Dani LaLonders (she/they) vividly remembers when “Lizzie McGuire: On the Go” first came out on the Gameboy Advance in 2004, joking that she was “probably one of five people” who played the game. The Chicago-based creator holds fond memories of various video games that inspired her throughout her childhood. “I played a lot of girly […]
Category: Top Stories
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Asha Santee is creating queer healing through art
Asha Santee has always had a creative spirit, but becoming a full-time artist was never her plan. She landed here by accident. After growing up in California and then Houston, she came to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University on a basketball scholarship. Her goal was to play professional basketball and she even tried out […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Outfest Fusion kicks off, Utah bans conversion therapy and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff publishes new book […]
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
Roadwork reflects on its herstory to plan its future
In 1978, amid the second wave of feminism in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade, Roadwork – a multiracial coalition – put women’s art, particularly that of women of color, on the road. Building the roads where they didn’t already exist, Roadwork created an intersection of opportunity and social change, wherein artists from diverse backgrounds […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
GLAAD’s 2022-2023 “Where We Are On TV” report shows some troubling trends
This morning, GLAAD released its annual “Where We Are On TV” report, which takes a deep dive into LGBTQ+ representation on primetime, cable and streaming networks. This year marks the 18th annual report GLAAD has conducted. The report is available to download in its entirety, but here are some highlights and areas of concern from […]
Posted inTop Stories
A call for activists
When I moved to Dallas in 1992, I volunteered for several nonprofit organizations: I stacked food on the AIDS Resource Center food pantry shelves. I was an HIV counselor at the Nelson Teredo Community Clinic. I created four monthly newsletters. I sat on the boards of the Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance, Couples Metro Dallas […]
Posted inTop Stories
Spectacular Sydney WorldPride: LGBTQ+ event attracts visitors from around the world
Imagine a place where rainbow flags fly from every corner. Everything from the local dentist to the world-renowned art museum rolls out the rainbow carpet. A place where even the sharks donned their finest gay apparel. (More on that later.) This was the reality of Sydney WorldPride, which offered 17 days of celebrating the LGBTQ+ […]
Posted inTop Stories
Robert Moses Kin: Bootstraps Initiative connects choreography and community
For more than 25 years, Robert Moses has been a powerful force in the Bay Area arts community. His choreographic work for his own San Francisco-based troupe, Robert Moses Kin (RMK), and companies worldwide has attracted both praise and controversy, as it often deals with subjects such as race, identity, social justice and power. Beyond […]
Posted inTop Stories
Gay creative Dwight Allen O’Neal is making big things happen on social media and beyond
What does it mean for someone to make a difference in their community? While the first thought may be community service and fundraising, in the age of social media, the phrase means so much more. It means using their influence and voice. Dwight Allen O’Neal is the first person that comes to mind as I […]
Posted inTop Stories
In praise of Drag Story Hour
Drag Story Hours have really come to the fore in our political consciousness in the last few years, as the radical right has strategically targeted events raising the visibility of individuals who are gender-nonconforming, transgender or nonbinary. I’m glad to say I’ve been to a Drag Story Hour (DSH). It was a joyous, but innocuous-seeming […]
Posted inTop Stories
News is Good: MN Gov. Tim Walz signs protection bill, “Yellowjackets” twists and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Those seeking gender affirming care are now protected […]
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
Elijah McKinnon: A Chicago creative talks about Open Television and intersectionality
Elijah McKinnon (they/them/their) is definitely marching to the beat of their own drummer—and many people are benefiting from this individual’s vision.
Posted inTop Stories
Acknowledging queer women during Women’s History Month
They say history is told by the victors, and history in the United States is told from the perspective of white, cisgender, straight men. Our schools teach this narrative but then take the opportunity during certain months to tell the history of “the other,” showing that we are not the ones whose history is the […]
Posted inTop Stories
News is Good: MI Dems work to protect LGBTQ+ rights, “The Honeys” to become a film and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Michigan senate votes to expand LGBTQ protections. The Democrat-led […]
Posted inTop Stories
Camille Ora-Nicole is revolutionizing the queer media industry one day at a time
Changing the world is a lofty goal, but for Camille Ora-Nicole, change is a necessity. The California-based designer, producer and artist has their eye set on building a queer media empire that empowers creatives to thrive in a way that’s almost unheard of today. The vehicle for this change? The Queer 26, a media non-profit […]
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
“Sisterfire” returns to the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center is hosting “Sisterfire Lovesongs” on March 4 for the annual “Sisterfire” showcase. This year’s theme of love songs invites three queer, Black DMV-based artists to share their interpretations of love.
Posted inTop Stories
Breaking down the LGBTQ ‘monolith’
We’ve heard this phrase a lot lately: The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith. It gets used whenever the assumed homogeny of the community is called into question, serving as a reminder that not all LGBTQ+ share the same views or priorities. In politics, for example, one might stereotypically expect LGBTQ+ people to automatically support […]
Posted inTop Stories
News is Good: Brittney Griner signs with Mercury, World Pride kicks off and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are five things we’re excited about this week. Griner returns to the game Professional basketball star Brittney […]
Posted inTop Stories, Travel
Best travel spots for LGBTQ+ families
If you are an LGBTQ+ parent or part of an LGBTQ+ family, finding a welcoming vacation spot is important. Where can you go where you can hope to be treated with respect and kindness? Here are some vacation ideas, from big-time cruises to summer camp-style adventures where LGBTQ+ families can be themselves. Cruises are great […]
Posted inTop Stories
Florida is becoming the center of anti-LGBTQ+ policy
In recent years, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has become more well known nationally. After serving as a representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2018, the conservative Republican won a tight race for governor of Florida against Democrat Andrew Gillum. Since taking office in 2019, DeSantis has been considered by many to be […]