My Weekend (Our Land) Crush

I know it doesn’t always feel like it, but this land was made for you and me. And don’t you ever fucking forget it. Thanks for the reminder, Sharon Jones & Dap Kings. Again. Happy birthday, America. Do better, be better. And to the rest of the world, a lot of us are really sorry about all of our own bullshit. Happy Fourth of July weekend, all.

It Is Horrendous, But Then It's Magnificent

You know what, I think I didn’t give Kristin Scott Thomas in Fleabag its proper icon status yesterday when discussing her new directorial debut. I’ve been a longtime KST lover, since “Four Weddings,” heck since “Bitter Moon” (hello, her and Emmanuelle Seigner in bed together *makes purring sound*). And of course, who didn’t swoon over her in “The English Patient.” But unquestionably her most memorable (while simultaneously shortest) lesbian role was as Best Woman in Business Belinda Friers in Fleabag. Her monologue to Phoebe Waller-Bridge? Yeah, let’s relive that one again. As a perimenopausal woman it gives me hope. And it’s a good reminder to, if the chance arises, you should probably snog Kristin Scott Thomas.

A Not Gay, But Still Gay Wedding

Wait, I thought Pride was last month. But here it is, a movie where Scarlett Johansson and Freida Pinto play a lesbian couple. Maybe the good straights are atoning for the bad ones, and this is their mea culpa. Whatever the reason, I’ll take it. “My Mother’s Wedding” is the directorial debut of Kristin Scott Thomas, who lesbians with long memories like me will remember as “a lesbian once in school” in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and was a full-time lesbian in business in “Fleabag.” It stars ScarJo, Sienna Miller and Emily Beecham as the three daughters whose mother is getting married. I get some "Happpiest Season" vibes form the sister dynamic from the trailer, down to the one lesbian sister. And did I mention Scarlett is said sister here as a British naval officer AND Freida is her girlfriend? Look, does it bode well for this film that it took almost two years to get released and it still isn’t coming to theaters until August 8? Not necessarily. But Scarlett and Freida are lesbianing together in it, so I’ll wait as long as it takes – which, in all likelihood, is whenever it gets sent to whatever streamer I’m already paying for. What? That’s usually only a couple months, tops, these days. I’m impatient, but also frugal. Even for lesbian ScarJo.

Truly Hot Ones

It’s July and, oh yeah, straight people exist. So here are two very nice and nice-to-look-at straight people doing the straightest thing possible, eating super hot chicken wings. Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman did a Hot Ones challenge together to promote “The Old Guard 2.” I maintain it’s homophobic for Netflix to wait to release this movie until early July (tomorrow, to be exact). But, I will forgive them a tiny bit because they cast Charlize and Uma together and made them fight. Come on, The Bride v. Furiosa? Sometimes, it’s the little things. Like Charlize’s plain white T-shirt. Who needs a whole marketing campaign when she can just show up, eat wings and look like that?

Music Monday: Just Imagine

Today is last day of Pride in a year which has been unquestionably one of the most destructive for queer people’s rights in this county (thanks SCOTUS and Trump, and by thanks I mean the most sincere FUCK YOU). So let us instead send a little prayer out to the Big Gay Universe for better days in the not so distant future. Imagine that. Thanks for the reminder, Tracy Chapman. Happy Monday and last day of Pride, kittens.

My Weekend Crush

The thing I love about Hacks,” among so many things, is just how fucking gay it is. Seriously, it’s so fucking gay that basically its entire cast – minus Jean Smart and creator Paul W. Downs (who, aside, is married to a lady which was a surprise to me because the vibes since Broad City were *inserts non-discriminatory limp wrist*) – are somewhere prominent along the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Shall we butch it up and do a roll call? Sure, why not.

• Hannah Einbinder (Ava): Our resident Super Bi.
• Megan Stalter (Kayla): Bisexual, self-crowned “Best Gay Actor” and happily dating girlfriend Maddie Allen since 2022.
• Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Marcus): Nonbinary and married to husband Chubi Anyaoku.
• Mark Indelicato (Damien): Gay and remember how adorable he was as a babygay in “Ugly Betty.”

I think having such gay sensibilities makes “Hacks” a better, smarter, funnier, deeper, more emotionally resonant show. Sure, that could be my built-in biases for anything Rainbow Alphabet related. But I think it comes from from a place of deep vulnerability about what it means to be authentic in the face of opposition to your very existence. Also, we’re fucking funny. So here’s to a fabulous and fucking gay season 4, onward to an even gayer season 5. Happy last weekend of Pride, all.

