Also.Also.Also: Halsey Is Gonna Have a Baby Halsey!!
Good Evening! I included zero (0) links about the Game Stop stock market thing, because even though I just barely understand it, I didn’t feel confident enough to have “a take” — so how’s that for a little emotional vulnerability on a Thursday?
Queer as in F*ck You
Halsey is gonna have a bisexual baby Halsey!! SQUEEEEEEE
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKjmNunrcTV/
“I was always told you want to be f—able to men and women to sell records — you don’t want anybody to discriminate… It was absolutely my decision. I mean, you saw what happened to people like Ellen: Remember when she lost her TV show, and all these horrible things were happening? People were totally against it.” Da Brat and Jesseca Dupart Share Their Coming Out Journey
How Tarot Cards and Queer Love Inspired Dior Haute Couture Spring 2021
Gendering Ungender: Notes on Nonbinary Blackness
From Heather: “Seeing Asia Durr talking about her battle with :ong COVID on real sports has broken my heart wide open. I pray pray pray she makes a full recovery.”
https://twitter.com/tracyablake/status/1354287166671740930?s=21
And speaking of Heather — a story in two parts, first Heather posted this tweet:
I got a new dino sweatshirt and put it on out of the box. Stacy was on a work call and she got up, went into the kitchen, got a pair of scissors, came back and cut the tag out while talking away to a producer. It reminded me of this essay I wrote in 2017. https://t.co/7Po0IdyP2i
— Heather Hogan (@theheatherhogan) January 28, 2021
Then I re-read Such Softness in the Harsh World and cried my eyes out, and now you can too!
Saw This, Thought of You
How about an absolutely gorgeous personal essay about growing up as a goth Latina teen in Miami in the 90s? American Gothic: Scenes from the Dark Side of Miami
The pandemic has been hard on all kinds of relationships, but losing the incidental interactions with coworkers, neighbors, and friends of friends might be taking more of a toll than you realize. The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship
I realize it’s probably because it is literally my industry, but I swear it feels like everyone I know has shared this piece over the last 48 hours (for good reason!!) and it won’t stop: I Left My Career in Prestige Media Because of the Shitty Men in Charge and They Are Still In Charge and Still Fucking Up
17 Books Featuring Black Teens That Every YA (And Adult) Should Read.
^^^ This is PERFECTLY timed because I was just writing in my journal about how good YA is now? And how so many of them have Black and queer leads or major characters? And how much I’m enjoying reading them as an adult, including two on this list — You Should See Me in a Crown (which if you haven’t read, what do I need to do to get you to read it? It’s the best teen rom-com I’ve witnessed perhaps ever and certainly in the last ten years. I’d give literal bone marrow drained from my body to have it made into a movie!!) and the supremely excellent Cinderella is Dead
Also(also.also.): Poems for a New Year
Even if I didn’t know Eleanor Roosevelt was gay before, hand decorating an envelope in bright colored pencil is DEFINITELY homosexual behavior.
Everything Has a History: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Illustrated Envelope
Political Snacks
I won’t even lie, this is a one-two punch that I love to see… Joe Biden Repeals Donald Trump’s Anti-Abortion ‘Global Gag Rule’ and Biden Signs Orders Aimed at Expanding Health Care Access, Including Abortion, and Re-Opening Obamacare Enrollment
Rihanna’s Sexy Savage X Fenty Show Left Me in Tears of Black Fat Queer Girl Joy
Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty show is so blatantly inclusive and body positive from the jump — it caught me by surprise. Following a brief opening montage featuring glimpses of the fierceness to come, we are graced with queen RiRi herself sharing that she made a point to look for “unique characteristics in people that aren’t usually highlighted in the world of fashion” while creating the show. That’s echoed by Fenty’s senior VP Jennifer Rosales, who explains that uniquely there’s no target audience for the Savage X Fenty show, but rather “It’s for everyone. [Rihanna] wants everyone to feel beautiful, everyone to feel empowered, everyone to feel and have that strength within them to become the best version of themselves.”
I made it exactly seventeen minutes and twenty-seven seconds into watching the Savage X Fenty show before bursting into tears of black, fat, queer girl joy. Even the intro already had me choked up.
