mr. Barrigar could not argue in the case that his constitutional rights were violated.
The trial was held in a state Supreme Court courtroom because of COVID-19 social distancing issues in the smaller City Court facilities in City Hall.
Mr. Barrigar’s actions prompted more than 150 LGBTQ supporters to come together in a show of solidarity to protest what he did. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo also offered to help the state police with the investigation into Mr. Barrigar’s action. The governor called him a bigot.
Mr. Barrigar’s attorney, John W. Hallett of Watertown, said he wasn’t surprised by the jury’s decision.
Mr. Hallett said he only wished the case that attracted national attention didn’t produce “vehement hatred” on both sides of the issue, but people would have considered “the question of the legal elements.”
“It was a long year,” the attorney told his client after the jury returned the verdict, referring to the fact that the trial was delayed for months because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Some members of the local LGBTQ population have expressed concerns about what kind of action Mr. Barrigar might take if he was found not guilty. The city will hold Gay Pride celebrations in about two weeks.
Most recently, Mr. Barrigar was charged with trespassing after causing a disturbance during a City Council meeting. He was ordered to stop talking about his “flat Earth” beliefs and was arrested after he continued to disrupt the meeting.
That case is still pending. He’s scheduled to appear in City Court on Thursday.
It’s unclear how city officials will handle Mr. Barrigar if he interrupts future City Council meetings.
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Bay Area gay sex venues are welcoming back patrons as the region reopens up after over a year of lockdowns due to the COVID pandemic.
Eros, a gay sex club on San Francisco’s Market Street, has been open since May 20. It is open Wednesday-Sunday, from noon to 9 p.m.
Co-owner Ken Rowe said that people in the play space can have sex — as long as they wear a mask.
“We have condoms and lube upstairs and technically, if they’re wearing masks, they can,” Rowe said when asked about how intimate people can get at the reopened venue. “We’ve improved air ventilation. There are definitely rules we’ve had to adjust to.”
Rowe said that Eros — the sole remaining gay sex club in San Francisco following the closure of Blow Buddies amid the pandemic last year — will be receiving further clarification from city officials about what’s allowed in its play space soon. The locker rooms, steam rooms, and showers are open, and people don’t have to wear masks in those spaces, though each has a capacity limit.
The club is operating at 25% capacity, that is, no more than 40 persons, Rowe said.
Patrons will be asked to show proof of vaccination, or of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours, to enter, Rowe said.
When asked about business, Rowe said, “The numbers are good.”
“For Memorial Day — which we opened because it is a special day — our numbers were the same as in 2019,” Rowe said.
Eros had been open for a brief time in October, as the B.A.R. reported at that time.
Due to the pandemic conditions then ongoing, Eros was rebranded as a “jack-off club,” which up to a dozen people could visit, provided they physically distanced.
It had closed, along with the other sex venues, last March amid COVID-19 concerns.
One-time entry to Eros is now $20 and comes with a free six-month membership.
Rowe speculated that because Steamworks Berkeley reopens after the end of the mask mandate and capacity limits on June 15, that venue may not have a mask requirement when its hot tubs are turned on.
Steamworks Berkeley to open June 17 Steamworks Berkeley — the sole remaining gay bathhouse in the Bay Area following the closure of the Watergarden in San Jose amid the pandemic last year — did not respond to multiple requests for comment by press time. But, an outgoing greeting that plays at Steamworks’ phone number states that it will be opening June 17.
The message states that Steamworks, which had heretofore been open 24/7, will be open from Thursdays at 8 a.m. until Mondays at 8 a.m.
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Love Island 2021 is rumoured to have the most diverse line-up yet (Picture: ITV)
An ITV boss has addressed Love Island 2021’s rumoured diverse line-up but says having gay contestants leads to ‘logistical difficulties’.
The hit ITV2 dating series is set to return to screens this summer with Laura Whitmore hosting. It has been off-air for more than a year with the last series cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s speculated that the new line-up will feature Love Island’s most diverse cast yet with contestants of ‘all shapes and sizes’.
ITV commissioner Amada Stavri has now addressed whether the upcoming series will feature queer contestants.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Stavri said: ‘In terms of gay Islanders, I think the main challenge is regarding the format of Love Island.
‘There’s a sort of logistical difficulty, because although Islanders don’t have to be 100% straight, the format must sort of give [the] Islanders an equal choice when coupling up.
Viewers are excited to see Love Island return to screens this summer (Picture: ITV)
‘With our dating shows, such as The Cabins, there is much more sexual diversity. The formats don’t have as much restrictions as Love Island. So we’re very sort of mindful of that across our programming on ITV and dating series. But that’s the difficulty with Love Island.’
Love Island has welcomed LGBT contestants in the past.
Katie Salmon was the first bisexual contestant to appear on the show and had a relationship with fellow islander, Sophie Graydon, in 2016.
