On Saturday, May 8, Elon Musk hosted “Saturday Night Live,” anticipated by a plethora of memes and online discourse. However, a lot of heat and controversy also resulted from that episode thanks to a sketch called “Gen Z Hospital.”
This was a sketch that poked fun at Generation Z increasingly calling each other “bestie” and saying phrases like “it’s the ___ for me.” The criticism of the sketch pointed out that these increasingly popular phrases stem out of African American English (AAE). In fact, much of popular culture and trends stem from AAE and Black internet culture.
There is a general issue in the mainstream where we imagine that a lot of trendy language is slang created by young girls and white gay men, but this is almost never the case in actuality. For example, the word “tea” is too frequently associated with said groups, despite the fact that it actually originated from Black drag culture.
On top of this, something less discussed is the frequent use of digital blackface by people on Twitter. Digital blackface is the use of gifs of Black people as reactions online, using Blackness to display an exaggeration of emotion –– and almost make caricatures of Black people.
“We are your sass, your nonchalance, your fury, your delight, your annoyance, your happy dance, your diva, your shade, your ‘yaas’ moments,” Lauren Michele Jackson wrote in Teen Vogue. “The weight of reaction GIFing, period, rests on our shoulders. Intertwine this proliferation of our images with the other ones we’re as likely to see — death, looped over and over — and the Internet becomes an exhausting experience.”
As we might say, “It’s the appropriation for me.”
Cultural appropriation is such a big part of Gen Z culture and internet culture that many are starting to lose sight of the fact that what has become cool and trendy was never really “ours” in the first place. Black internet culture is increasingly being used to be “extra,” to be the brunt of the joke, or to be funny.
The issue is that there is a double standard: while the internet hypes up or talks down to Gen Z for their language, that’s not necessarily the reality for Black communities in America. Specifically with Black children, the use of AAE is punished and frowned upon, but here we are, using it as a trend on the internet. It’s the cycle of some parts of Black culture being frowned upon, then hitting the mainstream and having their origins misconstrued.
However, the other issue with the “Gen Z Hospital” sketch, even if it were not related to AAE or appropriation, is that it’s a sketch that makes fun of a younger generation, especially of language used by young girls.
“I just think generational comedy is very lazy — like commenting on the trends of the new generation is very lazy writing, in my opinion,” Jerena Layacan, a fourth-year majoring in drama and sociology, said.
What’s up with punching down at a generation made up of mostly minors? As many have repeated, good comedy punches up. It hits at the perpetrators, and pokes fun at the world at large. It’s a bit of a weird feeling to see a bit that is meant to target minors and young adults who are just trying to navigate the world, and who are still learning. And it’s especially uncomfortable when you see a male writer mocking language that is now frequently associated with young girls.
“I think the purpose of comedy is to point out how ridiculous some people’s takes on certain things are,” Layacan said. “I think that part of comedy should just … put it in a different perspective on how kind of outlandish some things can be in our world.”
The scope of what can be made fun of and whether anything is off limits in comedy and dark humor is often debated. I myself love comedy; it’s probably too much of my personality, if we’re being honest. However, in situations like these, there’s a lot of missed context that shouldn’t just boil this down to “Oh we’re just making fun of those TikTok and Twitter teens.”
Beyond myself being one of said teenagers, it’s hard to find the humor of punching down at people who will probably be mocked for everything just for being Gen Z and are just trying to move through life. Gen Z has its issues, especially with appropriation on the internet and many of us growing up on the internet, but it doesn’t feel like the best play to make a joke with thinly veiled racism and misogyny.
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James persevered through an injured ankle, a big first-half deficit and being poked in the eye late in the fourth quarter to add another highlight to his impressive resume.
James made a long, go-ahead 3-pointer with 58.2 seconds remaining, rallying the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-100 victory over the Golden State Warriors in a Western Conference play-in tournament game Wednesday night.
“After the finger to the eye, I was seeing three rims and shot at the middle one. By grace, I was able to knock it down,” said James, who finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his sixth triple-double of the season. “I’ve been poked in the eye before.
“It is going to be sore tonight and tomorrow, but we got a big-time win.”
James was poked by Draymond Green while driving to the basket with 2:07 remaining. But he made the biggest shot when the defending NBA champions needed it the most. His 34-foot, 3-pointer over Stephen Curry as the shot clock was winding down is his longest make of the season. According to ESPN Stats and Information, it is also the longest go-ahead shot in the final 3 minutes of any game in his career.
“He proved why he is the best player in the world. Just add it to the list of great plays and accomplishments,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
Anthony Davis scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers won their sixth straight and overcame 37 points from league scoring champ Curry.
Golden State had a chance to send it into overtime, but Kent Bazemore had a bad inbounds pass and sealed the victory for the Lakers — who earned the seventh seed for the playoffs and a first-round matchup with second-seeded Phoenix.
“He made a great shot, obviously, at the end. We’ve played against him so many times over the years, we know how good LeBron is,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.
Golden State hosts Memphis, which defeated San Antonio in Wednesday’s other play-in game, for the eighth seed on Friday. The winner of that game will face top-seeded Utah.
James and Davis were 3 of 19 from the field in the first half before getting back on track. They combined to go 14 of 22 in the second half.
Los Angeles trailed by 13 at halftime and were down by 12 midway through the third quarter before rallying back. They didn’t get their first lead until Kyle Kuzma’s layup 56 seconds into the fourth quarter put them up 81-79.
The final 12 minutes saw three lead changes and five ties. The Warriors were up 98-95 on Curry’s bank shot before the Lakers scored seven of the game’s final nine points.
Grizzlies 100, Spurs 96
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The young Memphis Grizzlies finally have a play-in victory to their credit, yet they’re nowhere near satisfied.
Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.
“It feels good, but I mean we’re not in the playoffs yet,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said. “Just have to turn the page.”
The Grizzlies will play at Golden State on Friday night for the No. 8 seed and a first-round series starting Sunday against top-seeded Utah. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Warriors 103-100 on Wednesday night to take the No. 7 seed and a first-round spot against Phoenix.
