LGBTQ Breaking News Service – Page 259

Long Island CVS employee found with fake vaccination cards – Yahoo News

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Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Long Island CVS employee found with fake vaccination cards – Yahoo News

The Week

There’s growing speculation that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will name their daughter ‘Philippa’

According to people who bet on royal baby names, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s soon-to-be-born daughter might be a “Philippa.” The U.K. gambling site Ladbrokes “slashed the betting odds on the name to 3/1” following the death of Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, last month, People reports, noting that the younger generation of the royal family has a recent history of honoring the patriarch (Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall, Harry’s cousins, gave their newborn sons the middle name Philip). Diana (after Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana) and Elizabeth (after Harry’s grandmother, the Queen) are also still going strong, at 5/1 and 10/1 respectively. Celebitchy further casts doubt on Philippa, noting that the baby would be “Pippa for short” and “the Middletons would be so mad.” Celebitchy predicts, rather, that “it will be something unexpected. Archie Harrison was unexpected. It won’t be ‘Elizabeth Philippa Diana.'” More stories from theweek.comThe Republican theory of unemployment is classic MarxA short history of White House catsCybercrime expert suggests Colonial Pipeline’s ransom was so low because DarkSide messed up

Mat-Su senator introduces bill to bar transgender girls from school sports – Alaska Public Media News

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Mat-Su senator introduces bill to bar transgender girls from school sports – Alaska Public Media News

A white woman with a turquoise scarf speaks into a microphone frmo a desk. — Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Anchorage, describes education legislation to the Senate Finance Committee in April. Hughes left the Senate majority caucus over the budget. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)

A bill introduced in the waning days of this year’s legislative session in Alaska would require schools to designate school-sponsored athletic teams or sports as male, female or co-ed and require participation in a female sport to be based on the participant’s sex assigned at birth.

The bill from Republican Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes is the latest of its kind around the country that would bar transgender girls and women from girls and women’s sports. Its prospects this year are unclear, with the session scheduled to end Wednesday. Bills pending at the end of this session are carried over to next year.

Laura Carpenter, executive director of Identity, an Anchorage-based advocacy group for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, said the bill is discriminatory and “horrific.”

“This is not about fairness in women’s sports,” Carpenter said. “This is an anti-transgender bill that does not value trans lives.”

The president of the conservative Alaska Family Council, Jim Minnery, urged support for the bill, calling it a way to ensure that “basic fairness and opportunities for women aren’t sidelined by the demands of radical gender ideologues.”

A request to speak with Hughes was left with the Senate majority press office. Hughes spoke about the issue on the Senate floor last month, when she proposed, but withdrew, an amendment to a pandemic emergency bill that dealt with transgender athletes.

She said she wanted to use “this bully pulpit” to draw attention to an issue that she said she has had “more communication on” this year than the annual check Alaskans receive from the state’s oil-wealth fund, a perennial hot-button.

“Alaskans want Alaskans’ values, American values to be sustained,” she said, noting later her plans to introduce a bill.

The bill, introduced Wednesday, states that public schools or private schools that have teams that compete against public schools must designate school-sponsored athletic teams or sports as a male, men or boys team or sport; a female, women or girls team or sport; or a co-ed team or sport.

It states that a student who participates in a team or sport designated for females, women or girls “must be female, based on the participant’s biological sex.”

A federal appeals court earlier this month heard arguments in a case involving an Idaho law that prohibits transgender students who identify as female from playing on female teams sponsored by public schools, colleges and universities. The law does not apply to men’s teams.

Author Roxane Gay to give Convocation address May 28 | Cornell Chronicle – Cornell Chronicle

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May 13, 2021

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Author Roxane Gay to give Convocation address May 28 | Cornell Chronicle – Cornell Chronicle

Author and cultural critic Roxane Gay – whose writing explores feminism, race, body image, her own life, contemporary social topics and fiction – will be the Cornell Senior Convocation speaker for the 153rd graduating class, the Convocation Committee for the university’s Class of 2021 announced May 13.

Gay will give the virtual Convocation address on Friday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m., streamed on live.alumni.cornell.edu. The live virtual Convocation address will be accessible to only Cornell students, faculty, alumni and staff. The recording will be posted on CornellCast by early June.

Following Convocation, the university’s Commencement ceremonies will take place in four installments Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30.

After the seniors endured nearly three semesters of a global pandemic, the convocation committee sought to define the graduating class in order to pinpoint a speaker. The group saw its class as resilient, empathetic, creative, revolutionary and possessing integrity.

Gay, committee members said, blends those attributes. “In her writing, she has embodied authenticity, while shifting the needle of societal change in a certain direction,” said Hassaan Bin Sabir ’21, committee chair. “Roxane Gay has reached great heights being true to her own story and expressing her own voice.”

Sarah Brice ’21, a public relations chair on the committee, said Gay’s combination of inspiration and verity made her a strong choice.

“This academic year has been like no other,” she said. “The seniors sought a speaker who would applaud us and inspire us as we enter the ‘real world’ – motivating us to follow our dreams and create change – but also to be real with us.”

Gay is a contributor to The New York Times and a visiting professor at Yale University. In her newly established online Masterclass, she teaches writing for social change.

Her writing has appeared in Best American Short Stories 2012, A Public Space, McSweeney’s, Tin House, American Short Fiction and Virginia Quarterly Review.

Gay’s first novel, “An Untamed State” (2014), tells the story of a Haitian-American woman (like Gay) who survives kidnapping. Kirkus Reviews called the novel a “cutting and resonant debut.” That same year, “Bad Feminist,” a collection of Gay’s essays, became a New York Times bestseller. In 2016, Gay wrote Marvel Comics’ “Black Panther: World of Wakanda.” Her “Difficult Women” (2017), a national bestseller, told stories of unforgettable women.

“Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body” (2017) mined her own emotional struggles with obesity to explore society’s shared anxieties. “At its simplest, it’s a memoir about being fat – Gay’s preferred term – in a hostile, fat-phobic world,” reviewer Carina Chocano wrote in the New York Times. “At its most symphonic, it’s an intellectually rigorous and deeply moving exploration of the ways in which trauma, stories, desire, language and metaphor shape our experiences and construct our reality.”

Gay earned her bachelor’s degree at Norwich University in Vermont; a master’s degree at the University of Nebraska; and a doctorate at Michigan Technological University.

“Our class sought a speaker who would not only celebrate with us, but use her own experiences and perspective on the true challenges and opportunities to empower us,” Brice said. “The Class of 2021 is diverse in identity, background, experience – and we believe the graduates will be energized by Roxane Gay.”

Ellen DeGeneres to end talk show next year – The Straits Times

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May 13, 2021

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Ellen DeGeneres to end talk show next year – The Straits Times

LOS ANGELES • Ellen DeGeneres, one of America’s best-known talk-show hosts, said on Wednesday she will end her daytime show next year, adding that after 19 years, it was time to do something different.