Meghan Barton Hanson, who appeared on the show in 2018, came out as bi after leaving the infamous villa.
Speculation about the search for this year’s contestants ramped up when Just had an advert for @LoveIsland on @Tinder – does this mean they are finally having gay contestants?!’ asked one.
Meanwhile, another voiced their confusion: ‘Hey @Tinder I keep getting one person tweeted: ‘Love Island ads for me to apply. I’m gay, I can’t go on this show, it’s for straight people. Can you not pls.’
Another said: ‘Hey @Tinder I keep getting Love Island ads for me to apply. I’m gay, I can’t go on this show, it’s for straight people. Can you not pls.’
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A collective of indie devs on itch.io are marking Pride Month by selling a “Queer Games Bundle” featuring more than 200 games from 195 creators.
Why it matters: Pride month initiatives like the Queer Games Bundle are premised on supporting queer developers in a material way.
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“Purchasing the Queer Games Bundle is a direct action that you can take right now to support queer people in a life changing way,” the campaign reads.
“If we had 1/3rd of the budget of an AAA game, we could give every solo developer a livable wage for a year and every single team a massive funding boost. Imagine what the developers and artists in this bundle could create a year from now if they weren’t worried about starving or how to pay their rent this month.”
The big picture: Major companies tend to celebrate Pride with deals on games, donations and a lot of rainbows — goodwill initiatives that do little to give back to queer developers.
Efforts like Square Enix donating Pride merch profits to LGBT organizations, or Microsoft boosting queer-centered games on its platforms, are a good start. But they’re also a business move.
Change requires investing in queer devs, supporting their work year-round, hiring them, and putting them into positions of power.
Between the lines: Representation of queer characters in games is better than it’s ever been, especially over the past decade. Consider that games like Gone Home, Life is Strange, Dragon Age, The Last of Us, and more have put the stories of queer characters at the forefront. 2020 included several games that expanded that catalogue.
2020’s most lauded game, Hades, included a cast of bi, gay, and non-binary characters.
The Last of Us Part 2 from Naughty Dog is the biggest AAA developer yet to create a game with multiple queer characters.
Quirky action-adventure game Bugsnax featured several queer couples.
By the numbers: In 2020, as reported by Out, a Nielsen study found that 10% of gamers over the age of 18 identify as LGBT.
2,000 LGBT identifying participants over the age of 18 said they identified as:
The bottom line: Video game companies that say they’re invested in change have to create those differences from within through more than just rainbows a few weeks once a year.
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A gay Republican candidate was left shocked after a party official said she was “sickened” to learn that he had adopted children.
Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette, who is running for a seat in the Second Congressional District in Massachusetts, was horrified when he saw an email sent by fellow Republican Deborah Martell which suggested he shouldn’t be raising children.
Sossa-Paquette and his husband Julian are proud dads to Ashley, 19, and Rylan, 10.
Martell, who represents the district of Ludlow on the Republican State Committee, made the anti-gay remarks in an email sent to members of the Republican Party in Massachusetts on 15 May.
In the email – seen by The Boston Globe – Martell wrote: “I heard he was a ‘married’ homosexual man, who adopted children. I was sickened to hear this.”
Sossa-Paquette became aware of her comments days later and he decided to confront her by email, saying he planned to go to the media about what she had said.
Martell replied: “I am a Catholic who loves God and His Ten Commandments. I wish the best for every person in the world, including you!”
She continued: “What sickened me was that you adopted children… Children deserve a mom and a dad. That’s how God designed marriage and the family.”
Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker branded the comments ‘abhorrent’
Martell’s comments have led to condemnation from some Republicans in Massachusetts – however, others have opted to stay out of the controversy.
Governor Charlie Baker branded Martell’s comments “abhorrent” and said her views “have no place in public discourse and of course have no place in the leadership of a political party founded on protecting individual freedom”.
State representative Shawn Dooley called on Martell to resign over her comments, saying it is “not good enough” for Republicans to “sit on the sideline” and allow her words to go unchecked.
Speaking to NBC Boston, Sossa-Paquette slammed Massachusetts GOP chairman Jim Lyons, saying he went to him with Martell’s remarks but was not taken seriously.
Sossa-Paquette claimed Lyons told him he “wasn’t going to get involved” in the debacle, prompting disappointment from the candidate and from others in the party.
The gay man said he has faced bigotry throughout his life because of his sexuality and insisted that he won’t put up with it in the Republican Party.
Buddy Gay Coonfield, 89, widower of Dorothy Burnett Lance Coonfield, died Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, Greenwood.
Born in Tulsa, OK, Buddy was a son of the late William A. Coonfield and Gracie Young Coonfield Blake. He was retired from Ray’s Jewelers and served in the US Army Reserves, where he was a Staff Sergeant. He was a member of Harris Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Sandra G. “Sandi” Lance.