Memphis is trying to snap a skid of three straight seasons without a postseason berth with last season ending with a loss to Portland in the NBA’s first play-in game.
“We still have one more in front of us,” Grizzlies center Jonas Valnciunas said. “Really important. The same importance as tonight. It’s going to be do or die. That’s how we build our confidence. That’s how we build our experience.”
Valanciunas had a season-high 23 rebounds and 23 points for Memphis. Morant added 20 points and six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 10 points.
DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay each scored 20 points as the Spurs lost their fifth straight. Dejounte Murray had his fifth triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Keldon Johnson added 11 and Jacob Poeltl 10.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he told his Spurs he didn’t know if he’s ever been more proud of a team that just doesn’t quit.
“No matter what the mistakes, no matter what the circumstances are, they really fight,” Popovich said. “That’s a good base. So, I’m really proud of the way they conducted themselves and played to win.”
The Spurs last led 83-81 on Johnson’s 3 with 6:55 left. Brooks started his scoring spurt with the Grizzlies trailing 80-79, and his driving 5-footer with 5:57 to go put Memphis ahead to stay at 85-83.
“We put ourselves in a hole early, but we fought all the way back, and had the game,” DeRozan said. “Let a couple of possessions slip away from us, and that kind of hurt us.”
Memphis pulled out all the stops possible in a pandemic in the biggest home game since the Grizzlies’ last playoff appearance in 2017 against these very Spurs.
Inside the FedExForum, capacity was doubled to 40 percent with a sellout of 7,019 fans, and a yellow towel proclaiming “NXT UP MEMPHIS” was on each seat. Rapper Al Kapone performed outside during halftime and was shown on the video board with fans joining in waving towels when he sang “Whoop That Trick.”
Once a year, Europeans come together in a flurry of flags, spangles and disco beats to compete for the continent’s pop crown at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The coronavirus pandemic canceled the contest in 2020 for the first time in six decades. But now it’s back. On Saturday, performers from 26 countries will vie for Eurovision victory during a live televised final in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
The prize is glory for the winning nation, though rarely mega-stardom for the winning act. A few international stars have emerged from Eurovision’s sequined ranks, including Swedish pop titans ABBA — victors in 1974 with “Waterloo” — and Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion, who won the 1988 contest for Switzerland.
Others have sunk without a trace — hello, Britain’s 2007 budget airline-themed novelty act Scooch — or saw their musical fame peak with Eurovision success, such as Irish singer Dana, who won as a teenager in 1970, or British pop quartet Buck’s Fizz, who took the prize in 1981.
Launched in 1956 to foster unity after World War II, Eurovision evolved over the years from a bland ballad-fest to a campy, feelgood extravaganza. It has grown from seven countries to include more than 40, including non-European nations such as Israel and far-away Australia.
But despite its peace-through-pop ethos, the song contest has not escaped entanglement in geopolitics.
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There are annual grumbles about bloc voting, with Nordic nations often supporting one another and Greece and Cyprus giving each other top marks. Britain blames its European outlier status for its failure to win the contest since 1997 — though its tendency to send underpowered entries may also be a factor.
Contest organizers screen the songs for any hint of political content that could sour the harmony. In 2009, Georgian entry “We Don’t Wanna Put In” was nixed because it took a dig at Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In 2014, the audience booed Russian singing twins Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy because of their country’s invasion of Crimea, and 2017 host country Ukraine barred Russia’s entry amid conflict between the neighboring nations.
The contest’s most memorable acts have transcended borders with glorious extravagance or eccentric individualism. There was silver-spangled Ukrainian drag performer Verka Serduchka in 2007, and six singing grandmothers from a Russian village who performed as the Buranovskiye Babushki in 2012.
To the uninitiated, Eurovision can appear ridiculous. But fans treasure its mix of kitschy fun and genuine emotion. For every ludicrous Lordi — the Finnish rockers in latex monster masks who won in 2006 — there is a Dana International, the transgender Israeli singer whose 1998 contest win was a landmark for LGBT people in her homeland.
The victory of Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst in 2014 was a moment of triumph for many of the contest’s gay fans, but also showed that equality was still some way off. The bearded diva’s achievement was hailed by many as a gain for diversity and tolerance but condemned by nationalist politicians in Russia as evidence of Western degeneracy.
Sister Dana sez, “In a recent poll, Tr@mp’s Big Lie is gaining ground—40% of Americans now believe that the 2020 election was fraudulent and don’t believe Joe Biden won the Presidency. How can we still rightfully call ourselves the UNITED States?!”
ARTSAVESLIVES presents SIDEWALK SALON SUNDAY SLOW STREETS every other Sunday 11 am to 5 pm on Noe and Market—thanks to benefactor/curator/artist Thomasina DeMaio. On May 2, I had the awesome privilege of greeting our glorious San Francisco Emperor David Glamamore & Empress Juanita MORE! and her royal dog as well as Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Bevan Dufty, also lovely songstresses Connie Champagne and Kathleen Antonia. Thanx to vax, we all hugged safely in masks! The featured artists were BillyDouglas, Alexander Prestia, B. June Speaker, Alan Beckstead, Ed Terpening, Suzanne Cowan, Ben Iliili, Cynthia Louise, Matt Pipes, Meehaun Wade, Junara Greco, DeMaio, and Gordon Silveria. You should Google these talented folx and see their amazing works!
Sister Dana sez, “If the CDC recommends a third Moderna booster shot, then I heartily say, ‘Just shoot me!’”
We joined EQUALITY CALIFORNIA for EVENING FOR EQUALITY on May 4th (sorry, but I cannot help but continue the stupid StarWars pun of “May the Fourth Be with You”—well, I said I was sorry) for an evening of online conversation and entertainment as they raised critical funds to support the organization’s work to ensure LGBTQ+ Californians have access to the resources they need to navigate the COVID-19 public health crisis and land on their feet. Rick Chavez Zbur is stepping down as executive directorand taking his place is Tony Hoang (proud son of immigrants, who has been with EQCA since 2009). Hoang hopes the LGBTQ community can be a beacon for AAPI and LGBTQ civil rights. The lineup of special guests and performances for the virtual event included U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (out and proud but scarily in a Republican district), and amazing activist and drag star Honey Mahogany addressing homelessness and transphobia. Standout live singing performances were by Peppermint, Estelle, Justin Tranter, and Jake Wesley Rogers. The guest host was Ryan Mitchell.