DeGeneres, 63, told her virtual audience the show had been “the greatest experience of my life” and thanked her fans for watching. But she said she needed “to take a break from talking”.

“My instinct told me it’s time. As a comedian, I’ve always understood the importance of timing,” she said.

“Recently, I had a dream that a bird, a beautiful bird with bright red feathers, came to my window and whispered, ‘You can still do stuff on Netflix.’ And that was the sign I was looking for,” she quipped.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show, produced by AT&T Inc’s Warner Bros and syndicated to television stations, has won more than 60 Emmy awards.

But audiences have fallen in the past six months following an internal inquiry into media reports of a toxic work environment behind the scenes.

Three top producers exited the production last year and DeGeneres apologised, promising “a new chapter”.

She told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday that public attacks during that time “destroyed me”, but did not influence her decision to end the show.

That choice, she said, was made when she extended her contract for three years in 2019.

DeGeneres started her career in stand-up comedy in her New Orleans home town before moving to television, starring in the comedy Ellen in the mid-1990s.

In 1997, both she and her TV character came out as a lesbian long before gay people were accepted in mainstream America. She is married to former actress Portia de Rossi.

Ellen was cancelled a year later, but DeGeneres returned to television in 2003 with her daytime show.

An advocate for animals, gay rights and anti-bullying campaigns, DeGeneres became known for promoting kindness and compassion on her light-hearted show.

DeGeneres told The Hollywood Reporter her future plans are uncertain. She is open to movie roles and wants to be more involved in environmental conservation efforts.

REUTERS

Colton Underwood Regrets Not Coming Out After Seeing Michael Sam Become First Openly Gay NFL Player – Yahoo Eurosport UK

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Colton Underwood Regrets Not Coming Out After Seeing Michael Sam Become First Openly Gay NFL Player – Yahoo Eurosport UK

When Michael Sam came out as gay in 2014, becoming the first-ever openly gay football player to be drafted by an NFL team, Colton Underwood finally saw an opportunity to be his true self.

The future star of “The Bachelor” had been hiding his sexuality — from his family, his friends and himself — for his entire life. Underwood knew, at the age of six, that he was different; by his early teenage years, he knew he was attracted to men. But growing up in a religious and conservative small town, especially as a star football player, he was taught that being gay was wrong.

More from Variety

“I had the opportunity in 2014 when I entered the draft. Michael Sam came out,” Underwood tells Variety during a cover story interview, revealing that he had considered coming out years ago. Getting choked up, Underwood expresses his regret and says he was not brave enough at the time.

Underwood — who spoke to Variety in a wide-ranging interview for this week’s cover story — came out as gay last month during an interview on “Good Morning America” with Robin Roberts. He is the first openly gay man to come from “The Bachelor” franchise. Prior to finding reality TV fame on the ABC dating show, he was drafted in the NFL, signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers, then joining practice squads for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders.

Underwood recalls that when Sam became the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL in 2014, no one in the locker room supported the idea. The homophobia in the football world only drove Underwood deeper into the closet.

“The football and athletic community is not ready for gay people,” Underwood says.

Now, Underwood reveals that he recently spoken with Sam. In their conversations, he told him that after he came out as gay in 2014, he was the butt of the joke in the NFL locker rooms.

“I’ve had a conversation with Michael about this, since I came out. I just sort of had a heart-to-heart with him,” Underwood says. “I said, ‘I just want to let you know that you should have given me the confidence to stand up and say, ‘You’re not alone.’ But unfortunately, I went to a different locker room. And I told him, ‘In the locker room that I was in, they didn’t say nice things about you.’”

Underwood continues to share his conversation with Sam: “I was like, ‘I’m sorry because I could have tried to help you by coming out with you, and then seen if that caused another to come out.’ But I didn’t have the courage and I wasn’t at a point in my life where I was ready to come out — if anything, Michael Sam coming out and being so public about it put me in the closet even further because I didn’t want to be like Michael, in the sense that I didn’t want it to be negative or bad.”

In 2015, Sam announced that he was walking away from football for mental health reasons.

Part of the reason Underwood decided to come out in such a public forum last month is to help other people who are struggling with hiding their identity, he says, specifically in the hyper-masculine world of sports.

Underwood had convinced himself he would live his entire life as a straight man. He never dreamed of the day he would come out and reveal his true identity to himself, let alone the world — and so, he went from the NFL to “The Bachelor.”

“My life was led by presenting to be somebody and living so inauthentic to who I truly was, and I was okay with that. It was easy for me to dive into football and hide behind that,” Underwood says. “And then from football, I remember there were a weird few months of my life where I was like, ‘What’s next, now that football is gone? I can’t hide there, so where can I hide now?’ And then ‘The Bachelor’ fell in my lap, and then before you know it, I am ‘The Bachelor.’ There was always something for me to dive into.”

Underwood smiles as he recalls a time from his childhood when his second grade teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up.

“I said an NFL player, and the teacher said, ‘You need to pick something more realistic.’ So, my second answer was a stay-at-home dad,” Underwood recalls. With a laugh, he quips, “So, I still have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad! And I already made it to the NFL — so, check on that!”

“I feel like I was born to be a dad,” Underwood says.

Now that Underwood has come forward with his story, including his attempt at suicide, he wants the LGBTQ youth to know that it is possible to live a full life as your truest self — even if you come from the sports world, a religious background or a conservative upbringing.

“If six-year-old Colton could have seen another person that resembled me,” he says. “I feel like this is my opportunity to try to correct what I did wrong and try to impact people out there struggling, deeply in the closet and ashamed of who they are and hate who they are. I hated myself. I hated myself for being gay. If I can do anything to tell someone out there struggling that it’s all going to be okay one day and that everything you think you can’t have, you can, and there is power in your truth.”

Today, Underwood beams with excitement as he speaks out loud — for one of the first times in his life — about his desires for his future.

“I do want to be in love. I still want the white picket fence,” Underwood says. “The whole definition of traditional lifestyle that I thought growing up conservative meant, I can still have.”

While filming scenes for his upcoming Netflix show, Underwood met with a gay couple on their journey to have children through surrogacy or adoption. While footage is still being cut, the conversation will likely air in the streaming show, set to launch later this year.

“I can still do all of the things that I thought were only possible in a straight relationship,” Underwood says. “I have not had an emotional connection with a man. Physically, sure. But that’s the whole point of coming out, so that I didn’t have to just view being gay as pleasure, and I could experience love and the fullness of everything that I want out of a relationship. I want a partner and a husband more than anything, and I want a family. I want kids, I want dogs, I want the whole nine yards, and I never knew that was possible until I came out and got to lean into my truth.”

With an ear-to-ear smile, Underwood says, “I can, for the first time in my life, actually picture myself with a family — and my family looks a little different than when I pictured it four or five years ago, but it just makes me happy, even thinking about it.”