We slide right into behind the scenes photos and interviews with models of all shades, shapes and sizes in Savage X Fenty lingerie sharing what sexy means to them. Just a few minutes in and there’s already been more diversity and inclusion in this production than any mainstream fashion show I’ve ever seen or heard of. I should’ve known that I needed to have tissues on deck by this point, but was far too invested to dare hit pause or look away. The energy’s so high, all the cast members are smiling and laughing, understandably equal parts excited and nervous. Then suddenly Raisa Flowers is on camera mentioning that that she’ll be the first model to walk in the show. I repeat, a black queer plus-size woman was chosen to open the Savage X Fenty show.
I know that Rihanna has not, does not, and will not ever come to play, but still in all my wildest dreams I never imagined this. The formal opening credits roll and the show opens with the camera focused on one of the most statuesque black women I’ve ever seen, frozen in a pose that balanced grace and power flawlessly. Then it pans out to Rihanna surrounded by majority POC dancers in matching but varied black mesh bodysuits that looked equally stunning on every hue curve and roll (and there were MULTIPLE dancers with rolls on that stage y’all) — my mouth dropped open and my hand suddenly found its way to my rapidly tightening chest.
Before I could catch my breath, it happened. Raisa Flowers strutted onto that stage glittering to the heavens adorned in jewels wearing a new cutout variation of that same mesh bodysuit. There was nothing I could (or would) do to stop the tears. I’ve been looking for myself in mainstream fashion shows for 30 years, and the very first thing Rihanna did in her moment was say, “I got you sis.”
It’s no secret that the world of fashion has long prided itself on being exclusionary. For a very long time — and lets be real, still to this day in far too many shows, collections, and eyes of designers — if you were not white, thin, and rich, fashion was not for you. I’ve received a very thorough education throughout my life in all the ways fashion excludes bodies like mine and those that belong to people I love. Black and brown bodies. Bodies with disabilities, scars, and stretch marks. Bodies that enjoy the love of same and/or many genders, that are soft and expansive or petite and muscular. That carry the shapes and histories of our ancestors. We had the doors closed in our faces in space after space, with a smug smile and a reminder that “we don’t have anything here for you honey.” Rihanna said no more, all are welcome, and then literally let us walk the walk.
Not only do these incredible, historically marginalized and oppressed models and dancers walk the walk in the Savage X Fenty show, they do it front and center, and far from alone. There are no tokens in this show — absolutely no identity stands alone. Whereas some designers consider embracing inclusivity to mean including one model for diversity points, usually at the end of the show or on the sidelines, in the Savage X Fenty show they are centered again and again with at least one person —and in most cases many other people — with shared intersections of identity. This allows for an energy of solidarity that’s beautiful and untouchable. I shed even more tears when Laverne Cox did what she does best and danced across the stage like she owned it. At Normani’s appearance my tears were joined with screaming and raising my hands in thanks to the universe for the gift that is her dancing (especially in that tantalizing beige bra and panty set, covered in lip prints paired and with high waisted sheer stockings). Bella Hadid came out glowing like royalty in a sunshine yellow longline bra and high-rise thong set with a headpiece/cape combo fluttering behind her followed by multiple other models donning head covers matching their lingerie sets. I cried again when the choreography to Tweet’s “Oops, Oh My” ended with FIVE fat dancers together on stage Tearing. It. Up. I fell all the way apart. This show! I was simply not ready, but also I’ve waited my whole life for it.
I was also blown away by the level of inclusion within the pieces of lingerie showcased in the collection. Rihanna ensured that there would be sets that work for those who feel sexy and confident in evocative revealing lingerie, those who find their glow in modesty, and everyone in between. There were looks for folks with gender neutral and masculine style tastes. I’m excited to note — in yet another break from a common fashion industry mistake — it wasn’t just the plus-size bodies that modeled the looks with fuller coverage.
