Pop Culture
I'm Offended by Comedic Mediocrity
What do fading comedians and conservative political pundits have in common? A tired reliance on throwing transgender people under the bus whenever feasible. Why did the U.S. fail in Afghanistan? According to Ben Shapiro - transgender people. Who is rubbing civil rights success in the face of other minorities? According to Dave Chappelle - transgender people. Need a scapegoat or a punchline? Quick! Transgender discrimination to the rescue!
Dave Chappelle vs. LGBTQ
Comedians have been using marginalized races and gender as a punchline since the beginning of comedy. For example, earlier works of comedy featured blackface to poke fun at African Americans and comedic males would often cross-dress to mock women. Even today we have drag stars that have become gender impersonators for entertainment. Because this seems to have become the norm of modern comedy, the question is: when does comedy no longer become comedy? More importantly, when do we stop mocking a marginalized group for a quick laugh?
Iris HarrisPublished 2 years ago in PrideLove, longing and Florence Welch
I often think of Florence’s music as folktales made flesh. Especially Lungs. That album runs through the most pivotal parts of my growing up, from when it was given to me on my twelfth birthday to its religious replays in the car, my first iPod, then iPhone - and every music library since. I love her funeral-pyre lyrics and shifting voice, the way her songs sound like they can reach the church beams or root themselves in a grave.
Lauren EntwistlePublished 2 years ago in Pride
Holden Sheppard’s INVISIBLE BOYS
Every now and then I come across a novel which resonates so powerfully with me that it leaves me shaking by the time I finally reach The End. The first time this happened was when I was in high school and that book was Lord of the Flies. Now, more than forty years later, it has happened again, this time with an Australian novel with characters and settings and events which quite eerily mimic my own upbringing, along with that of so many young men who have grown up as gay in rural Australia.
Mark 'Ponyboy' PetersPublished 2 years ago in Pride13 Amazing LGBTQIA+ Musicians to Check Out This Summer!
1. St. Vincent Born Annie Clark, St. Vincent grew up in Dallas, Texas. With an angular face, dark penetrating eyes, and a low, lilting voice, St. Vincent covers a great deal of ground; she sings about her father’s incarceration, her failed romantic relationships, the frantic hum of New York City and the glitter of Los Angeles. With five studio albums under her belt, and a plethora of awards well-earned, St. Vincent is not going anywhere anytime soon. Check out her subversive frenetic pop hit “Cheerleader”, the feverish rhythm of “Pieta”, or the low intensity of “Masseduction” if you’re looking for somewhere to start.
Katie AlafdalPublished 2 years ago in Pride
Minimum Effort
SPOILERS FOR THE LOKI SERIES UP TO EPISODE 4! Just a few weeks ago, I wrote an article about searching for queer representation while I was growing up and how difficult it was to find LGBTQA+ characters to look up to. I added some examples, both good and bad, but there was someone that didn’t make the cut because their story was too complex to be restricted to a passing mention. Now, with the Loki series only two episodes from ending, I think it’s time to talk about them.
Amanda FernandesPublished 2 years ago in Pride
JK Rowling Is No Longer Welcome In My House
Like many other people, I have been a huge fan of J.K. Rowling since I first picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Once I read and collected all the books of that series, I began reading Rowling’s other books.
Feel Better, Thanks to Season Two
Season one of Channel 4 and Netflix’s coproduction Feel Good did not make me want to watch a second season. But it wasn't all bad. Mae Martin’s charisma as her auto-fictional character Mae was undeniable. As was their chemistry with the label-less, but often referred to as “straight”, closeted George (Charlotte Ritchie). The first season of the show painted their dynamic as a queer approach at a thirty-minute comedy about the growing pains of a relationship between two people in their late twenties/early thirties.
Elizabeth Burch-HudsonPublished 2 years ago in Pride3 Free Documentaries to Watch for Pride Month
I’m just 1 person who doesn’t usually watch a lot of documentaries. Unlike my sister, I prefer fiction to nonfiction when it comes to movies, shows, and books. But I recently watched some short, quality LGBTQ+ documentaries I wanted to recommend you check out during Pride month. The best part is that all three of these are amazing. But the second best thing is that they are all free and available on YouTube. Watch and share them with others!
Kate McDevittPublished 2 years ago in PrideA New Age in Children's TV
TV shows are taking modern culture by storm. As a child, I remember waking up early, turning on the TV, and watching whatever Dish TV was playing on Cartoon Network that morning. Usually, that meant Dora the Explorer or Spongebob Squarepants before my mom drove me and my brothers to school. To be fair, I am currently 20 years old, and may not have some of the same early television experiences as my fellow Creators.
Ten LGBT+ Audio Book Recommendations
Audiobooks have been game-changers for my reading life the past three years. I went from reading bed-death - zero books a year, to a modest (but healthy) one a month. I occasionally try skimming through a novel, but most of my reading at the moment is done through Audible.
Rachel M.JPublished 2 years ago in Pride
25 LGBTQ+ Songs That Aren't Anthems (Yet)
Possibly the most exciting time of the year for queer folks is here: Pride Month! All around the globe, the challenge to put on the most wondrous celebration is on. Especially since last year’s festivities were (rudely, but reasonably) interrupted by COVID restrictions. Well, 2021 is seeing brighter rainbows as COVID cases are going down, vaccinations are ongoing, and many states are fixing to open up soon, while others are up and running like normal.
Kimberly AlvarezPublished 2 years ago in Pride