Movie Review: Sally

Heartbreak is often the inspiration for great art. But can great inspiration also break your heart? “Sally,” the new documentary about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, does a little of both. Her status as an American icon is assured, inspiring countless girls and others to pursue science and reach, quite literally, for the stars. But her private life, which for the first time has been laid open for all to see, in the new documentary will also break your heart.

In the end, Sally Ride’s story is that one of the bravest women in the entire world was still too scared to live her life openly and authentically. It was only after her death in 2012, that the whole universe learned she was a lesbian and had a more than quarter century relationship with partner Tam O'Shaughnessy. So while Sally’s name may be on the marquee, the documentary is really Tam’s story as well. She was the partner long shuffled to the shadows and asked to keep this secret about the person who she loved most and who loved her most.

It’s also a sobering reminder that homophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments are not just an ancient relic. Truly, this era should cure anyone from believing that the struggles for civil rights – be they for queer people or people of color or immigrants or those with disabilities – are over. The sad truth is, we can always go backwards. At 73, Tam’s life continues to be shaped by the specter of the closet. Anyone who also watched the new Pee Wee Herman documentary, in which Paul Reubens also comes out posthumously, had that message reinforced here. We are still losing heroes who believed the only way they could truly be honest with the world about themselves was in death. Still. We have not overcome and the so-called past remains too much of our present.

As Tam says during “Sally”:

“She was afraid. That’s heartbreaking. For me but also for her….The world made it tricky and painful. But we were brave enough to love each other.”

May we reach a point as humans where no one has to be so brave that they feel safer slipping the surly bonds of Earth than being open about being gay. Wouldn’t it be amazing if, as Tam put it, all those tribal fears we hold to about race, gender, nationality, who we love and all the other arbitrary restrictions we place on ourselves and others just melted away. We’re all just little people living on a crazy blue marble. Humans can do extraordinary and inspiring things, but the most extraordinary and the bravest is often simply being ourselves.

Movie Review: The Wedding Banquet

I don’t know how, but the new “The Wedding Banquet” is even gayer than the original “The Wedding Banquet.” Ang Lee’s 1993 classic (which, how did I only just now realize the white male lead was literally Roy Lichtenstein - yes that Lichtenstein’s – son!) was great and I remember it warmly. But the update stars the all-queer-stars cast of Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran and O.G. Ally Mom To Us All, Joan Chen and it just feels so gay. And that’s lovely. Also really funny. Yeah, it still has that being in the closet/coming out/finding your self worth storyline that tends to dominate queer narratives. But with these actors and this material, it just works. It’s also a reminder that while queer people move through the world differently and while our struggles may be different, the end goal can be remarkably similar to that of our straight counterparts. Find someone to love who loves you, build your dream family/home with that person. Have that love and that family celebrated by those who know and love you. Lather, rinse, repeat. How we get there, well, those are the details. Sometimes those details are very funny and very gay, like here.

Out, Out, Gen Z

For every generation, a preferred coming out medium is born. For us Gen X’s it was the major magazine cover coming out that allowed celebs to “Yep, I’m gay” themselves into history. For Millennials their coming out moment was typified by Kristen Stewart telling the past (and sadly present) president she is “like so gay gay, dude” during her SNL monologue. And Gen. Z? Well, we’ve got two strong early front-runners this Pride.

First up we have 18-year-old “Modern Family” star Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (who played Lily) coming out as bi to a meme sound of her own character on TikTok. Congrats, Aubrey. Welcome to THE family.

Second we have 22-year-old UConn star Azzi Fudd ending all the speculation about whether she is dating her former teammate and new WNBA star Paige Bueckers, 23. I think her “Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend” phone case clearly visible in a recent Insta stories answers that question, next?

Both these comings out are incredibly meta social shares, which is perfect for Gen. Z.