Sister Dana sez, “Why does Fox News conspiracy theorist F**ker Carlson ask so so many questions that have already been answered over and over again?!”
NCLR presentedCHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE on May 1l, celebrating 44 years of fighting for equality, access, and equity for all—and raising nearly $400,000. There were so many highlights, from the inspiring remarks of Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon to hearing from some of our favorite represented officials like State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and State Senator Sarah McBride, and many more. You can view the evening on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/c52d59zt
Did you ever listen to a song written by one of the greats and hear a phrase that made you say, “Did I just hear what I think I heard?” In this fun and tuneful show virtually presented by THEATRE RHINO, GAY AS THEY SAY, Mark Nadler explores the theory that Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Larry Hart, and Billy Strayhorn meant what you think they meant when they wrote provocative, gay-sounding phrases in their lyrics. This world premiere performance created for Theatre Rhinoceros runs May 21, 22 at 8 pm and May 23 at 3 pm. https://tinyurl.com/ju5wvn6m
In conjunction with TMIM Emperor Mr. David Glamamore and Empress Juanita MORE!, TRUE COLORS was a May 15 online fundraiser celebrating performers of color, and benefiting THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT. It was hosted by Ms. Golden Gate Bernadette Bohan and Mr. Golden Gate Ashlé Blow. There were sterling performances by Mr. Gay San Francisco Sage Sanchez Munro, Miss Gay Linda Summers, Absolute Empress 52 Mercedez Munro, Mx. Cowhand Foxxy Blue Snacks, The One and Only Rexy, Kippy Marks, Ehra Amaya, Mercury Van Sciver, Afrika America, Sister Koko D’Amore, and Bebe Sweetbriar.
Check out the leatheriffic mural on the side of MOBY DICK bar, GEAR UP!, by proud gay artist Serge Gay Jr. of a multi-pin and patch adorned black leather jacket, red bandana band, cap, Converse kicks, and red high heel. I have reviewed this talented artist many times when he has exhibited in the Castro at Strut, Art Attack, and other venues. BTW Moby Dick hopes to open inside again very soon.
Mayor Breed has announced that the city is planning a new public art installation to honor Black lives and the history of African Americans. The installation is planned to be located in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse next month, in time for Juneteenth. The installation, MONUMENTAL RECKONING, by Bay Area sculptor DanaKing (former KPIX news anchor), honors the first Africans stolen from their homeland and sold into chattel slavery in the New World. The installation consists of 350 sculptures representing the number of Africans initially forced onto the slave ship San Juan Bautista for a journey of death and suffering across the Atlantic. A handful of these original 350 ancestors became America’s first enslaved people.
“Have we already forgotten that 147 Republicans attempted to overthrow a free and fair election just four months ago?” reminds Democratic strategist James Carville. Yes, we need to make Republicans OWN what they did, and we need to remind EVERY voter they betrayed our democracy!
Randy Rainbow, political song parodist to perfection, is at it again with his lively jab at idiotic insurrectionist Josh Hawley and his traitorous gang to the tune of “Clang Clang Clang Went the Trolley.” https://tinyurl.com/m7n7n6jn
Actress Doris Bumpus stars, nay, isBillie Holiday in 42ND STREET MOON’S stellar production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL streaming online now through May 30. Set in 1959 in South Philadelphia, Billie Holiday takes the stage in a little nothing bar for one of her final performances before her untimely death. Get your drink on while enjoying some of her most famous songs like “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit,” and “God Bless the Child”—but also lesser known numbers such as “When a Woman Loves a Man” and “Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer.” Lady Day talks about the good old and the bad old days—from racism in the Artie Shaw Big Band (with pretty proper peepee revenge), to addiction to wrongful jail-time. You will discover just how she got her name. She loves to riff with her piano accompanist Jimmie Powers (Marcus McCauley, who will play a sweet set while Billie has a small breakdown and then returns feeling no pain). https://tinyurl.com/3999rur8
“Getting San Francisco moving forward requires us doing everything we can to get Muni back to full service,” said Mayor Breed. “As we reopen more businesses and activities, it’s essential that our transit service is able to accommodate more passengers and help people get around our city. MUNI subway service, the F-LINE, and more full routes are returning, and Muni is coming back even stronger with new improvements like Wi-Fi in the subway tunnels.” I don’t know about you, but this sisterisbreathing a sigh of relief (difficultly) through my mask.
The new comedy series, KIBITZ WITHOUT YA TITS, features award-winning JoePosa as JoanRivers revealing the men behind the divas in an innovative virtual format. This episode’s special guests are RussK aka Miss Richfield 1981 and StevenBrinberg aka BarbraStreisand. Find out “what becomes a Legend most” as Joan pulls back the curtain and interviews some of the most formidable drag performers out of drag! Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis with a portion of the proceeds benefiting GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER. May 25, 5 pm; May 26, 7 pm. https://tinyurl.com/5267exkj
For over twenty years, OUR FAMILY COALITION has fostered community-building and resilience among LGBTQ+ parents and caregivers through a vibrant calendar of family support workshops, groups, classes, and events; provided education about family diversity and anti-bias work to educators and child-serving professionals, and collaborated alongside partner organizations in vigorous advocacy for social, political, and cultural change. Their work will continue until the full and expanding spectrum of LGBTQ+ families and children are free to fully thrive. On May 14, they held OFC’s 25th Anniversary (virtual) Night Out Goes ALL IN:Honoring Our Past, Embracing Our Future emceed by the amazing Bebe Sweetbriar.