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Steve Kornacki gets a full-time gig on NBC’s NFL coverage – Outsports

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Steve Kornacki gets a full-time gig on NBC’s NFL coverage – Outsports

NBC’s Steve Kornacki has gotten a new role that expands his brand of data-nerd journalism to sports, making him one of the highest-profile out gay men in sports media.

Kornacki, 41, who became an internet sensation for his insightful coverage of the 2020 election results wearing a stapled-on tie and khakis while holding a pen in his mouth and a calculator in his hand, signed a four-year contract that expands his role into sports, including the NFL and Olympics, the Los Angeles Times reports.

NBCUniversal has … given the youthful-looking correspondent a new multimillion-dollar four-year contract that will employ him across NBC Sports and its entertainment division in addition to NBC News, where he will be a mainstay of MSNBC’s political coverage. …

In his new deal, Kornacki will be a regular analyst on NBC’s “Football Night in America” and the halftime report on “Sunday Night Football.” He will also be a part of the network’s Super Bowl telecast in 2022.

Kornacki will have a role in NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games and Triple Crown horse racing — a sport he’s loved since childhood when he went to watch harness races with his uncle at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He will also break down statistics on NBCU’s regional sports channels, which carry National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and National Basketball Assn. games in several major markets.

On the entertainment side, Kornacki will develop, produce and host a game show for the network or NBCU’s streaming service, Peacock.

Kornacki came out as gay in 2011, saying at the time, “I just didn’t fit the stereotypes of gay men. I was an ESPN addict as far back as elementary school.” He built up a legion of fans that exploded during the November election with his ability to analyze and parse results as they came in by the minute. This led to a gig at the end of the 2020 NFL season analyzing playoff possibilities.

Kornacki has never made an issue of being gay, just being himself, and it has worked. He joins people like ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez, columnist Steve Buckley, Washington Post college sports writer Chuck Culpepper and sports radio host Jared Max as openly gay men in high-profile sports media roles.

It’s an awesome and well-deserved promotion for Kornacki, but I hope there was no dress code in his contract. NBC needs to know that Kornacki knows his fashion sense better than anybody else.

Upstate SC LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce launches – UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL – Upstate Business Journal

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Upstate SC LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce launches – UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL – Upstate Business Journal

A group of entrepreneurs and business people in the Upstate have come together to found the Upstate SC LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, the only one of its kind in South Carolina.

Over a year ago, business people in the Upstate met to find ways to overcome the economic toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the chamber’s leaders. What emerged was a small group that began organizing with the assistance of the Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber will be dedicated to helping and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business owners and their allies through providing safe spaces for resources, recognizing the successes of LGBT-led companies, organizing networking events and working toward economic equality, according to a release. Those wishing to join the chamber do not have to identify as LGBT+.

Caroline Caldwell, the chamber’s co-founder and vice president, said the founders decided that an organization was needed to advocate not only for safe spaces for LGBT-led business owners but for furthering their careers.

“We just decided that, you know, [that] we would take up the mantle and that it would just be a really good thing to have representation in that space, to have your culture upfront in that space, and to be able to identify safe spaces and things that were like, genuinely queer-led as it pertains to our professionalism,” Caldwell said.

Sarah Cochran, the chamber’s treasurer, said once they announced the formation of the chamber, the group received a message filled with anti-LGBT comments that also questioned the need for the organization.

“We, as a board, kind of discussed, ‘Well, how do we respond to this? How do we respond in general when we get more of this, which we likely will?”‘ Cochran said. “The consensus was, well, this is why we need it.”

Although there are membership fees, the chamber’s leadership says that to be as accessible as possible, scholarships will be made available for those who may have difficulty paying the fees.

Disney Revamping Kids Cartoon with Gay Dads and Teen Activist – Faithwire

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Disney Revamping Kids Cartoon with Gay Dads and Teen Activist – Faithwire

Disney is revamping its 20-year-old animated series “The Proud Family” and the reboot will center on two multiethnic, gay dads and their adopted teenage daughter, who is a racial activist.

The entertainment brand announced the show, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” via social media Wednesday.

The fathers, Barry and Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins, will be voiced by Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto — both of whom are gay — while the daughter, Maya, will be voiced by Keke Palmer.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the other cast members of the original series, which aired from 2001 to 2005, will return to voice the seminal characters Penny Proud, Oscar Proud, Trudy Proud, Uncle Bobby Proud, and Suga Mama.

Series character Michael Collins, the best friend of Penny Proud, will return in his effeminate style, this time as “a non-conforming trendsetter.”

The show is expected to debut on Disney+ sometime in 2022.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

This is not the first time Disney has pushed LGBT issues in content catered to its younger viewers.

Last August, the Burbank-based behemoth confirmed the lead character of its cartoon series “The Owl House,” a 14-year-old Dominican-American girl named Luz Noceda, would be openly bisexual.

Showrunner Dana Terrace said at the time she had long intended to feature “queer kids” in the cast of the animated show. While Disney initially opposed the idea, Terrace said her “stubbornness paid off” as her ideas are now “very supported by current Disney leadership.”

Additionally, Disney’s 2020 Pixar film “Onward” featured the company’s first self-identified LGBT character in an animated movie. The character, Officer Cyclops, has one line in the movie, in which she refers to her “girlfriend.” It was also recently reported Pixar is casting for an unnamed project that will feature a teenage transgender character named Jess.

California-based Pastor John MacArthur seemingly condemned Disney during a sermon earlier this month. He rebuked the brand for creating “characters that are transgender to seduce children into accepting wickedness as normal.”

“Children are under a relentless assault by all the forces of evil, and they are defenseless,” he said. “And we have a society and a culture that wants to make sure that those who are pumping out this destruction are free t keep doing it without restraint.”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

What Do Sex Cults, Gay Bars, and the Air Force Have in Common? Lauren Hough Explains in a New Memoir – Washingtonian

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May 13, 2021

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What Do Sex Cults, Gay Bars, and the Air Force Have in Common? Lauren Hough Explains in a New Memoir – Washingtonian

Photo of Hough by Karl Poss IV.

Lauren Hough understands the challenges of escaping an abusive situation. Raised in the notorious sex cult the Children of God—survivors of which include Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan—Hough experienced sexual abuse and violence as a kid. After she managed to get out, she realized, as the title of her new memoir describes, that Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing. Hough first gained attention in 2018 after she published the viral HuffPost essay “I Was a Cable Guy. I Saw the Worst of America” about her time fixing cable for cat hoarders, government contractors, and Dick Cheney in Northern Virginia (it also appears in the book).