A range of style options are shown on every body type, and the genius of having dancers and models moving on stage together allows you to actually see how the lingerie functions in motion. These are pieces bodies can really move in! They look stunning not only while standing still or walking upright, but when you’re dropping it low and doing splits. Wanna know if you can twerk in those garters or throw a leg up on your partner’s shoulder without fear of something snapping off and flying straight into bae’s face? Savage X Fenty’s got you, boo. Curious about whether that bodysuit, bra, or bralette will work for your chest? Watch the line of 10, sometimes 20 or more, people with chests of every size body-rolling in unison to get your answer!. Or just watch it ‘cause it’s hot. Either way, my recommendation is to watch it.
You should also get prepared for the refreshing experience of seeing a lingerie fashion show that has nothing to do with male gaze. This is not about catering to men by objectifying women in played out ways; it’s about women feeling sexy and empowered for and by their own damn selves. When the male performers come on stage, they never interact with any of the models or dancers who, if they haven’t all left the stage completely, sit in silence unbothered. In contrast, when Halsey comes out for her performance in the black lace robe of my dreams accented with strappy black garters with silver hearts in the middle, the script is flipped in ways I will be grateful for for years to come.
She nuzzles and caresses the women on stage with her. They return those same tender touches, and more. As Halsey sings and makes her way down a staircase, she runs her fingers down the torso of a dancer wearing a light pink satin bodysuit that looks irresistibly soft to the touch and my body let out a visceral groan! This is a bisexual celebrity engaging in sensual, seductive touch, but it’s completely respectful, beautiful, artistic and on a mainstream fashion platform! Halsey continues down those stairs to be further caressed and grind slowly with another dancer in a sizzling neon green lace lingerie set (with GLOVES!) — things eventually get so sexy between them I started fanning myself and rewound it a few (more than a few) times. It’s all staged and choreographed with a woman’s gaze at the center, and never once feels degrading or demoralizing. Just powerful.
There is so much power in having artists like Fabolous, A$AP Ferg, Big Sean, DJ Khaled and Fat Joe rap about bad bitches without ever using any as pawns. The show takes time to uplift Tierra Whack for her bars. Khaled and Fat Joe perform their songs in front of a giant wall filled with cutout archways lit up in rainbow colors, an obvious show of LGBTQ+ allyship which brought me more joy (and of course more tears). These artists operate in an industry and culture that’s often drenched in misogyny and homophobia, but they stood on the Savage X Fenty stage and instead sent a different message.
There were SO many celebrities with staggering followings on that stage. I did some quick math and the count of JUST the Instagram followers collectively among all the big names — many of which I’ve failed to list here, there were just so many! — is well over 300 million. Think about that reach. The resounding impact of their message that diversity and inclusion are the rule, not the exception. That black, brown, trans, disabled, fat, queer, lives matter. That the people and cultures the fashion industry has long stolen and appropriated from — all while barring us from entering — don’t just deserve a seat at the table. No, our ancestors made the damn table off the sweat of their backs. We own it. And we own everything else, too.
There really aren’t words for what Rihanna has done here.
You can stream the Savage X Fenty show on Amazon Prime.
No Filter: Cara Delevingne and Halsey Perform HYSTERICAL Trust Fall In Baggy Menswear!
Hello welcome to another week of celebrity instagram shenanigans. This week, we learned that Desiree Akhvan is going through a breakup, inspiring extra attention to social media.
Bless Gemini season for bringing us hot Roberta Colindrez content on instagram even though her instagram is private.
This is how lesbians [and otherwise-identified fans of girl-on-girl culture] have sex
Adam Lambert remains irresistible to lesbians.
No, Shane doesn’t want any flavoring in her water ice. What the fuck is he talking about with the flavoring?
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBD1rPppFI/
It appears that Desiree Akhavan is going through a breakup and I hope she knows that my DMs are open and it is legal to slide into them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx8dDorJmfY/
King Princess is all packed up and ready to go, what’s the hold-up?
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByA8WOegTOc/
An angel visited Ari Fitz’s inbox and delivered these photos and now I am presenting them to you with the (I hope) communal understanding that this is what the goddesses call “manna from heaven.”
Jealous of this throne tbh.