June 5 marks 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported by the federal government. It is also HIV LONG-TERM SURVIVORS AWARENESS DAY. On this important date in the long fight against HIV/AIDS, the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL—the nation’s federally-designated memorial to AIDS—will honor and remember the more than 700,000 lives lost to AIDS during the past four decades. Forty blocks of the Quilt will be on display, symbolic of four decades of activism, hope, resilience, and remembrance. It will be the largest display of the Quilt in nearly two years. June 6, from noon to 6 pm, the Grove will be open to the public to see the Quilt. https://www.aidsmemorial.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Liz Cheney is no hero, but at least she stood up to the House Repugnican insurrectionists who continue Tr*mp’s Big Lie over the ‘stolen election,’ and then got ousted from leadership for truth telling.”
With all that’s come to light concerning what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood both today and way back in the day, hearing that actors have been blackmailed over certain things isn’t too surprising, but finding out what’s true and what’s a bunch of hype to sell the news is often hard to do since rumor and gossip can rule the day when such is allowed. But decades ago when coming out of the closet, as the saying goes, wasn’t as desired or accepted, it’s easy to think that homosexual actors were either given the boot if they refused to step in line, or were told that they had to act the part that everyone wanted to believe in. Some might not like what I’m about to say but in this day and age, all a person can do is say ‘oh well’ and go with it. It’s not always possible to tell who’s what since the fact is that between cis-gendered individuals and everyone else (there are a lot of classifications after all), there isn’t always an easy way to tell who’s straight, who’s gay, who’s bisexual, and so on and so forth. Gay men aren’t always the stereotypical types with limp wrists and a lisp to their speech as has been depicted in a comical fashion, and straight men aren’t always the burly, bushy-bearded types that can chop down a tree or fix an engine. But the unfortunate fact is that back in the day, once a person was found to be one or the other, or even if they liked women and men in more than a platonic manner, they were labeled without mercy and for actors, their job prospects tended to dry up since most people didn’t want to support what was deemed as a ‘deviant’ lifestyle.
Even today there are plenty of bigots who don’t want to support anything other than the cis-gendered norms that society has kept in place. But unlike today, when social media can be turned upon a person to ruin them, be it an actor or a producer or a director, the stars of the past had to deal with a lot more since there wasn’t an easily accessible form of defending themselves, and there was a lot less tolerance. One reason why it’s frustrating in this day and age to hear that someone is being discriminated against because of their sexual preference is that there’s far more tolerance now than ever before, meaning the LGBTQ+ community can operate freely and expect to be treated fairly in many regards, especially when it comes to Hollywood, which opened its doors a while back and hasn’t been shy about the subject of homosexuality any longer. Hearing that there are still problems isn’t something that’s bound to go away, but hearing that the persecution is worse and that people within the community have it so hard these days, oh yes, some folks have said this, is laughable since compared to what happened decades before, the LGBTQ+ community has gained a much louder voice and in some cases has been able to push their cause in ways that could be deemed aggressive when no aggression was warranted. Back in the day a lot of homosexual actors had to be careful of what image they showed and who they were pictured with since otherwise, their career could be over if they were discovered to be openly homosexual. Today, there’s not as much of a stigma attached to this and there are plenty of movies that feature the LGBTQ+ community in one way or another.
The fact is that no one should be discriminated against for anything that’s not bound to harm another individual, and emotional harm to one’s family for being outed as homosexual or any other variation of the word is something that only the individual and their family and friends can control. Blackmailing homosexual actors in the past was undoubtedly wrong and more than a little harmful since it not only forced people to hide who they were but it also gave people a false impression of those they looked up to and idolized. Today, actors that belong to the LGBTQ+ community are far more prevalent and are able to be who they are and enjoy the life that they feel is meant for them. There are still plenty of people that respond with outrage, disgust, and even bigoted statements that are aimed at such individuals, but they tend to be smaller voices than those heard in the past. In essence, those that identify as LGBTQ+ today are still subjected to ill feelings and words, but the support they enjoy is greater than ever before, and being blackmailed out of a job due to their sexuality is no longer a possibility since the legal and social ramifications that come with such an act are heavy indeed.
Police have been told they are no longer welcome to march in uniform at this weekend’s Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne because other gay and lesbian attendees said it made them ‘feel unsafe’.
The Victorian Pride Lobby penned an open letter calling on organisers of the two-week LGBTIQA+ arts festival to prevent law enforcement officers from taking part as an organised part of the march.
The activist group said individual officers are welcome to take part as individuals on Sunday but should leave their uniform at home.
Victorian police officers have officially taken part in the Midsumma Pride March for the past two decades and say banning them ‘doesn’t feel like inclusivity’.
Police in uniform are not welcome at this weekend’s Midsumma Pride March (pictured) because other gay and lesbian attendees ‘feel unsafe’
Organizers justified the decision based on a survey of 1500 LGBTIQA+ community members about attitudes towards police.
The group claims the results overwhelmingly supported that participants are against uniformed police marching in at the event.
‘Pride March should be a safe space for all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, but sadly, due to a long history police violence, harassment and discrimination, this isn’t the case,’ the letter said.
‘Particularly for the most marginalised in our community, who are disproportionately targeted.’
Victorian Pride Lobby co-convenor Nevena Spirovska said it’s time Midsumma listened to the community’s concerns.
‘The LGBTIQA+ community has a fraught history with the police… and that’s why the Victorian Pride Lobby does not support police officers and corrections officers marching at Pride in uniform,’ she said.
‘It is important to note that no individual, no matter their occupation or background, is being excluded from participating in Pride March and that people have the opportunity to join other community floats that are involved.’
The Victorian Pride Lobby penned an open letter calling on organisers of the two-week LGBTIQA+ arts festival to prevent law enforcement officers from taking part. Pictured: Midsumma Pride March
Last year a survey of 1500 community members was conducted by the Victorian Pride Lobby, asking about attitudes towards police
But Neil Paterson, the Assistant Commissioner of the Victorian Police and who is also gay, said the lobby’s viewpoint does not match his experience marching at the rally.
‘As a gay man I’m very, very well connected in the broader LGBTI community,’ he told told 3AW radio.
‘I’m very aware of their opinions and overwhelmingly the vast majority of the LGBTI community absolutely love having police there.’
Mr Paterson said the lobby’s stance goes against everything the parade stands for and that he ‘absolutely’ plans to march on the weekend.