In her essay collection, Hough writes about the shocking reality of the cult, and explains how she later navigated getting terrorized in the Air Force for being gay and sleeping many nights in her Ford Aspire around Dupont Circle. She also offers hilarious takes on DC, like when she writes about group houses: “No meat eaters, no vegans, gay-friendly but don’t be obvious about it, down-to-earth, professional, spiritual, no drinkers, no overnight guests without permission from all roommates, no drugs, we have the most insane house parties, quiet and clean, laid back, share cooking, don’t touch my fucking food, no whores, no sluts, no degenerates, no Republicans, no Democrats, no smokers, only outside smokers, 420-friendly, no drama, no atheists, cat-friendly. Cheerful. Upbeat. Positive vibes only.” (We’ve all read that Craigslist ad.)

Hough talked to Washingtonian about fame, DC’s queer scene, and her recent online kerfuffle with reviewers on Goodreads.

Tell me what happened after the cable guy essay was published.

That Sunday [after], my phone wouldn’t stay on—I was getting too many notifications. People started going by [the bar in Austin where I worked] to see me, which was wild. I was talking to editors and agents and producers and still standing outside, in front of the bar, checking IDs, like, hold on real quick. I thought it was a throw away essay. I wrote it ‘cause I needed new glasses and my dog [Teddy] had to go to the vet. I did not expect it to blow up like it did. I think about it as this essay about needing to pee.

But it really resonated. Why do you think it went viral?

There’s a large segment of society that doesn’t realize that the other half has to ask permission to go to the bathroom. Or y’know, have a day off or go to the doctor’s office—in our work lives, we’re not in control of the most basic human functions. We don’t hear very often from people working those shitty jobs because they don’t have time to write. The entire time I had that job, I don’t know that I wrote much of anything. I went home, watched a couple hours of TV, tried to shut off my brain, and go to sleep. It wasn’t until I quit that job that I had time to write about it.

Now you’re including it in this larger collection about your life, from a nomadic upbringing in the Children of God (a.k.a. The Family) to joining the Air Force in the era of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to working at a beloved DC gay bar. Those all sound like diverging experiences, but in the essay “Badlands,” you actually thread these three together. What sparked that comparison between the cult, the Air Force, and a gay bar?

There’s something that happens in those crappy jobs. You’re all too tired to keep your walls up around your coworkers—you may hate them, but at least they’re not the customers making your lives miserable. At the end of a night, everybody’s pretty raw and way too tired to hold anything back. You get really close. It was a thing that I was looking for in the military and the Family: that camaraderie and friendship and us-versus-them. I didn’t find it until I started working at gay bars where that was my team. These are the people who accepted me and would defend me against anyone or anything just because I was not them, the customer base. It happens in restaurants, it happens in kitchens, it happens in any of those jobs.

I hate the word “family” because I grew up in a cult called the Family. I thought it would be fun to write an essay about how I kind of got to be okay with considering people who are not my immediate family part of my larger family. We do that in cities, though. You move to a city and you have to find your friend group and they kind of become sort of your family—that’s where you go for the holidays, those are the people you lean on when you have surgery and someone needs to walk your dog. A lot of it has to do with being queer. A lot of us are rejected by our families and lose family members, so we’re already seeking a replacement. Historically that’s built into our community.

DC’s queer scene gets a rare spotlight here. You write a bit about the misogyny and sexual assault you faced in queer spaces, too. How did you approach that?

The book itself is a time capsule for the late ‘90s, early 2000s queer life, but I think it was just something I noticed because I come from the military and I’m supposed to be able to walk into a gay bar and feel safe. People go to gay bars to feel safe. It’s bizarre and disheartening that you can also be very unsafe as a woman surrounded by men who are not interested in you sexually, but [have been] trained by our society to still be completely misogynistic. It’s jarring. It’d be nice to feel that there was anywhere safe for women. We had lesbian bars, but I think there are three left in the country, so. It’s a thing we’ve lost. I don’t know that there are safe spaces for women anymore, but at queer bars we’re not, which is disappointing. [Coming] from a cult to West Texas to the military, and then [feeling like] alright, well here’s where I belong—apparently maybe not so much. We’re not exempt from racism and misogyny or any other problem. I think we’d like to be—and we should be, for fuck’s sake—but there’s just as much racism and misogyny among the queer community as anywhere else in this country.

You came to the city some 20 years ago on a bit of a whim. You and a friend were in South Carolina and flipped a coin to decide whether to move to DC or Atlanta, right?

Yeah, it was where we could get on about a tank of gas. It wasn’t as planned as it maybe should’ve been. You don’t really make great decisions when you’re just in survival mode—everything is an emergency and you’re just grasping at anything to keep you from spiraling. The one thing outcasts have always known is you’ll be safer in a city, because that’s where people go. If you’re a queer kid from the middle of Texas you dream of moving to Austin or New York or San Francisco. Those were out of driving distance. So I chose DC: it was close enough, it had a large gay community, I felt like I would be safe there and be able to get a job.

Any regrets?

I’ve not really thought of that. Maybe it was a mistake. [Laughs.] Hard to say. Atlanta’s pretty hot though, it probably would’ve been less comfortable to sleep in my car there.

The memoir frankly details difficult realities in the Washington area, like homelessness, policing, and hunger. It’s a little unexpected given the media attention of the book has focused more on the cult and Cable Guy.

I kinda tricked people there. Surprise! It’s about homelessness and jail. Trying to trick people into reading this socialist manifesto. It’s a strange thing. I was joking about it yesterday: I’m a bestselling author and I’m still prepared to sleep in my car if I need to. I have a camping mat back [there] and a pillow. I’m still preparing for every possible worst case scenario. I don’t know that I’ll ever feel safe completely again—I don’t know that I ever did. It’s a scary thing. In this country, how many of us know exactly how many steps they are from homelessness? What happens when you lose your job? The pandemic’s laid a lot of that bare. They gave us $1,400 once and told us good luck. The people who could work from home, great—everyone else had to risk serious illness or death. Or lose their apartment. We [don’t] have much of a social safety net to prevent that. I still know exactly how many steps I am from that cliff; the cliff is homelessness.

When it first came out in April, some folks reviewed the book on Goodreads. You went on the offensive and tweeted profanity-laced responses to certain ratings, calling these reviewers “fucking nerds” and even blocking some accounts. What happened there?

It was the night before my book came out and I was just terrified. I was joking about something that I thought didn’t matter. It blew up. I had no idea that any of that existed. It’s unfortunate and I screwed up, but I’m just trying to focus on the book now. It’s made the bestseller list a couple times now so I’m hoping I’m past it.

Past what?

Past that affecting the book—I just don’t want it to hurt the book. Like my dumb commentary that had nothing to do with anything. It would be a real fucking shame.

Was your reaction this extreme because the work was so personal?