Look out for Steph Beatriz’s upcoming Anonymous Sex Toy review of Muff Divers, a new brand of gloves for fans who like to muff in the buff. (TM)
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByAdhOsBH4z/?utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet
PREMIUM Critter Content right here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0jvodA8du/
Readers, you tell me: what is this Halloween costume?
The 15 Gayest Pop Songs of 2017
Click for more 2017 End of the Year Lists
One of the things that’s constantly made me feel better, even when I was at my lowest lows this year, was pop music. How did we get lucky enough to have such a huge number of queer pop stars? We’ve got Tegan and Sara, of course, but also Hayley Kiyoko, Demi Lovato, Lauren Jauregui, Kehlani, Kesha, Halsey, Mary Lambert, Babeo Baggins and more! This is great! We’re taking over the industry, the future is queer! Here are fifteen of my favorite pop songs that made me feel queer feelings this year. (These aren’t ranked in any particular order.)
1. “Strangers” by Halsey ft. Lauren Jauregui
“She doesn’t kiss me on the mouth anymore, cause it’s more intimate than she thinks we should get” Halsey sings in the opening line to this and we already know what we’re in for. Two openly bisexual pop stars of color collaborated on this song that has no ambiguity about being all about queer heartbreak.
2. “Know Your Name” by Mary Lambert
A stunner of a pop song about a new crush with a stunner of a music video featuring Mary Lambert’s own queer posse as she tries to catch up with her mysterious crush played by Sara Ramirez.
3. “Nineteen” by Hayley Williams (Originally by Tegan and Sara)
A part of The Con X Covers album celebrating the tenth anniversary of the groundbreaking queer album, this new version by the lead singer of Paramore manages to keep every single ounce of tearjerking from the original but somehow makes it more haunting.
4. “Feelings” by Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko is the future of queer pop. She’s already had massive success with her queer anthems “Sleepover,” “Gravel to Tempo” and of course “Girls Like Girls,” and she hasn’t even released her debut album yet. Our girl came through for us again this year, with “Feelings,” a theme song for all the queer girls who never learned how to play it cool. “Feelings” is a song for those of us who wear our rainbow hearts on our sleeves.
5. “Bad at Love” by Halsey
Bisexual superstar Halsey is back, this time on her own, and this time loudly and proudly bi in her lyrics. She sings both about ex boyfriends and ex girlfriends in this smash hit that’s still climbing the charts. Guys, a song about being bisexual has 54 million views on Youtube. That’s amazing.
6. “Cut to the Feeling” by True Gay Icon Carly Rae Jepsen
If my life were a song, I’d want it to be this one. It has a soaring chorus, a pounding beat, and lyrics that cut straight to the feeling of being love. Just listen to Carly Rae sing “I wanna dance on the roof, you and me alone” and “I wanna wake up with you all in tangles, oh” and try to not believe in love.
7. “Honey” by Kehlani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNzyLg20kUY
Damn, this song is sexy. Kehlani’s voice accompanied by a simple guitar sounds like a warm summer picnic with your best gal where you’re sharing grapes and wine and soft, soft kisses.
8. “Nights with You” by MØ
This is easily the most confusing song of the year. The female singer starts off telling her female best friend that she’s gorgeous, then tells her she’ll do anything to make her smile, “don’t care about your boyfriend waking up alone” and that she wants to spend all her nights with you. That’s gay, but the singer says it’s not? But really, that’s gay.
9. “Sorry Not Sorry” by Demi Lovato
This song is for every lesbian, bisexual lady or queer person who was dumped or cheated on or mistreated this year. Demi knows how you feel, and more importantly, she knows how you want to feel. You want to feel powerful and strong and unapologetic. And that’s what this song is all about.
10. “Bad Liar” by Selena Gomez
Selena’s song might not be iconically queer on it’s own (although it is pretty relatable to hear her sing about how she can’t hide her crush), but in the music video she decided to play all the parts, including a high school student who has a crush on her female gym teacher. And girl, does she play gay real well.
11. “Praying” by Kesha
Kesha’s comeback this year was one of the greatest stories in all of pop culture, and this was the song that kicked it all off and showed us just how strong she was. With one brilliant song Kesha not only blew us all away, but she shut down her rapist and abuser, gave strength to women everywhere and announced her return in a big way.