Music Monday: Good Red

girl in red herself will admit she just dropped the saddest lesbian song of the summer (not to be confused with the sexiest lesbian song of the summer, thanks Renee). But her new single “Hemingway” is more than just a sad song. It’s a beautiful reminder of the importance of art in our healing process. The Norwegian singer-songwriter has been extremely open about her struggles with addiction, depression and eating disorders in the past year. In fact, we’re lucky she is still with us. But she has taken those personal struggles and turned them into something deeply moving. Art is one of our greatest tools for sharing the human condition. It can make us feel less alone. It can teach us empathy. It can soothe a tattered soul. I’m certainly glad girl in red is still out there making beautiful, sad music for us all. Also, goodness, she’s funny. She’s right, it’s a great time to be a lesbian. Happy weekend, all.

My Weekend Crush

I felt like Renee deserved a little more than just, you know, my drooling from Monday. So to expound on her greatness, may I remind everyone that she is one of the new wave of sapphic celebrities who happily, proudly uses the L word. She also has organically found herself on the right side of almost every important issue in our present history – in spite of her famous lack of media training. Or, is that because of her famous lack of media training? And, she’s blissfully in love with her girlfriend Towa Bird. Sex-positive, queer-positive, and just candid as fuck – like in her recent Cosmo cover story – she is the kind of star that makes me feel like the kids are all right. More refreshingly idgaf celebrities willing to speak out on everything from the silly to the serious, and oh yeah she’s super talented to boot. And sexy. What, you stop back where you started sometimes. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: The Other Katy

Well if we can’t celebrate the wonderful blurring of the binary during Pride, when can we celebrate it? Oh, right, this administration would rather we never. But I bet those red-hatted goons would fold like a TACO if confronted by our resident queer-action-hero-in-the-making, Katy O’Brian. Since we all developed huge crushes on her thanks to her crushingly huge biceps in last year’s “Love Lies Bleeding,” Katy has been busily adding to her film and TV resume with some big-name franchises (like “Twisters,” “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and the upcoming “The Running Man” big). And she has continued to blur the binary by celebrating her strength along with her femininity. Or, to put it more simply, you’re welcome all you muscle mommy lovers.

p.s. Reminder, she’s been married to her wife for five years. So all of this is respectfully, of course. Very respectful. Ahem.

So Gay Wednesday

Remember when I said Cynthia Erivo was charming as the Tonys host this month? Well, that is in no small part because of the way she belted out the show’s closing number. If you’re feeling a little defeated in this political moment, I think she just might give you the midweek lift you need. So, so gay indeed. Enjoy the arts after you round up all the queers, POC and progressives, MAGAts. As if Lee Greenwood and Kid Rock could get anywhere near to hitting those notes.

Tank Top Tuesday: Newbies Edition

What would Pride Month be without queer women in tank tops? Not nearly as fun, that’s for sure. So let’s celebrate some of the queer female celebrities who came out in 2025 so far. All they need is a toaster oven and their Welcome Kits will be complete.

Jade Carey

Two-time Olympic gold-medalist Jade Carey came out in March, hard launching her girlfriend. And, you all know my longstanding rule that sleeveless leotards belong in the Tank Top Cinematic Universe.

Isabela Merced

I will admit to not having started the second season of “The Last of Us” yet, because when it already feels a little like the end of the world it’s somehow not as fun. But I will watch it, especially because it’s when shit gets really gay between two in-real-life queer actors. Also, this clearly counts as a tank top – just one with slightly less thread than others.

Aja

“Drag Race” alum Aja recently came out as bisexual, and I say the more trans women who join the wlw ranks the better. Especially in tank tops.

Anna Camp

In news that will make “Pitch Perfect” Beca and Chloe shippers lose their shit, Anna Camp casually came out recently as having a younger, masc girlfriend. A little “Carol” for 2025, and I’m not that mad about it.

Supriya Ganesh

I will also admit to not watching “The Pitt,” yet! But it’s only because I can be a little squeamish with realistic medical shows. But I want to watch, and I think that’s what counts. And knowing star Supriya Ganesh has come out as queer and uses they/them pronouns could turn that wish into a reality.

Lola Young

The “Messy” singer has emphatically confirmed that she also likes pussy and I think that’s too perfect.

Alexis Floyd

I don’t watch “Grey’s Anatomy” anymore either (see above re: medical shows), so I have no idea what kind of doctor Dr. Simone Griffith is. But I know Alexis Floyd has had “relationships with people of all sorts of gender identities,” which seems like a very open-minded prescription. Look, it’s Thursday and it’s hard coming up with more doctor jokes. Also this counts because one strap falling down on your tank top is an extremely relatable experience in the Tank Top Cinematic Universe.