That’s really where the terror came in of the book coming out at all. It’s a lot of very private stuff people were about to read, so yeah. I couldn’t talk about that because I didn’t even have words for it—I still don’t. I thought I was talking about something that didn’t matter, apparently it does. I don’t know what to say about that. I’m just really hoping it didn’t—I just didn’t want it to hurt the book. There are a lot of conversations in there that I feel need to be had and I think people who have read it might understand a little better, but there’s nothing I can really do about it now.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

London rail firm apologises for ‘ladies and gentlemen’ welcome after ‘non-binary’ backlash – Express

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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London rail firm apologises for ‘ladies and gentlemen’ welcome after ‘non-binary’ backlash – Express

The non-binary passenger, known as Laurence and uses pronouns they and them, tweeted their complaint to the rail network. Laurence wrote on Twitter: “‘Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…’ so as a non-binary person this announcement doesn’t actually apply to me so I won’t listen.”

It is believed Laurence works for the Rail, Maritime and Transport trade union.

Following their complaint, LNER was forced to respond and said their train managers should “not be using language” like this.

They replied: “I’m really sorry to see this, Laurence, our Train Managers should not be using language like this, and I thank you for bringing it to my attention.

“Please could you let me know which service you are on and I will ensure they remain as inclusive as we strive to be at LNER.”

Laurence’s colleague, Jarley – who also identifies as non-binary – said they were “alarmed” and “uncomfortable” with the lack of inclusion.

Jarley wrote: “Both Laurence and I were customers of the railway – being rail staff does not absolve an operator from the duty of care or responsibility to be inclusive.

“I was sat with Laurence when this tweet was sent.

“Both of us are non-binary and we were both alarmed and uncomfortable by the lack of inclusion.”

“Identify however you like, but can we stop this nonsense?”

Columnist Paul Embery also lashed out at the “utterly ridiculous” complaint.

Julia Hartley-Brewer also tweeted: “Stop pandering to this nonsense.

“Your announcer said nothing wrong. Laurence’s complaint is ridiculous.

“No one was excluded or discriminated against. Just do your job of running trains on time and leave the woke politics to someone else with nothing better to do.”

LNER has since confirmed the conductor will not be getting “in trouble” and no action was taken against the member of staff.

In a statement, they said: “We’re not bending over backwards to accommodate any one person, we’re doing our best to accommodate every person.

“There’s the difference.

“We are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do for our customers, colleagues and communities, and encourage our onboard teams to welcome all customers onboard.

“Our policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and we will review if any further changes need to be made.”

Considering surrogacy? Virtual conference May 15-16 offers guidance for prospective gay dads – Los Angeles Blade

News Editor

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May 13, 2021

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Considering surrogacy? Virtual conference May 15-16 offers guidance for prospective gay dads – Los Angeles Blade

If you are going to see daddy this weekend for Father’s Day, you might consider bringing him a gift. There are so many unique and fun ways you can “I Love You” and Los Angeles Blade has a few gift idea for you.

Food

Gelson’s is offering a wide selection of thoughtful gifts which make it easy to celebrate with your #1 guy. Here are some fun options that Dad is sure to love: Cowboy Ribeye steak with a bottle of Big Poppa’s double secret steak rub; Grilling tools; Cheese/charcuterie plate; Sees candies, peanut brittle and Toffee-ette’s; Father’s Day balloon bouquet; Selection of Wine & Spirits and Wine Accessories.

Customers can place their orders and pre-pay online then visit their local Gelson’s during their reservation time.

Consider bonding with dad in the kitchen by ordering a Blue Apron box. You will get lots of great dishes for the family to cook. All the meals sound amazing–you can order the ingredients to make Southern-Spiced Chicken with Potato Salad & Maple Green Beans, Seared Steaks & Lemon-Caper Butter with Oven Fries, Curry-Peanut Chicken with Sushi Rice & Marinated Vegetables or Mexican-Spiced Shrimp Tacos with Guacamole & Poblano Pepper! Yum!

A great way to bond with dad is to take a cooking class together. Impastiamo is an amazing new online cooking platform. You can take an array of great cooking classes via Zoom through them! And all the chefs involved are incredible! Most of the money goes to the chef, many of whom are really hurting during this difficult time. Classes are only $12.50 and can be booked via the company’s website.

HomeSomm is making fresh homemade pastas and sauces for you to prepare at home. You pick up, head home, boil water, heat the sauce and assemble. There is nothing better than fresh pasta! Plus Owner/sommelier Chris Lucchese, a wine expert, will be giving you wine recommendations for your meals! Chris will be opening up a new wine bar this fall!

A great place to take dad for lunch is Lady Byrd Café, a charming, neighborhood gem nestled up in the hills of Echo Park. Committed to providing environmentally friendly farm-to-table, fresh, organic ingredients, with a wide variety of options for vegans, meat eaters and those with anyone looking for a delectable and unique dining experience, their selection, curated by Chef Fred Reyes, is sure to impress. He offers a fresh take on American cuisine, utilizing flavors that will undoubtedly please everyone’s tastebuds, drawing particular inspiration from French, Italian and Mediterranean cuisines.

Carvery Kitchen has some fun stuff planned on their Instagram for Father’s Day! So check them out! The restaurant is known for their excellent meal prep delivery and helping their community, as well as their slow roasted meats. Dad will love their new and exciting twist on your typical deli food. And if you are in need of paper products (tp paper, paper towels etc.) and other grocery items (like pasta) they have that too! For children under 18: free grab-and-go meal available for curbside pick-up (child must be present) 8:00a – 7:00p. Just drop by, no advance order necessary. For seniors 65 and over: 30% off all meals (free delivery). Order by phone or online.

Interstellar (Santa Monica)

The internationally-inspired all day café will be offering a special bone-in prime rib dinner, seasoned with a garlic pepper rub, and choice of truffle fries or mash potatoes that customers can order ready-to-eat, or they may choose to sear the meat themselves at home. Additionally, Interstellar has created a “beers and brews” beverage add on, which includes 4 beers of the customer’s choice (options ranging from LA’s Boomtown Brewery to Japan’s Kirin-Ichiban) alongside a box of fresh cold brew coffee, made with beans from Onyx Coffee Lab. Preorders are encouraged and can be placed via phone at 310.310.8820.

Urban Plates (locations throughout Southern California)

The chef-driven, fine casual brand that focuses on delicious, craveable and affordable foods made with clean, whole food ingredients will offer a Ribs Family Meal for Father’s Day (available 6/17-6/21). The composed meal includes four half racks ribs, large side of roasted old bay potatoes, large side of harissa corn on the cob, and 4 slices grilled rustic bread. The Family Meal is priced at $59.95 at all locations.

El Torito + El Torito Grill (locations throughout LA and OC; see here)

El Torito will offer its award winning all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch Buffet with Father’s Day special menu items within the buffet, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Buffet allows guests to visit many stations where we will serve them from a variety of offerings like their favorite Hot Mexican Entrees, a Taco Station, Fresh Salads, Dessert Bar with Banana Locas made to order and other tempting sweets. Servers will take orders for made-to-order omelets, traditional menudo and pozole and freshly carved tri-tip and ham as a Father’s Day special. Plus, bottomless mimosas! Prices vary by location; reservation can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the restaurant location of choice.