12. “Gorgeous” by Taylor Swift
T-Swift has had some pretty gay songs before, but this is her gayest. In it she sings about how the person she sees in the club is waaayyyyy too gorgeous for her to handle. She’s mad at her feelings, like a closeted girl trying to deny that she likes a girl. “You should think the consequence of you touching my hand in a darkened room,” come on.
13. “Want You Back” by Haim
Haim has been a favorite in the queer girl scene for a while now, but it wasn’t until this song that I finally got them, and boy howdy I get them now. In a lot of ways this is the opposite of “Sorry Not Sorry” so no matter how you feel about your breakup, we’ve got you covered. Also, the dancing in the video is cute! I love it!
14. “Take Me” by Aly and AJ
Ummmmm wow, this video and song. It’s campy, it’s catchy, but most importantly, it’s hottttttttt. The sisters and former Disney stars play a pair of 70’s style vampires singing a plea to their potential victims to invite them on a date, where they say “I know that you would want it, if I could sink my teeth into you.” It’s a bop and a banger.
15. “Slow Dance With Me” by Babeo Baggins and Marceline the Vampire Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDsVy36q6Es
I’m saving my current favorite for last. Babeo Baggins is my current number #1 celebrity crush and they knocked it out of the park with this song about yearning and and hope and wanting to be enough for that girl you like to like you back. The fact that it was then used in an episode of Adventure Time where Marceline the Gay Vampire Queen sings it makes it one of my favorite pop culture moments of the year. Thank you Babeo.
Four Hot New Queer and Queer-ish Singles From Your Faves to Usher In Summer
This last week was kind of freaking amazing for queer pop music. We’ve got so many new bops!!! It’s prime time for songs of the summer, and it seems like it was decided that the queer girl community will be the judges this year (that is if “Despacito” hasn’t already won the title, but come on, adding Justin Bieber to a song is a guaranteed way to sell it to queer women). Mary Lambert, Halsey and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony are out here representing queer women by singing explicitly about relationships with women. Hailee Steinfeld and Carly Rae Jepsen are out here representing for all their queer fans. This is what summer is all about.
“Know Your Name” / Mary Lambert
Know Your Name (Official Video) by Mary Lambert on VEVO.
Mary Lambert’s “Know Your Name” is in my opinion her funnest and danciest single yet, and I’m here and I’m queer for it. The video features an amazing girl gang of queer and trans cuties with nicknames like Horror Scope, Hell Vetica, Princess Sleia and Peach Fuzz. I love it. Then a mysterious stranger shows up and guess what! It’s Bisexual Superstar, Ultimate Bombshell, Brilliant Advocate and Actress Sara Ramirez! When Mary sings “I want to take you out, I want to make you shake, I want to drive you wild, but I probably should know your name,” she’s all of us when we see a brand new crush in the club. Also this video is hella nerdy, which makes it even more adorable. Dang, Mary Lambert is a blessing to this earth. This video and song and artist need to settle down and stop being so dang adorable.
“Strangers” / Halsey
Two more queer artists, Halsey and Lauren Jauregui, teamed up to make a killer duet about queer love falling apart. This song has a strong electronic beat and uses “she” pronouns throughout. Damn, this song is real, “She doesn’t kiss me on the mouth anymore, ’cause it’s more intimate than she thinks we should get” and “I miss the thought of a forever, you and me, but all you’re missing is my body.” These lyrics cut deep for any queer lady who’s felt someone they knew and loved become a stranger. I love love love this song and I love love love the precedent it’s setting of queer lady artists teaming up to make queer lady pop songs. Let this be the start of a new genre!
“Cut To The Feeling” / Carly Rae Jepsen
When it comes to gay-ish songs, we were blessed by both Hailee Steinfeld and True Gay Icon Carly Rae Jepsen. Carly Rae’s song is from her upcoming animated film Leap! about a young ballerina in Paris. According to NPR the song was originally intended to be on E•MO•TION: Side B, but was instead saved for the soundtrack to this movie. It’s a classic Carly Gae track, its ridiculously danceable, the hook makes your heart feel like it’s soaring, and the beat is gay as h*ck. Gawd I love this song. I want it played at every dance I ever go to for the rest of my life. “I wanna cut through the clouds, break the ceiling. I wanna dance on the roof, you and me alone. I wanna cut to the feeling, oh yeah” — same, girl, same.
