You made it to the start of a new week! I’m so proud of you!

Queer as in F*ck You

Janelle Monáe opened the Oscars yesterday and first she was dressed as Mister Rogers and then she sang with Billy Porter and after she was done with all that, she said: “I’m so proud to stand here as a black queer artist telling stories. Happy Black History Month.” ❤️🖤💚

Black Queer Joy is real, and you should go ahead and get you some.

https://youtu.be/VYyGHq_DgAs

Also Excuuuuse Me:

Janelle Monae came dressed as Grace Jones and just like that I forgot… well, everything. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kBpEI8SSPO

— Carmen Phillips (@carmencitaloves) February 9, 2020

And speaking of black queer joy at the Oscars, Essence Magazine honored the cast of Pose and Janet Mock at their annual Black Women in Hollywood lunch, and that’s a huge fucking deal. Far too many black entertainment spaces have been – to put it frankly – transphobic in their slow warmth to the undeniable work these women have put in. Which is HIGHLY IRONIC AT BEST, given that these same spaces were originally created to celebrate blackness in the face of white ignorance and apathy. Ok. Here’s what Janet Mock had to say in her acceptance speech:

To be given the stage today tells our sisters watching that no matter their path to womanhood, they are deserving of being seen, affirmed, and heard. Too often black trans women and black queer and gender non-confirming folk put their bodies on the line every day to merely be themselves… our struggle for black people must include black trans and queer people. Period.

—

On Pose we tell the story of hope and love and community, one that can serve as an offering to those who make away out of no way – building houses after being left on the streets, creating family after being disowned, carving out a safe sacred space in a world that offers them none. I hope our show provides black girls everywhere a mirror to better see themselves; letting her know that no matter how different, how misunderstood, how marginalized she may feel, she is worthy. She’s worthy of taking up space on screen and in the streets. And today we accept this on her behalf, on behalf of all those courageous enough to show themselves in a world intent on erasing and shaming us. Your mere presence is revolutionary. And in the world that we see, all the girls are protected and nurtured, liberated and centered. And we are centered because we matter. We are centered because our own liberation as black people, regardless of our gender and sexuality, lies in the well-being and survival of all of our sisters – especially those most vulnerable and most overlooked.

We are, always have been, and will always be your sisters. Thank you @Essence for recognizing the six of us at the #BlackWomenInHollywood awards. #girlsliekus #posefx pic.twitter.com/frzrSr2TjT

— Janet Mock (@janetmock) February 9, 2020

Essence won’t let me be great and has yet to release the full video online, but no worries because Laverne Cox has a full (admittedly, low-res) six minute recording linked on her Instagram and it will most certainly make you weep.

LGBTQ Adults Use Dating Apps Nearly Twice as Much as Straight Adults. I don’t actually know any straight people in my personal life, but still this feels like it checks out.

‘Virginia Is for All Lovers’: House and Senate Pass Legislation to Ban LGBTQ Discrimination

Study Suggests Lesbian-Sounding Women Face Greater ‘Gaydar Discrimination’ in Hiring Than Men

Saw This, Thought of You

Riese found this; it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot since #JusticeforJohnnyDepp first started trending online: Misinformation Campaign #JusticeForJohnnyDepp Proves We Still Don’t Believe Survivors.

The Lily Sent Disposable Cameras to 25 Women Across the U.S. Here’s What They Captured. Including: Tegan and Sara, Aisha Dee from The Bold Type, Kristen Bell, Princess Nokia, and 21 other very normal everyday humans like you and me.

These Moms Were Homeless. Now They Are Starting a Housing Revolution.

You’ve probably heard by now that the Korean film Parasite won best picture at the Oscars, making history as the first non-English speaking film to win in the Academy’s 92 year history (and here is last night’s complete winners list in case you missed out). Back in October at Vulture, E. Alex Jung —  one of my all-time FAVORITE interviewers, who happens to also be Korean — interviewed director Bong Joon-ho and honestly it’s so damn good that you should read it today: Bong Joon-ho’s Dystopia Is Already Here

If you’re looking for even more Oscars coverage, may I recommend Riese and Drew? Oscars 2020: Two Lesbians Discuss the Very White, Very Straight, Very Male 92nd Academy Awards

Valentine’s Day Represents a Radical Act

And finally, Add These Natural, Organic Lubes To Your Bedside Table

Political Snacks

Natalie recommends: How the Iowa Caucuses Became an Epic Fiasco for Democrats, and Natalie is very smart, so you should definitely read it. (That said, for my money the best explanation of the Iowa Caucus Clusterf*ck is still her own.)

And if you missed Natalie’s recap of Friday night’s debate, you should get on that now.

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