Acapulco (locations in Glendale, Costa Mesa, Downey and Marina Pacifica)

Acapulco will offer a special all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch for Father’s Day from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Guests can select from a variety of offerings like Mexican Entrees, Taco Station, Salads, Dessert Bar with Banana Locas made to order and other sweets. Servers will take orders for made to order omelets, traditional Menudo and Pozole and—special for Father’s Day—a carving station with tri-tip and ham all brought to you at your table. In addition to bottomless mimosas, Acapulco will serve $5 Bloody Marys, Micheladas, Cadillac Margaritas and select Bottled Beers. $29.99 Adults / 8.99 Kids; reservations can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the restaurant directly.

SOL Cocina (Playa Vista, Scottsdale, Denver, Newport Beach)

Inspired by the best of coastal Baja California, SOL’s kitchens feature a unique spin on fresh, healthy, coastal Mexican food, lovingly made from scratch. Treat the family to Sol Cocina’s Father’s Day brunch and dinner will be available Saturday and Sunday, all day. Menu highlights include the award-winning Taco Vampiro made with a double tortilla with cheese, serranos and green onions, guacamole, chipotle sauce, cotija cheese, and salsa fresca with choice of carne asada or grilled chicken; Pork Carnitas (available for dinner only), and the Grand Clase Azul Margarita. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable here, or by calling the restaurant.

Solita (Huntington Beach and Valencia)

Simplicity at its best for the father who loves specialty Mexican dishes and good food. Father’s Day menu items include the Pork Belly Dorado Tacos house-smoked with amarillo hot sauce, onions, cilantro & slaw; Skirt Steak Asada made with wood-grilled angus steak, avocado, jalapeno toreados, scallions, and chimchurri, served with 2 sides, among others. Round of the meal with specialty margaritas, craft cocktails, or select from a wide selection of tequilas or beers.

Las Brisas (Laguna Beach)

Celebrate Father’s Day, all day, with Las Brisas’ four-course prix-fixe brunch ($75, includes bottomless mimosas) and dinner menus ($85). Brunch highlights include Prime Rib with mole-potato puree and charred scallion; Crab Scramble with scallions, crème fraiche, crispy potatoes, and fresh corn tortillas; and French Toast with seasonal fruit, cacao nibs, toasted macadamia nuts, and tangerine butter, among other menu favorites. Dinner features the famed Halibut Veracruz with capers, olives and rice; Steak & Lobster Enchiladas with guajillo sauce, tomatillo sauce, black beans, and rice, and more. At Las Brisas—the historic landmark restaurant perched cliffside with a view of the Laguna Beach coastline—the menu is inspired by the traditional authentic cooking found throughout Mexico. Our chef inspired recipes are perfected by adding simple ingredients to the region’s wealth of fresh seafood. Reservations for dine-in are available via OpenTable or by calling the restaurant at 949.497.5434.

Health/Well Being

Even a case of Hint Water wouid be a nice gift. It’s so important for your dad to stay hydrated! And Hint has a range of great flavors for you both to try!

ELSIUS is a healthy energy drink with no crash or jitters, unlike traditional energy drinks, and clinically proven to accelerate metabolism, burn fat, burn calories, boost endurance and help build lean body muscle. It is a great drink for dad since it has 7 essential vitamins; zero sugar, no added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, non-GMO and very low sodium.

FitFighter is a strength and conditioning system originally designed for the fire service and based on their own patent-pending Steelhose free weights and iOS training app. Give dad the timeless, priceless gift of strength, spirit, and service with a FitFighter Steelhose Home Gym Set, Made in the USA out of real fire hose, complete with iOS workout app, safe for kids, and perfect for home exercise.FitFighter was originally designed for FDNY Firefighters and is now available to the public. A portion of Steelhose sales sponsor the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation supporting Veterans, First Responders, frontline healthcare workers, and their families.

If your dad is big on smoothies, look into Roma Desai Patel’s fantastic organic, plant+based protein powder called Tejari Blends. It’s all organic, plant based protein powder. Roma is an ex-Coke employee who became very passionate about nutrition. She is coming out with new flavors next month, Cacao and Vanilla!

If dad loves to exercise, he will love RECOVƎR 180°, a new holistic hydration drink with 3x the electrolytes and half the calories compared to other leading sports drinks. RECOVƎR 180° is available in three all-natural fruit flavors – Blood Orange, Açai Berry, and Citrus – and has a roster of professional athlete supporters, including NFL Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Major League Baseball National League MVP Christian Yelich and heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder.

Fashion

Lgbtq dads may be interested in Revtown, a performance denim brand that brings to mind luxury brands like AG and Joe’s – but at a fraction of the price – $79 per pair. It is a great fit for you. These premium jeans are designed with the performance and comfort of an athletic pant, but with the look and feel of designer jeans.

Revtown is adapting to how people are purchasing by making great fitting garments and our proprietary digital tailor is what really makes us stand out..With their Digital Tailor, you can size yourself with 96% accuracy in four clicks.

Daekshinco is a men’s and womenswear denim brand that just launched their first collection. Daekshin denim is made from Japanese selvedge denim. Selvedge denim refers to any type of selvedge that is made by means of using one continuous cross yarn which is passed back-and-forth through vertical warp beams. With this method it gives maximum stretching capabilities. This gives extra space for comfortability that is hard to find in most denim products.

Deborah Lindquist is a fantastic an eco clothing, accessories, and home decor designer who has styled celebs like Sharon Stone, Pink, Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera and Rihanna. She has amazing masks you can buy dad that use leftover pieces from her upcycled denim jackets, embellished with appliques, studs, rhinestones and silk leopard, sari, vintage kimono prints.

Beauty

For the dads who love lipstick, check out Dirty Mind Cosmetics, lipsticks that have a range of vibrant fun colors, are vegan and cruelty free. This new indie makeup brand is sexy and carefree.

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Collection ($14.99-$29.99, Whole Foods Market, Amazon.com) Powered by Vitamin C, Avalon Organics® introduces the new Vitamin C Collection, a skincare line that provides consumer tested results, imparting a glow for rejuvenated skin. The complete line is infused with our Triple-C Complex, Olive Squalane, Kakadu Plum, Turmeric, Licorice Root and Milk Thistle, to allow you to take healthy, brighter skincare into your own hands! The formulas in the Avalon Organics® Vitamin C Collection are dermatologist tested!