‘One of the hallmarks of pride is inclusivity — and it doesn’t feel inclusive,’ he said.
In December last year, a similar bid was launched to ban police and prison officer floats from the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney.
Organisers at the annual general meeting held a vote on the issue but it was voted down with motion only gaining 44 per cent of the vote.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The young Memphis Grizzlies finally have a play-in victory to their credit, yet they’re nowhere near satisfied.
Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.
“It feels good, but I mean we’re not in the playoffs yet,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said. “Just have to turn the page.”
The Grizzlies will play the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Lakers, who played later Wednesday night for the No. 7 seed, for the No. 8 seed Friday night and a first-round series starting Sunday against the top-seeded Utah Jazz.
Memphis is trying to snap a skid of three straight seasons without a postseason berth with last season ending with a loss to Portland in the NBA’s first play-in game.
“We still have one more in front of us,” Grizzlies center Jonas Valnciunas said. “Really important. The same importance as tonight. It’s going to be do or die. That’s how we build our confidence. That’s how we build our experience.”
Valanciunas had a season-high 23 rebounds and 23 points for Memphis. Morant added 20 points and six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 10 points.
DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay each scored 20 points as the Spurs lost their fifth straight. Dejounte Murray had his fifth triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Keldon Johnson added 11 and Jacob Poeltl 10.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he told his Spurs he didn’t know if he’s ever been more proud of a team that just doesn’t quit.
“No matter what the mistakes, no matter what the circumstances are, they really fight,” Popovich said. “That’s a good base. So, I’m really proud of the way they conducted themselves and played to win.”
The Spurs last led 83-81 on Johnson’s 3 with 6:55 left. Brooks started his scoring spurt with the Grizzlies trailing 80-79, and his driving 5-footer with 5:57 to go put Memphis ahead to stay at 85-83.
“We put ourselves in a hole early, but we fought all the way back, and had the game,” DeRozan said. “Let a couple of possessions slip away from us, and that kind of hurt us.”
Memphis pulled out all the stops possible in a pandemic in the biggest home game since the Grizzlies’ last playoff appearance in 2017 against these very Spurs.
Inside the FedExForum, capacity was doubled to 40% with a sellout of 7,019 fans, and a yellow towel proclaiming “NXT UP MEMPHIS” was on each seat. Rapper Al Kapone performed outside during halftime and was shown on the video board with fans joining in waving towels when he sang “Whoop That Trick.”
In five playoff series between these teams, the Spurs swept three of the four San Antonio won. Memphis’ only series victory came in 2011 as the then-No. 8 seed, the start of seven straight playoff seasons for the Grizzlies.
Those players are long gone.
On this night, the Grizzlies’ next generation took over with a roster that was the second-youngest at the start of this season rebuilt around Jackson, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2018, and Morant, the second overall draft pick in 2019 and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
The Grizzlies led 38-19 after the first quarter. The Spurs answered with a 22-3 run that pulled them within 41-39. But Morant ended Memphis’ cold spurt with a dunk, and the Grizzlies led 56-49 at halftime.
The teams each scored 16 points in the third as this game turned into a battle. Memphis took a 72-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
Moral change requires regime change. The nature of authority demands it. Today we are experiencing moral revolution and realignment at a rate perhaps never before seen in human history. All around us, the landscape is in flux, as revolution continues its long march through the institutions.
With such change, the facade of consensus that seems to be erected so quickly around fad moralizing can be extremely disorienting. Whether having to do with something as trivial as the benefits of a new superfood, or as serious as the definition of marriage, when yesterday’s conventional wisdom is today regarded as outmoded at best or immoral at worst, our sense of compass can quickly get out of whack.
When certainty abounds and one finds oneself holding an old position against the new majority, the thought can creep into one’s head, “Do I have this wrong? How can everyone else see it so clearly?” This landscape has pushed some in society toward epistemic catastrophe as they come face-to-face with a massive crisis of truth and authority. Who or what can we trust?
This is a particularly vexing question when it comes to authorities caught straddling two moral visions due to a change in their own publicly-stated positions. Of course, when their new position happens to be smack-dab in the center of the emerging consensus, one can be forgiven for questioning their motives. The intellectual gymnastics one has to perform to remain in a position of credibility after becoming more progressive on a moral question are often excruciating to watch. But when this shift happens in a prominent politician or Christian leader, some are left wondering if they might need to make the same judgment in order to maintain integrity and consistency.
The Ten-Year Test
How can we keep our bearings in such a landscape? I think one useful tool available is what we might call the ten-year test. Of course, this test doesn’t have to be limited to a decade — in fact one may find that the longer the period of time, the more striking and reorienting the exercise can be. Here’s the test. Take any issue in flux today and ask what the consensus was ten years ago. This test can be applied to any individual thinker, within a particular community, or to society as a whole.
Obama on Gay Marriage
Take, for example, the issue of gay marriage. Today, gay marriage enjoys a rather comfortable majority support. But ten years ago? In 2011, President Barack Obama was still publicly on record defending traditional marriage against the legalization of gay marriage. It wasn’t until May 2012 in the run-up to his reelection that Obama came out in support of gay marriage. Now, as many have noted before, his evolution on gay marriage was an entirely political calculation that was not one-directional. Obama was for gay marriage before he was against it as a presidential candidate. But what we can learn from Obama’s flip-flopping is that he knew he would be unelectable in 2008 — and perhaps even up until 2012 — if he supported gay marriage. In other words, American society as a whole was against gay marriage as short as ten years ago.
Bill Nye on Gender and Sex
With respect to the conversation surrounding gender, sex, and identity, consider the case of Bill Nye the Science Guy. Readers of a certain generation will remember watching his show after school — or perhaps even during school — as he taught kids a variety of pop-science topics. One episode from the show that has come to light in recent years is on the topic of sex chromosomes. Here is a quote from the show:
“I’m a girl. Could have just as easily been a boy, though, ‘cause the probability of becoming a girl is always one in two. See, inside each of our cells are these things called chromosomes, and they control whether we become a boy or a girl. Your mom has two X chromosomes in all of her cells, and your dad has one X and one Y chromosome in each of his cells. Before you’re born, your mom gives you one of her chromosomes, and your dad gives you one of his. Mom always gives you an X, and if dad gives you an X, too, then you become a girl. But if he gives you his Y, then you become a boy.”