Surviving are his children, Sandra Coonfield, Lorna Gay Coonfield and Doug Coonfield, all of Texas and Andrew Coonfield of Florida; his stepchildren, Rita Lance of Salem, OR, Jacqueline Ann Weaver of Wyoming and Michael R. Lance of Greenwood; a brother, Bill Coonfield (Martha) of Northridge, CA; and ten grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Frank Thomas officiating.
The service will be recorded and available for viewing by visiting Buddy’s life tribute page at www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be made to Harris Baptist Church, 300 Center Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Saturday, June 5, marks the 40th anniversary of the first official reported cases of what became known as AIDS. The University of Michigan has experts who can discuss.
Celeste M. Watkins-Hayes
Celeste Watkins-Hayes is a professor of public policy and sociology as well as associate dean for academic affairs at the Ford School of Public Policy. She works at the intersection of inequality, public policy and institutions, with a focus on urban poverty and race. Her most recent book, “Remaking a Life: How Women Living with HIV/AIDS Confront Equality,” explores the experiences of women to inform policy.
“When HIV first came into public consciousness, it was understood to be a death sentence,” she said. “Now HIV is a chronic manageable illness, and we are talking about a potential end to the HIV epidemic. What accounts for this transformation 40 years in the making?
“My decades long research into the HIV epidemic tells me that it is critical to tell a comprehensive story of this massive shift, incorporating diverse voices who made enormous contributions over the years to fighting this epidemic. It is also important to understand the work that remains—confronting disparities, shoring up the resources needed to end the epidemic and never forgetting those who we lost.”
Gary Harper is a professor of health behavior and health education at the School of Public Health. His research and community work focus on the mental health and sexual health needs of adolescents and young adults who experience varying degrees of oppression and marginalization. He has worked collaboratively with community agencies to develop and evaluate a range of culturally and developmentally appropriate mental health, sexual health and HIV prevention programs for youth—working domestically in large urban cities and globally in Botswana, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia.
“While we have made tremendous advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV in the past 40 years, the fight is far from over! Unfortunately HIV disproportionately impacts some of the most oppressed and marginalized people in the US and worldwide (especially gay men and transgender women), so there is still a lack of general public discourse and urgency to adequately address the HIV pandemic. In the US, Black gay and bisexual men continue to have the highest rates of new HIV infections compared to all other groups according to the CDC, with structural-level factors such as racism, homophobia, poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to healthcare being key factors in these elevated rates.”
Rob Stephenson, professor of nursing and director of the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities at the School of Nursing, works primarily on developing and testing interventions to improve sexual health outcomes, focusing on HIV prevention among sexual and gender minority populations in the U.S. and globally. He can discuss the need to focus on couples and relationships when preventing HIV, the role of violence in shaping HIV risk, and the need to focus on stigma as a driver of the HIV epidemic.
“Although four decades into the epidemic we now have more biomedical tools to fight HIV than ever before—including highly effective PrEP—we still have a long way to go in fighting the multiple layers of stigma and discrimination that prevent sexual and gender minorities from effectively engaging in HIV prevention,” he said.
Kristi Gamarel is an assistant professor of health behavior and health education at the School of Public Health. Her community-centered, interdisciplinary research focuses on stigma, close relationships and LGBTQ+ health. Her current NIH-funded projects seek to understand and address inequities in HIV and substance use among transgender women and gay and bisexual men. She is a founding member of the “Love Her Collective,” a Detroit community-academic partnership between the Trans Sistas of Color Project and the U-M School of Public Health.
“Over the last 40 years, we have seen incredible strides in behavioral and biomedical strategies to prevent HIV transmission and acquisition risk, and ensure that people living with HIV live longer and healthier lives,” she said. “However, there is still so much work to do. The most marginalized communities are still most burdened by the HIV epidemic in the U.S. and globally.
“Intersectional stigma and violence (e.g., racism, heterosexism, cissexism, misogyny, HIV stigma) fuels structural vulnerabilities and contributes to HIV inequities across both the HIV prevention and care continua. Of course, we all hope for an effective vaccine. It’s time for us to invest in community-led solutions to dismantle intersectional stigma and address structural drivers of HIV transmission and acquisition risk.”
Rogério Meireles Pinto, professor of social work and associate dean for research and innovation at the School of Social Work, focuses on academic, sociopolitical and cultural venues for broadcasting oppressed voices. His community-engaged research impacts access and delivery of evidence-based HIV services to racial/ethnic and sexual minorities in the United States and in Brazil.
“We’ve made tremendous advances in AIDS/HIV research in the last four decades, but the contributions of minority practitioners, such as social workers, are seldom highlighted in the media or literature,” he said. “This group often connects better with people of color to help them get treatment or access to resources.