Sephora.com, Algenist.com on June 16th and in-store at Sephora on June 26th)

The ultimate powerhouse for brightened, perfected and even looking skin. Formulated with Algenist’s patented Alguronic Acid, and an exclusive blend of Vitamin C from Blue-Green microalgae, antioxidant Phycocyanin, and AHA, BHA & PHA, this exfoliating peel visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Algenist’s proprietary Blue C technology allows this powerful peel to work deep into the skin’s surface to reveal fresh skin that has more radiance, a smoothed texture, even skin tone and an overall brighter complexion amplifying the skin’s radiance.

Goodhabit Rescue Me Glow Potion Oil Serum ($80 on Goodhabitskin.com; Travel sized (15ml) available in September for $26)

This triple-layered elixir combines the powerful effects of an oil, serum and essence into one do-it-all formula, while our proprietary BLU5 technology minimizes and helps prevent future signs of aging caused by artificial blue light. The top layer is packed with antioxidant-rich oils that infuse skin with moisture, while repairing damage, restoring elasticity, and imparting a rejuvenated look and feel. The serum phase helps prevent water loss, locks in hydration, and strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier. The rejuvenating essence phase plumps up ﬁne lines, fades dark spots, and provides intense hydration. Instantly, skin looks and feels smoother, softer, and more hydrated with a radiant glow.

Alterna, the visionary creator of luxury haircare products free of harsh chemicals and additives, is thrilled to announce the launch of an entirely new collection aimed at celebrating consumer individuality and self-expression. Building upon the belief that hair care is self-care, My Hair. My Canvas. is the newest expression of Alterna Haircare’s transformational experience. Created to empower the millennial woman to define beauty on her own terms, these versatile and indulgently playful products offer her the products she needs to create a healthy foundation via the “blank canvas” that is her hair.

Bosley Professional Strength Bos-Renew Rejuvenating Scalp Scrub ($19.99 at Ulta.com and Amazon.com)

For those looking to improve scalp health and hair appearance, this soothing and exfoliating charcoal-infused scalp shampoo detoxifies, moisturizes and invigorates a compromised scalp to help attain optimal scalp health. Gently removing debris and buildup from the scalp and hair, this energizing product is made with essential oils and Bamboo charcoal to gently cleanse, moisturize and balance for healthier-looking hair. To be used 2-3x a month, this product is designed to enhance absorption of Bosley Professional Strength hair and scalp treatments.

For Doggy Dads

EarthyPup is the first of its kind, a sustainable/eco-conscious dog subscription box. The best eco-friendly option for dog owners and their pups. My dogs love their dog biscuits!

Hound & Gatos’ new dry food for dogs and cats features real poultry, fish or meat as the #1 ingredient. Plus, these recipes are packed with a spectrum of healthy superfoods, like blueberries, cranberries and dandelion greens. The result is a great tasting, limited ingredient diet that’s made in the USA and pea, chickpea, lentil and white potato free. Three grain free options are available for cats and three grain free options are available for dogs. Additionally, two varieties made with the finest ancient grains, such as spelt and quinoa, are available for dogs.

www.HoundGatos.com

For many of us working from home, our pups have recently become our newest coworkers; reward their hard work (and keep them busy) with Frankly Pet’s Beef Wraps, available in both natural and chicken flavors. Made in the USA, these chews are 100% collagen, making them a tasty way to strengthen joints, prevent injuries and ensure that your dog’s nails and coat are at their healthiest. Perfect for all life stages, from puppies to senior dogs, the rolls are a great addition to any pup’s balanced, healthy diet!

www.FranklyPet.com

Charlee Bear’s new Bearnola Bites are everything they’re baked up to be! That’s because they’re crafted with wholesome ingredients pet parents would find in their own kitchen pantry, like cranberries, peanut butter, honey and oats. Made without wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives, each crunchy cluster is bursting with irresistible aroma and taste. Plus, Bearnola Bites are perfectly sized for training or just for fun. Made in the USA by a family-owned company, four delicious flavors are available, including Blueberry Pie, Cranberry Cobbler, PB & Honey and Pumpkin Spice. Thanks to Charlee Bear, granola isn’t just for pet owners anymore!

www.CharleeBear.com

HandsOn Gloves are a revolutionary grooming tool that make bathing and deshedding as easy as petting your pup. The scrubbing nodules help shampoo get to the hard to reach undercoat and can easily handle shampoo bottles, hoses or leashes and leads without slipping. Plus, they gently clean matted or muddy fur, especially in the more sensitive areas like legs, face and ears, with ease.

www.HandsOnGloves.com

Caru Pet Food’s new Daily Dish Smoothies can be served in three delightful ways: squeeze up and directly feed to the pet, pour into the pet’s bowl or use as a topper to moisten or enhance the flavor of dry food. They contain no artificial preservatives or colors and are wheat, corn, soy and GMO free. Formulated as a special treat for dogs or cats of any age, size or breed, it’s a deliciously healthy snack to add excitement to their diet. Daily Dish Smoothies are simple to serve for a unique bonding experience.

www.CaruPetFood.com

Miscellaneous

Have you been made more aware of the seemingly endless sound of scratching in the walls and attic since you’ve been adhering to the COVID-19 “Stay at Home” order? Several media outlets have recently published the significant increase of residential rodent infestation, due to restaurant closures and the lack of normally accessible food sources. As rodents tend to carry an abundance of harmful bacteria and disease, this issue should not be overlooked especially at the present.

Zeev Dorfman, owner and founder of Southern California’s Rodents Stop, is a revolutionary in the Pest Control industry, utilizing non-toxic and proven solutions to effectively manage and eradicate rodents from your residence. An independent and family-owned rodent clean up and control company, Rodent Stop services Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties, applying their highly effective and years vetted five step treatment:

Staffing Properties founder Sam Palmer developed his company after identifying a need for himself and his growing family. He lived for several years with his fiancée, Formula One Racing heiress Petra Ecclestone with their children at their Holmby Hills residence “The Manor”, the famed 56,000 sq. ft. luxury estate built by Aaron Spelling and sold last summer for the California record breaking price of $119.7M. Managing a home of that magnitude required a sizable staff, and Sam found that locating the right personnel to form a cohesive team was extremely challenging. Therefore, he launched Staffing Properties as the concierge solution to help those in need curate and assemble a top performing arsenal staff at a reasonable price.

The company’s recruitment process is simple and effective. Staffing Properties’ teams of field experts begin by meeting with the potential client in order to identify their specific needs for a well-functioning home. Once the precise requirements are determined, they organize a cost-efficient pricing strategy and begin the talent search in order to present a short list of potential candidates who have been thoroughly vetted by the company’s acute screening process. Whether a staff of several dozen is required, or a modest work force will suffice, no project is too big or small and Staffing Properties ensures that a personalized, optimal and synergistic team will be forged.