Ten years ago, of course, this was standard scientific knowledge. The basic facts of sex science were not only well-known and common-sensical, but we were teaching them to our children in school. In 2017, however — just four years ago — Bill Nye came out with an exculpatory episode called “The Sexual Spectrum.” Here is Nye’s updated scientific opinion:
“The world is wonderfully diverse. As scientists we use the scientific method to try and understand that diversity. That is what is happening with the study of human sex and sexuality. Right now, biologists, sociologists, anthropologists, they all are trying to figure this out. And they are finding out that human sexuality is on a spectrum.”Coinciding with this episode’s release, Netflix, which hosts the old Bill Nye the Science Guy show, deleted the clip that contradicts Nye’s newfound messaging. The timing of Nye’s new position and its overlap with public opinion is all a bit too convenient.
Who to Poll?
The list could go on, and could cover a wide variety of topics. Consider the current conversation about race in America, in which the term “colorblind” has been problematized — a concept Martin Luther King Jr. himself used in his fight for Civil Rights.
The point of this test is not to condemn all changes in one’s thinking. We all believe something today that is different from what we believed when we were younger. Often change is a sign of growth and maturity. But the point of this test is to highlight the sheer rapidity of change that is taking place on a series of fundamental realities that underwrite human existence, and to underscore the unilaterally progressive direction in which the change is headed, undermining the natural family — not a coincidence — and civil society.
We should be particularly concerned when trends within the church are pushing the envelope outside the stream of orthodoxy and the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints. If a new “evangelical” cause polls better with your average unbeliever today than it would with figures from church history, you should at least pause to consider why.
Morality by Majority
In 1 Samuel 15, Saul disobeyed God’s clear Word because he cared too much about the people’s opinion. He confessed as much to the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:24: “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” This cannot be an option for the believing church. Samuel could not be more clear about what morality by majority means in his response to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:26: “You have rejected the word of the LORD.”
In Samuel’s denouncement, we find our only source for sure and right moral reasoning: the Word of God. With the ten-year test as a tool and God’s Word as our lamp and path, I hope for the sake of this generation and generations to come that we can stop the moral insanity and regain our ethical bearings. We would do well to stop chasing what’s in vogue and recommit to the fundamentals of the faith in the Word of God. Otherwise, every ten years we’ll be refuting ourselves all over again.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The number of candidates the Utah Jazz could face in the first round was cut in half Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, the Lakers advance to face the second-seeded Phoenix Suns, as the Jazz await the outcome of Friday night’s second play-in tournament game between the Warriors and Grizzlies.
The Jazz will open the first-round series against either the Warriors or the Grizzlies Sunday night at 7:30 pm MT.
Jazz Avoid Lebron, Lakers Down Warriors
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Warriors in an instant classic, erasing a double-digit halftime deficit to squeak out a 103-100 victory.
The Lakers stars struggled for most of the night, with James and Davis combining to score just 26 points on 9-29 shooting through the first three quarters of the game.
However, the future Hall of Famers took over in the final period, combining for 21 points on 8-12 shooting and outscoring the Warriors 61-45 in the second half.
Steph Curry scored 37 points while Andrew Wiggins added 21, but the other Warriors starter shot just 6-21 from the floor for 18 combined points, dooming the Golden State offense.
Grizzlies Eliminate Spurs
The Grizzlies avoided a similar fate to the Warriors, fending off a furious Spurs comeback to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Memphis led San Antonio by as much as 21 in the first quarter after jumping out to a 27-6 lead to open the game, but survived late in the fourth quarter defeating the Spurs 100-96.
Dillon Brooks had 24 points and seven rebounds while Jonas Valancuius scored 23 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in the Memphis win.
DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay each had 20 points for the Spurs, but combined to shoot just 13-42 from the floor in the loss.
Friday Matchup:
The Grizzlies now travel to Golden State to face the Warriors on Friday night with the winner advancing to play the Jazz on Sunday night in Salt Lake City.
The Warriors won the season series over the Grizzlies two games to one, including a victory on Sunday that clinched the eighth seed for Golden State.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The young Memphis Grizzlies finally have a play-in victory to their credit, yet they’re nowhere near satisfied.
Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.
“It feels good, but I mean we’re not in the playoffs yet,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said. “Just have to turn the page.”
The Grizzlies will play the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Lakers, who played later Wednesday night for the No. 7 seed, for the No. 8 seed Friday night and a first-round series starting Sunday against the top-seeded Utah Jazz.
Memphis is trying to snap a skid of three straight seasons without a postseason berth with last season ending with a loss to Portland in the NBA’s first play-in game.
“We still have one more in front of us,” Grizzlies center Jonas Valnciunas said. “Really important. The same importance as tonight. It’s going to be do or die. That’s how we build our confidence. That’s how we build our experience.”
Valanciunas had a season-high 23 rebounds and 23 points for Memphis. Morant added 20 points and six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 10 points.
DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay each scored 20 points as the Spurs lost their fifth straight. Dejounte Murray had his fifth triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Keldon Johnson added 11 and Jacob Poeltl 10.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he told his Spurs he didn’t know if he’s ever been more proud of a team that just doesn’t quit.
“No matter what the mistakes, no matter what the circumstances are, they really fight,” Popovich said. “That’s a good base. So, I’m really proud of the way they conducted themselves and played to win.”
The Spurs last led 83-81 on Johnson’s 3 with 6:55 left. Brooks started his scoring spurt with the Grizzlies trailing 80-79, and his driving 5-footer with 5:57 to go put Memphis ahead to stay at 85-83.
“We put ourselves in a hole early, but we fought all the way back, and had the game,” DeRozan said. “Let a couple of possessions slip away from us, and that kind of hurt us.”
Memphis pulled out all the stops possible in a pandemic in the biggest home game since the Grizzlies’ last playoff appearance in 2017 against these very Spurs.
