#lgbtq

#lgbtq

I am a queer man of color in my mid-20s. I grew up in a mostly white, conservative, rural town. It was hellish growing up there, dealing with constant microaggressions, racism, and homophobia. Even though I was not out of the closet at the time, I was constantly clocked as being gay and ridiculed as a result. Despite this, I had some incredibly close friends who were a godsend during that time.

My doctors have told me that it isn't safe to perform due to the need for vocal rest and physical recovery. I truly appreciate how much time, planning and preparation goes into coming to a show. I can't describe to you how sorry I am to have to move things around. I love you all and will see you soon.

"This is not something for the history of LGBTQ+ people that we're unfamiliar with," she said. "We know there are targets sometimes to our persons and to our community spaces and buildings."

Now the band has shared a new music video for their song "Gabriela" which sees each member of the band recreate an iconic Mariah look. The band are asked the same question as before, this time by Bowen Yang, before showing off their looks. After a lengthy intro, the video then switches to "Gabriela" for which the band are all dressed in rainbow tank tops, white shorts, and black boots harking back to Mariah's Rainbow album cover look.

Kiss of the Spider Woman still lives in my head, days after seeing it: the swirling colors, deep love, survival under torture, Technicolor dreams, amazing moments of Marilyn meeting J Lo, and its gutsy art combined with heartbreaking physical connection. This film blew my mind, but left me with a question: How did it ever get made? The movie will totally divide the audience and lose a ton of money, but those fortunate enough to get it will be rewarded by memories and emotion.

The White House website has a timeline of "Major Events" that now includes several scandals - some real, some imagined by the right - likely as a way to justify the president's destruction of the East Wing this week. These scandals include former President Bill Clinton's affair, former President Barack Obama's supposed ties to Muslim terrorism (which was not a real story), Hunter Biden's drug use, and former President Joe Biden's support for trans rights.

the series follows a twink (Miles Heizer, who has been playing a teen since Parenthood) who impulsively signs up for basic training alongside the straight friend he has a crush on. Boots plays out like a comedy about summer camp - our hero suffers through drills, builds a bond with his brothers in arms, and learns to muscle through hardship - and argues that the brutality of military training can make you a better man.

The previously announced residency by Grammy-winning singer Sam Smith, which will serve as the opening act for the renovated Castro Theatre in February and March, was already extended, and now spans over a month, with 20 show dates. In late September, Another Planet Entertainment (APE) announced a run of eight shows by Grammy-winning, queer and non-binary singer Sam Smith at the soon-to-reopen Castro Theatre which, at least officially, will heretofore be called The Castro.

"unashamedly be targeted at the boys, pretty much 18 to 35"

In a video taken from her show at the O2 Arena, in London, on Monday night, she asked: "Did they say that G-A-Y was shutting down? That G-A-Y shut down? The club? Here?" When it was confirmed, she said: "They shut down the gays, how dare [they]?" which brought a loud cheer from the audience. "We'll just bring the gays here," she added. "They can't shut us up, we'll just get louder and more homosexual."

Off to Weatherfield... BRB. Catch me on the cobbles soon.

"Not My Weekend," directed by Rona Segal, is a 19-minute short film making its international debut at the Chelsea Film Festival. The drama from Israel takes place during a single night and follows Sharon, a divorced woman in her 40s, who gets invited to a rave party on her free night, but when her ex-husband stands her up, she must find someone to watch her child if she wants to attend the party. The film stars Liat Tamari, Tamar Reinhertz, Meir Swissa, and Sahron Shaha.

The synopsis reads: "Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down." However, everything changes when he meets the captivating lady in silver, Sophie Baek ( Dune: Prophecy 's Yerin Ha), at his mother's masquerade ball. The teaser shows Benedict descending a staircase and passing Sophie, who is wearing a silver gown, long white gloves and a bejewelled silver mask. As they pass each other, the classic Bridgerton yearning stirs with just the slightest brush of a hand. In the final shot, we see one of Sophie's gloves lying on the floor.

If we listen to many mainstream climate stories, then time has run out. Right? This thoughtful series hosted by Laurie Laybourn explores what happens now that we are on track for the world's temperature to rise by more than 1.5C. Its first episode is tough but crucial listening, full of talk about how scientists have underestimated the risks, listing potential outcomes including the UK being unable to grow food. It's time to draw up new plans to cope. Alexi Duggins Widely available, episodes weekly

Austin's roadway art, including the rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Colorado streets and the "Black Artists Matter" painted on 11th Street could soon be gone. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered cities and counties Wednesday to remove displays like these or risk losing state and federal money for road projects. He said this order will comply with a federal policy banning symbolic language and roadway art. A TxDOT letter to cities and counties gives them 30 days to remove any "decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings conveying artwork or other messages."

"the best hangover food you could ever have - you could stand on the gravy"

Jon M Chu's version of the stage musical - which itself was based on Gregory Maguire's revisionist Wizard of Oz novel - stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, who becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Galinda, later Glinda, the Good Witch. When the first part of the two-film adaption was released in November 2024 it smashed box office records and tracks from the movie rocketed up the music charts.

The lingering question while watching Boots, Netflix's new, queer military dramedy, is: why the hell would anyone put themselves through this? 'This' being signing up for the US Marine Corps' bootcamp by the way, which looks to be as fun as self-performed open heart surgery, not 'this' as in watching , which is considerably better than open heart surgery. In fact, it's a captivating, occasionally thrilling watch, with quite a lot of heart, a fair bit of cliché, and some solid performances.

The third annual Petaluma Pride festival this year coincides with National Coming Out Day, on October 11. That's when, from noon-5 pm, there will be live music, food, drinks, and more at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, which is just a little over an hour away from San Francisco. This year's theme is "Pride Is Power, and Joy Is a Riot!"

My girlfriend Morgan and I were introduced by my realtor at the preseason game for the Chicago Sky. I'm opening a women's sports bar called Babe's, and she became an investor. We go to every home game together. For her birthday, I wrote her a novella called Courtside Connection about our relationship because she loves those sappy sapphic romance books. I have been threatening to throw a self-published book party for it at Babe's.

The Elton John Aids Foundation has joined forces with the UK's only LGBTQ+ national lottery to help fund HIV-prevention programmes. The world's leading independent HIV prevention organisation announced on Thursday (25 September) its plans to partner with the national Rainbow Lottery, which is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The UK lottery organisation holds a national raffle each week, with cash prizes of up to £25,000 (close to $34,000).