Gay ‘Bachelor’ star was ‘blackmailed’ with gay spa photos – New York Daily News

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Gay ‘Bachelor’ star was ‘blackmailed’ with gay spa photos – New York Daily News

Elsewhere in the interview, the 29-year-old Indianapolis native, who was marketed as “the Virgin Bachelor,” admitted he hooked up with men prior to joining ABC’s hit dating competition series (where he picked Cassie Randolph as his true love in 2019).

Ben Platt thinks queer roles should go to queer actors – PinkNews

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

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Ben Platt thinks queer roles should go to queer actors – PinkNews

Ben Platt attends ELLE x Ferragamo Hollywood Rising Party at Sunset Tower on 11 October 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)

Dear Evan Hansen‘s Ben Platt says the entertainment industry should be “doing everything in our power” to cast LGBT+ actors for queer roles.

The out actor and musician said in an interview with NME that he was looking forward to his upcoming role in the comedy The People We Hate at the Wedding because “it’s a gay character”, which “isn’t something I’ve done very often”. He explained that he wanted to play a gay character because he is “seeing more and more queer actors telling their own stories”.

Platt then opened up about the debate around if straight actors should play queer roles. It’s a Sin writer Russel T Davies declared that LGBT+ actors should always be cast in queer roles because it lends “authenticity” to the performance. He later told PinkNews that he believed “casting gay as gay now is the right thing to do”.

Platt told NME that he “largely” agrees with Davies’ point of view, but he said there wasn’t a “black and white answer” to the debate. He said the entertainment industry should be “doing everything in our power to cast queer actors” “wherever possible” – especially if the story is “really rooted in a queer background or is [fundamentally] a queer story” like It’s a Sin.

Ben Platt added the decision shouldn’t just be about authenticity, like Davies argued, but it should also be about providing equal opportunities for LGBT+ talent. He explained: “Because often, just in terms of judgement from creators and casting directors, we [queer perfomers] aren’t able to tell straight stories or play straight characters.”

Platt added it would be “lovely to continue celebrating people who are queer and gay playing who they are”, and he believed it was about “leaning into that until we reach a bit more of an equilibrium”.

He added that he thinks it’s easier for openly queer performers to land straight roles in theatre than parts of the entertainment industry because there is “less of a hang-up on what someone’s look and image is”.

“There’s something a bit more ‘put up and shut up’ about the theatre because it’s about delivering on the day,” Platt said. “You’re the one going out there and delivering a performance every night. So you can be whoever the f**k you want, essentially.”

Ben Platt isn’t the only celebrity to weigh in on the debate around straight actors playing gay characters.

Stanley Tucci, who has played gay characters in several films, said he has some “difficulty” with the idea that LGBT+ roles should be exclusively played by queer actors. Tucci told CBS that he believed acting is “all about not being yourself”. He added: “If we were to use that as a template, then we would only ever play ourselves.”

But he said that he believed “we need to give more gay actors opportunities”.

Ewan McGregor recently defended his casting as Halston in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Netflix biopic series named after the gay fashion designer. McGregor argued Halton’s sexuality was “just one part of who he was”. He added that, if the series focused more on Halston’s sexuality, then “maybe it’s right that gay actors should play that role”.

Ben Platt thinks we should ‘do everything in our power’ to give queer roles to queer actors – Yahoo Eurosport UK

News Editor

-

May 13, 2021

0

Ben Platt thinks we should ‘do everything in our power’ to give queer roles to queer actors – Yahoo Eurosport UK

Dear Evan Hansen‘s Ben Platt says the entertainment industry should be “doing everything in our power” to cast LGBT+ actors for queer roles.

The out actor and musician said in an interview with NME that he was looking forward to his upcoming role in the comedy The People We Hate at the Wedding because “it’s a gay character”, which “isn’t something I’ve done very often”. He explained that he wanted to play a gay character because he is “seeing more and more queer actors telling their own stories”.

Platt then opened up about the debate around if straight actors should play queer roles. It’s a Sin writer Russel T Davies declared that LGBT+ actors should always be cast in queer roles because it lends “authenticity” to the performance. He later told PinkNews that he believed “casting gay as gay now is the right thing to do”.

Platt told NME that he “largely” agrees with Davies’ point of view, but he said there wasn’t a “black and white answer” to the debate. He said the entertainment industry should be “doing everything in our power to cast queer actors” “wherever possible” – especially if the story is “really rooted in a queer background or is [fundamentally] a queer story” like It’s a Sin.

Ben Platt added the decision shouldn’t just be about authenticity, like Davies argued, but it should also be about providing equal opportunities for LGBT+ talent. He explained: “Because often, just in terms of judgement from creators and casting directors, we [queer perfomers] aren’t able to tell straight stories or play straight characters.”

Platt added it would be “lovely to continue celebrating people who are queer and gay playing who they are”, and he believed it was about “leaning into that until we reach a bit more of an equilibrium”.

He added that he thinks it’s easier for openly queer performers to land straight roles in theatre than parts of the entertainment industry because there is “less of a hang-up on what someone’s look and image is”.

“There’s something a bit more ‘put up and shut up’ about the theatre because it’s about delivering on the day,” Platt said. “You’re the one going out there and delivering a performance every night. So you can be whoever the f**k you want, essentially.”

Ben Platt isn’t the only celebrity to weigh in on the debate around straight actors playing gay characters.

Stanley Tucci, who has played gay characters in several films, said he has some “difficulty” with the idea that LGBT+ roles should be exclusively played by queer actors. Tucci told CBS that he believed acting is “all about not being yourself”. He added: “If we were to use that as a template, then we would only ever play ourselves.”

But he said that he believed “we need to give more gay actors opportunities”.

Ewan McGregor recently defended his casting as Halston in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Netflix biopic series named after the gay fashion designer. McGregor argued Halton’s sexuality was “just one part of who he was”. He added that, if the series focused more on Halston’s sexuality, then “maybe it’s right that gay actors should play that role”.

CCCU Says LGBT Lawsuit Is Frivolous | News & Reporting – ChristianityToday.com

Kim Martel

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May 13, 2021

0

CCCU Says LGBT Lawsuit Is Frivolous | News & Reporting – ChristianityToday.com

Conservatives Get ‘Slap in the Face’

Groups were busy responding to fights over marriage, the Supreme Court, and a mosque near Ground Zero.

Tobin Grant

Trending

Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

His ministry, preparing to downsize in the wake of a new investigation, expresses regret for “misplaced trust” in a leader who used his esteem to conceal his sexual misconduct.

Daniel Silliman and Kate Shellnutt

From the Magazine

Reading God’s Word like a Poem, Not an Instruction Manual

The Bible teaches us, says Matthew Mullins, but its method of teaching always entails more than information and guidance.

Interview by Jessica Hooten Wilson

Editor’s Pick

After Three Lockdowns, Irish Churches Can Finally Meet Again

Pastors gear up to welcome evangelicals back to the “greater glory” of church life following 14 months of isolation.

Megan Fowler