Inside the FedExForum, capacity was doubled to 40% with a sellout of 7,019 fans, and a yellow towel proclaiming “NXT UP MEMPHIS” was on each seat. Rapper Al Kapone performed outside during halftime and was shown on the video board with fans joining in waving towels when he sang “Whoop That Trick.”
In five playoff series between these teams, the Spurs swept three of the four San Antonio won. Memphis’ only series victory came in 2011 as the then-No. 8 seed, the start of seven straight playoff seasons for the Grizzlies.
Those players are long gone.
On this night, the Grizzlies’ next generation took over with a roster that was the second-youngest at the start of this season rebuilt around Jackson, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2018, and Morant, the second overall draft pick in 2019 and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
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The Grizzlies led 38-19 after the first quarter. The Spurs answered with a 22-3 run that pulled them within 41-39. But Morant ended Memphis’ cold spurt with a dunk, and the Grizzlies led 56-49 at halftime.
The teams each scored 16 points in the third as this game turned into a battle. Memphis took a 72-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
Spurs: San Antonio finished 7-32 when trailing after three quarter. … Murray had his fifth triple-double, most for the Spurs since David Robinson in 1993-94. … Poeltl tied his career-high with five blocks.
Grizzlies: Memphis improved to 35-11 when leading after three. … Valanciunas had his 50th double-double this season during the second quarter. He also had his sixth career game with 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds and fourth this season, most in the NBA. Only Zach Randolph has more in franchise history with 11. … Kyle Anderson matched his career-high with four blocks. … Grayson Allen returned after missing seven games with a left abdominal strain.
BROOKS’ NIGHT
DeRozan led the Spurs in scoring this season and in all but one of their final six games. But he was just 1 of 11 shooting in the first half and finished 5 of 21 from the floor. Morant said Brooks made another case for his inclusion on the NBA’s All-Defense team with how he played against the talented DeRozan.
The Grizzlies improved to 38-14 over the last two seasons when Brooks scores 20 or more.
“I just don’t like losing. I wanted to get to the playoffs,” Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV said.
The Spurs go into the offseason with Popovich having more time to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics as head coach of the U.S. team.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The young Memphis Grizzlies finally have a play-in victory to their credit, yet they’re nowhere near satisfied.
Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.
“It feels good, but I mean we’re not in the playoffs yet,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said. “Just have to turn the page.”
The Grizzlies will play at Golden State on Friday night for the No. 8 seed and a first-round series starting Sunday against top-seeded Utah. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Warriors 103-100 on Wednesday night to take the No. 7 seed and a first-round spot against Phoenix.
Memphis is trying to snap a skid of three straight seasons without a postseason berth with last season ending with a loss to Portland in the NBA’s first play-in game.
“We still have one more in front of us,” Grizzlies center Jonas Valnciunas said. “Really important. The same importance as tonight. It’s going to be do or die. That’s how we build our confidence. That’s how we build our experience.”
Valanciunas had a season-high 23 rebounds and 23 points for Memphis. Morant added 20 points and six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 10 points.
DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay each scored 20 points as the Spurs lost their fifth straight. Dejounte Murray had his fifth triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Keldon Johnson added 11 and Jacob Poeltl 10.
Coach Gregg Popovich said he told his Spurs he didn’t know if he’s ever been more proud of a team that just doesn’t quit.
“No matter what the mistakes, no matter what the circumstances are, they really fight,” Popovich said. “That’s a good base. So, I’m really proud of the way they conducted themselves and played to win.”
The Spurs last led 83-81 on Johnson’s 3 with 6:55 left. Brooks started his scoring spurt with the Grizzlies trailing 80-79, and his driving 5-footer with 5:57 to go put Memphis ahead to stay at 85-83.
“We put ourselves in a hole early, but we fought all the way back, and had the game,” DeRozan said. “Let a couple of possessions slip away from us, and that kind of hurt us.”
Memphis pulled out all the stops possible in a pandemic in the biggest home game since the Grizzlies’ last playoff appearance in 2017 against these very Spurs.
Inside the FedExForum, capacity was doubled to 40% with a sellout of 7,019 fans, and a yellow towel proclaiming “NXT UP MEMPHIS” was on each seat. Rapper Al Kapone performed outside during halftime and was shown on the video board with fans joining in waving towels when he sang “Whoop That Trick.”
In five playoff series between these teams, the Spurs swept three of the four San Antonio won. Memphis’ only series victory came in 2011 as the then-No. 8 seed, the start of seven straight playoff seasons for the Grizzlies.
Those players are long gone.
On this night, the Grizzlies’ next generation took over with a roster that was the second-youngest at the start of this season rebuilt around Jackson, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2018, and Morant, the second overall draft pick in 2019 and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
The Grizzlies led 38-19 after the first quarter. The Spurs answered with a 22-3 run that pulled them within 41-39. But Morant ended Memphis’ cold spurt with a dunk, and the Grizzlies led 56-49 at halftime.
The teams each scored 16 points in the third as this game turned into a battle. Memphis took a 72-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
Spurs: San Antonio finished 7-32 when trailing after three quarter. … Murray had his fifth triple-double, most for the Spurs since David Robinson in 1993-94. … Poeltl tied his career-high with five blocks.
Grizzlies: Memphis improved to 35-11 when leading after three. … Valanciunas had his 50th double-double this season during the second quarter. He also had his sixth career game with 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds and fourth this season, most in the NBA. Only Zach Randolph has more in franchise history with 11. … Kyle Anderson matched his career-high with four blocks. … Grayson Allen returned after missing seven games with a left abdominal strain.
BROOKS’ NIGHT
DeRozan led the Spurs in scoring this season and in all but one of their final six games. But he was just 1 of 11 shooting in the first half and finished 5 of 21 from the floor. Morant said Brooks made another case for his inclusion on the NBA’s All-Defense team with how he played against the talented DeRozan.
The Grizzlies improved to 38-14 over the last two seasons when Brooks scores 20 or more.
“I just don’t like losing. I wanted to get to the playoffs,” Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV said.