“Most Girls” / Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld has been regularly putting out some of the best gayish pop songs in the past couple years with songs like “Love Myself” and “Starving.” Now she’s back with the girl power anthem Most Girls, which flips the script on “you’re not like most girls” by singing “Most girls are strong and smart and beautiful. Most Girls are Most girls, work hard, go far, we are unstoppable. Most girls, our fight to make every day. No two are the same, I want to be like Most Girls.” I really absolutely love this girl positive message that is body positive, anti-slut-shaming and all about loving girls for who they are. It gets my vote for song of the summer. I’m pretty sure this song was called “All Girls” until Hailee found out that white women voted for Trump.
Queer Women and women with huge queer fanbases are taking over pop music this summer and it’s honestly the best thing to ever happen to me.
Which of these songs is your song of the summer?
Pop Culture Fix: Transparent S2 Getting Even Queerer, Holland Taylor & Sarah Paulson Getting Even Cuter
Hello and welcome to the pop culture fix, your weekly look at all the important pop culture stories you need to know about. You are honestly so lucky to be here, now, with me, reading this. I’m so glad we decided to this together on the very same day that I ran out of fruit snacks.
Transparent
photo via Buzzfeed by Jennifer Clasen / Amazon Studios for BuzzFeed News
+ If you would like to torture yourself by watching one episode of Transparent Season Two before the rest of the episodes are actually released, you can do that! Episode 201 is available now on Amazon Prime, and you can read Mey’s take on it here.
+ Mey Rude spent eight hours on the set of Transparent and is writing all about it for you in an Autostraddle article we’re all looking forward to! In the meantime, a Buzzfeed writer apparently spent 48 hours on the set of Transparent and you can read all about that in “48 Hours On The First Trans-Centric Set In The Heart of Hollywood.”
+ Kayla’s writing a thing for Autostraddle about what you can expect in Season Two of Transparent which we’re all looking forward to! In the meantime, AfterEllen has a piece about how Syd and Ali will be giving lesbian love a chance this season. I can’t tell you anything more than that because I hate spoilers so I only read the headline and the spoiler warning before fleeing AfterEllen in a hot panic, as we do.
+ Hari Nef, the first transgender model signed to IMG and a guest star on Season Two of Transparent, talks to The New York Times about coming out and playing a Pfefferman from a time long ago.
Famous People Are More Important Than Other People
+ Holland Taylor spoke openly about her relationships with women on WNYC last week AND ALSO Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson are girlfriends and it’s ADORABLE. They’ve been dating for about four months, as their respective twitter feeds have made fairly clear (here’s Sarah’s and here’s Holland’s.)
+ The Advocate is honoring 40 Under 40 in its new issue, which features Tyler Oakley on the cover. The only woman up on the site so far is bisexual bipolar musician Halsey. She’s awesome and you should read about her!
+ Wanda Sykes was on Ellen yesterday!
+ Here are 12 Queer Hip-Hop Artists for you.
+ Kristen Kish wears sweatpants and a t-shirt when she’s cooking at home.
+ Serena Williams, Amy Schumer, Patti Smith and Yao Chen model for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.
Teevee and The Movies
+ “Kilgrave is the abuser that so many victims of abuse are familiar with: Everyone on the outside sees a charming, friendly, affable man. On the inside, within his relationships, he is completely and totally in control. And just like real life, he doesn’t see anything wrong with what he does.”
+ 10 TV Events to look forward to in December: Yael Stone in a cool-looking new SyFy mini-series, Netflix’s true crime series that’ll fill a Jinx-sized hole in our hearts, The Wiz and an Empire-ish Christmas special.
+ On the art of splitting one book into two films.
+ There was a secret meeting about Gender Bias in Hollywood and I’m pretty sure our invitations got lost in the mail.
+ The Daily Beast talks to Carrie-Ann Moss about playing Marvel’s first lesbian character.