“For instance, my longitudinal research shows that practitioners with Latinx identities are more likely to help clients access lifesaving services by making more referrals to HIV services and by offering HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis education. Thus, the HIV continuum of care—which outlines the steps that people with HIV endure from diagnosis to maintaining viral suppression—could not have succeeded without the contributions of minority practitioners.”
This week read about a fashion company releasing rainbow jockstraps for Pride Month, “Feel Good” season 2 premiering on Netflix June 4, and stylist Law Roach appearing on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter.
‘Feel Good’ Second Season to Air on Netflix
A new trailer for the short-lived series “Feel Good,” has been released by Netflix.
We were introduced to the main character Mae Martin, in the first season, and followed her around as a gender-fluid member of the LGBT community. Where fans instantly found a connection with the show’s dark comedy towards the life of Mae.
According to Netflix, this second season follows Mae and Georgie as Mae struggles to come to terms with the ghosts from her past and Georgie tries to reinvent her present.
While the release of this second season will be the last and final season for the series, fans still got to get a bittersweet chance to make a connection with a new character that they can relate to.
Season 2 of “Feel Good” premieres on Netflix June 4.
Balenciaga Releasing Pride Jockstraps?
Courtesy of Balenciaga.
Balenciaga is releasing a line of Gay Pride clothes, and you guessed it — Jockstraps are on the menu.
This limited collection will only be available for a limited amount of time, where it is only available in certain stores and online.
This seemed to be a snowball effect from Calvin Klein, where according to OUT, they released the first batch of jockstraps in 2019 as part of their Pride collection.
Not long after, in 2020, Versace then followed along and dropped their own set of jockstraps, and now it seems like Balenciaga is the third company to do the same.
Creative Director for Balenciaga Demna Gvasalia, wants to use this collection as a way to project his voice for the LGBT community.
“It’s important to push through against homophobia. I’m not someone who goes out in the street and shouts. But this is the political fashion activism I can do,” Gvasalia said.
Law Roach Makes History
Law Roach. Photo via @luxurylaw, Instagram.
Law Roach is a must-know name in the stylist community, while he made history once by being the first Black stylist to be on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top Stylist list, he continues to break barriers by reaching the number one spot on that list.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, Roach’s hard work has paid off. According to OUT, Roach appears on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter with Zendaya and Anya Taylor-Joy, two of his clients.
However this is just the tip of the iceberg for Roach. His list of clients ranges everywhere from Ariana Grande to Tom Holland and many more.
Even with this extensive clientele, Roach, like everyone, was still worried about job security when COVID-19 first hit.
“I run a global, multimillion-dollar business. I did really well, even in COVID. So that part of it is great, you know. As a person, I just want to do the things that I’m doing now and figure out more ways to help other people. I created a fund during COVID to give back to Black-owned beauty and fashion businesses in Chicago,” Roach told The Hollywood Reporter.
Luxury Law’s Instagram paid respects to Roach’s achievement by uploading various pictures from a photoshoot.
One caption read, “STYLIST OF THE YEAR! The little black boy who wore couture.”
The 2021 US Gymnastics Championships start June 3, and ahead of the national competition, gymnast Jade Carey showcased an incredible tumbling pass on floor. It’s a triple-twisting double back layout, also referred to as a laid-out triple-double or triple-double layout, seen above (that’s three full twists and two backflips in a laid-out position). For comparison, Simone Biles does this move in a tucked position — it’s her name-bearing triple-double (three full twists and two backflips).
According to gymnastics media sources at podium training, Biles congratulated and high-fived Carey after witnessing the soaring skill. NBC commentator and former gymnast Tim Daggett reported that Biles said “that’s crazy!” upon seeing it. Other gymnasts chimed in as well. “Team USA Women continue to blaze the trail BRAVO,” 1996 Olympian Dominique Moceanu tweeted. Two-time Olympian Aly Raisman wrote, “So difficult. Congrats!!“
In men’s gymnastics, this skill, called “Shirai 3,” is named after Japan’s Kenzo Shirai. It is not currently recognized as an official skill in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points, which puts Carey on track to getting it named after her if she successfully lands it at a major International Gymnastics Federation competition. (Note: So far, there’s a double-twisting double back layout dubbed the “Moors” in the women’s Code of Points, which has one fewer full twist than Carey’s skill. It’s named after Canadian gymnast Victoria Moors.)
Carey mathematically clinched one of two individual Tokyo Olympics berths to represent the US. However, she’s still set on competing at the Olympic trials later this month, as a spot on the four-person team is at stake. Even if she doesn’t debut her triple-double layout during floor routines in either Nationals session (June 4 and June 6) — or at the Olympics, for that matter — it’s an iconic skill. Excuse us while we go replay the clip until we get dizzy!