The Spurs go into the offseason with Popovich having more time to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics as head coach of the U.S. team.
Sixteen-year-old Mikayla Miller of Hopkinton, a Black teenager who identified as LGBTQ, was found hanging from a tree branch by a belt on April 18, 2021. An early morning jogger found Mikayla’s body on a trail in the Berry Acres Conservation Area. The medical examiner’s office has determined the cause of death was suicide.
Reports in the Boston Herald and elsewhere suggest that Mikayla may have been involved in some sort of physical altercation on the night before her body was found. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan says Mikayla’s mother Calvina Strothers reported that her daughter had been “jumped” and suffered a bloody lip. Vox reported as many as five people, including a girl with whom Mikayla had recently ended a relationship with, may have been involved in the altercation.
A Go Fund Me page established by Strothers says Mikayla “was an athlete and she loved basketball. She was an honors student and had dreams of studying journalism at an HBCU either Howard University or Spelman College. Mikayla wasn’t a troubled child, she was a joy to her family, friends and teammates. She was never arrested or even suspended from school.”
My heart aches at the loss of a child to suicide. Societal pressure on young people today is overwhelming for many, especially if you are a minority and happen to be gay. Society tells young minorities to be angry and rage against the system. Society also pressures young gay people to step out and be proud. Our young have become pawns in the culture wars and are often discarded by the social warriors when they are no longer useful. They become collateral damage.
Add to all of this a pandemic that saw suicides among young people escalate at an alarming rate. Isolation and a nation polarized by race-baiters, activists, and opportunists have added stress to an already volatile situation for many.
Rather than search for clues as to why Mikayla Miller chose to take her own life, those race-baiters, activists, and opportunists have used her death to spread more hate and greater distrust. Shame on them.
If you’re in a dark place, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).
Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
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If it’s June, then it must be Pride month somewhere.
You know about gay pride, right? The month commemorates the riots that took place in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, a New York gay bar that had been raided by police.
That confrontation led to the modern gay rights movement, and gay communities around the world celebrate.
Of course, you don’t have to be gay to join the party.
But bars and other organizations are ready to have a blast in Key West.
Pride Follies — 8 p.m. May 22, the Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St. Pride Follies returns to headline this year’s PRIDE celebration presented by the Key West Business Guild. Fantasy Fest Queen Destiny Montgomery directs. 305-985-0433; www.thekeywesttheater.com.
Wednesday, June 2
Noon — Key West Business Guild Pride kick-off luncheon at Marriott Beachside.
5 p.m. — Key West Pride Kick-off Party at Island House. All are welcome (until 8 p.m.) Free Stoli cocktails, champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Island House is at 1129 Fleming St.
Thursday, June 3
1 p.m. — Naked Pool Party at Equator Resort (men only). No cover charge, music by DJ Kyd, hors d’oeuvres and libations. Raffle, including a three-night stay and a five-night stay at Equator, $50 bar tab. Raffle will benefit the Key West Business Guild (a nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization). Equator is at 822 Fleming St.
4-6 p.m. — Wine Tasting at D’vine Wine Gallery, at The Garden Hotel, 526 Angela St. 20% discount on wine bottle purchase
6:30 p.m. — Fury Sunset Sail “Tea on the Sea” (check in at 6 p.m. Opal Resort, 245 Front St.) Limited tickets. To purchase a ticket, visit fareharbor.com/ embeds/book/furycat/items/6794/availability/ 643308987/ book/?flow=839768 p.m. — Key West Local Bartender Competition at Bourbon Street Pub, 724 Duval St, Key West.
9 p.m. — “ThursGays” at SideBar, 504 Angela St., Key West. Male and female dancers and a DJ. All welcome Pride Party.
Friday, June 4
Noon — Singles, Couples, & Thruples — Oh my! Naked pool party at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. (men only).
Noon — Bartending Class — At 22&Co, 504 Angela St. History of cocktails — Learn how to make five drinks. Cost is $60 per person. Buy tickets at www.eventbrite.com.
8 p.m. — “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” party featuring DJ Mira at AquaPlex, 711 Duval St. (all welcome).
9 p.m. — Fetish Ball at Saloon 1, 504 Petronia St. (men only).
10 p.m. — Glow Party at 801 Bourbon, 801 Duval St. (all welcome).
Saturday, June 5
10 a.m.-7 p.m. — Pride Street Fair (700-900 blocks of Duval Street).
Noon — Pride Pool Party at Bourbon Street Pub, 724 Duval St. (all welcome).
Noon — Kat’s “Are You Wet Yet Pool Party” at Alexander’s Guesthouse, 1118 Fleming St., featuring D.J. Rude Girl of WEOW 92.7 (all welcome party).
9 p.m. — “Rainbow is my Favorite Color” — DJ Moses at AquaPlex, 711 Duval St. (all welcome party).
10 p.m. — Purgatory Party at Bourbon Street Pub, 724 Duval St. (men only).
Sunday, June 6
10 a.m. — MCC Church Pride Service, 1215 Petronia St.
11 a.m. — Unity of the Keys Pride Service, 1011 Virginia St.
Noon — Hot Naked Pool Party at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. (men only).
Noon-5 p.m. — Pride Drag Brunch at Mangoes and Drag After Party, 700 Duval St. $40 per person. Visit www.eventbrite.com for tickets.
3-5 p.m. — Drag Brunch After Party at Mangoes, 700 Duval St.
4-6 p.m. — Famous Tea Dance at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St.
6-10 p.m. — “Rainbow Roast — Everybody gets Porked” at AquaPlex, 711 Duval St. Featuring DJ Mira. Special Drag Queen performances and traditional Hawaiian luau fare, with non-traditional entertainment. Pride Hawaiian attire/apparel encouraged. Tickets: $100. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com. ¦
![The Tragic Suicide of Hopkinton’s Mikayla Miller [OPINION] – wbsm.com](https://www.tampabaygaynewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/the-tragic-suicide-of-hopkintons-mikayla-miller-opinion-wbsm-com.png "The Tragic Suicide of Hopkinton’s Mikayla Miller [OPINION] – wbsm.com")
