Music Monday: Crying Redux

After that stirring Spanish-version of “Crying/Llorando,” how about an English-language take from the lesbian crooner extraordinaire k.d. lang? I wish k.d. was more musically active, but I totally understand perhaps wanting to stick to her side of the border these days. We’ll just be over here crying and missing her, I guess. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend (Crying) Crush

Well, we made it through Week 2 of Orange Turd 2.0. Only 206 weeks (we hope) to go. So let’s use this time to slip once more into the dream/nightmare/WTF-scape of David Lynch’s mind. “Mulholland Drive” is one of my favorite Lynch offerings because who isn’t a sucker for murderous lesbianism? Life is endlessly strange and all-too-often dark. Not everything makes sense. But we can still find beauty within the chaos. The “Llorando” scene is a masterpiece in storytelling, with only an introduction of singer Rebekah Del Rio and no other spoken dialogue. But the sequence is the beginning of the end for Betty’s “reality” and return to Diane’s real reality. While I doubt we’ll all find a blue box and a secret key that whisks us into a different world – we certainly can dream, if only for a little while. Yes, I realize we’d probably want to reverse the order of her dream-box metamorphosis in this historical moment. But, life is strange and not fair. At least there’s still art. Happy weekend, all.

Film The Rich

You know, as a society we’ve probably hit some kind of oligarchy overdrive when there’s an entire subgenre of films about ordinary people being invited to the private islands/compounds/megayachts/nation-states of ultra wealthy individuals only to be terrorized by them for sport, prey, food, giggles – you name it. Think “Glass Onion” and “The Menu” and “Triangle of Sadness.” It appears that the latest film to entire this pantheon of Eat The Rich or Be Eaten by the Rich masterpieces is “Opus,” starring queer stars Ayo Edebiri and Murray Bartlett, as well as all-around cool stars John Malkovich and Juliette Lewis. I don’t know what all the creepy blue everything is about, but I’m excited to find out. Just, you know, best not to accept any strange invitations from billionaires in the coming years. As a precaution.

Portrait of Gay Lady on Fire

OK, but who is going to make this movie? It’s high-art “Mannequin” with a sapphic twist. Someone, anyone – I am begging you to make this movie! Boygenius star Lucy Dacus has announced her new solo album and its first single, “Ankles,” is out now. In addition to a great song about queer lust (hello, “pull me by the ankles to the edge of the bed), it’s also a great fantasy riff on “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” with Lucy as an escaped museum painting and “Bottoms” star Havana Rose Liu as her watchful, worried security guard. Yeah, I could watch 90-minutes plus of this dynamic no problem. So, who’s got some time and a camera and a really big dress?

Film Review: I Saw the TV Glow

I’m not truly a horror fan, so it took me longer than it should have to check out “I Saw the TV Glow.” The psychological thriller by trans, nonbinary, queer filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun is a spooky, stylish allegory about what it means to not live one’s authentic life. Couched in the the story of a shy 90s teen obsessed with a young adult show called “The Pink Opaque,” the film follows him through his life as he is seemingly haunted by the spectre of the supernatural show and its other world just beyond the reach of reality. Schoenbrun’s homages to fellow spooky genre masterpieces like Buffy and the David Lynch universe are easy to spot – from the Buffy font down to beloved Buffy actress Amber Benson (and, hello, one of “The Pink Opaque” actresses is even named Tara). But what will stay with you is the internal horror caused by unacknowledged gender dysphoria, and the possibilities for those who live out instead. Also, it’s cool and looks amazing – it often seems as if the entire thing is somehow lighted by neon. And then there’s the surprise guest appearance by none other than Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. “I Saw the TV Glow” will keep you guessing like that, and thinking.

Music Monday: Twin Peaks Edition

With all the horror of *waves arms at America*, I did not have a chance to properly pay my respects to the passing of David Lynch. Along with Jimmy Carter and a couple others, the avant-garde auteur was among my few remaining favorite straight white men. His death earlier this month leaves a hole, but as he himself said – keep your eye on the donut and not the hole. So the donut of David Lynch’s life was his extraordinary creativity, his endless curiosity, his embrace of the absurd. Yet for all the darkness and mystery in his work, there was an essential kindness that often shone through as well.

I have been a fan of his work since “Twin Peaks” blew my little teenage mind when it debuted in 1992 and became obsessed with the show and subsequent film and even the 2017 reboot (which, while it had some diminishing returns was classic Lynch none the less). “Mulholland Drive” remains a masterpiece in through-the-looking-glass surrealist storytelling. I love that he believed things should be weird for the sake of being weird. And weird it certainly was.

What I also loved is how he incorporated music to create his dream/nightmare/WTF-scapes. And nothing typified that more than his collaboration with Julee Cruise. He used the singer and former B-52’s touring member’s song “Falling” as the iconic theme to “Twin Peaks.” She appeared in the series, movie and reboot before her passing in 2022. That music is now part of the soundtrack of my life. Even today all I have to hear is those first few atmospheric opening notes to be right back in the Pacific Northwest ready to drink some damn fine coffee while gently cradling a log. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend Crush

Someday, America. Happy weekend, all.

Presidential Redux

This song came out in 2007 and fucking hell if it isn’t even more relevant today. Also, if you were wondering what made this song gay – well, besides the part about hating your own daughter if she was gay – let’s not forget that the original album version featured backing vocals and guitar by none other than the Indigo Girls, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray. I just wish this wasn’t even more applicable 18 years later. We sincerely do not learn, do we?

Never Owned

Look, I said it would take a little time for me to get back to the queer joy. So I’ve decided to take a solid week. But, lest you think I’ve forgotten what it feels like, please enjoy 17-year-old budding lesbian Lesley Gore (RIP) belting out a self-determination anthem for the ages. Sixty-two years later, here we are still singing this tune as a reminder to all those who think otherwise. I say we all become ungovernable. We’re free, and we love to be free.

How It Feels To Be Free

Here is a little fortification for our hearts, minds and spines from the inimitable Nina Simone for what lies ahead. Will I get back to posting about joyous queer pop culture ephemera? Yes, of course. But, not gonna lie. It may take a minute. Until then, courage.

Music Monday: FDT

Anyway, please enjoy my official soundtrack for the next four years. Good luck, America. We’re going to need it. Fuck Donald Trump, forever. Unhappy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend (Good Riddance) Crush

Look, I know this whole week has been like being trapped in the waiting room for the wake for democracy, but it isn’t all bad news in 2025. It was just last month we were celebrating the pie-in-the-face spirit of 1970s gay rights activists against the original celebrity hatemonger Anita Bryant. And wouldn’t you know it, ding dong the witch is finally dead. The former OJ spokeswoman and avowed bigot died at age 84 last week. All I can say is, I hope they serve flaming pies in hell. And while she is hopefully being served a plateful this very moment, please enjoy Carol Burnett spoofing that orange-loving bigot back in the Seventies. Damn, what is it about that color and the worst people in the world? Happy at-least-Anita-Bryant-is-dead weekend, all.

Lesbian Street

Let’s keep these good gay vibes going, right? So to continue to prove that nice things can still happen (especially for LGBTQ+ people) in 2025, here is even more queer joy. The 55th season of “Sesame Street” debuts today with none other than celesbian extraordinaire Reneé Rapp. Muppets and lesbians, together as they should be! And Reneé is not the only queer celebrity to appear this season. Also guesting will be Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness and tennis legend Billie Jean King. Yeah – I know Max has dropped the venerable children’s series and after this season will stop airing its new episodes. Reality continues to be just the biggest bummer. But, at least there are queers and muppets for now. I’ll take all the sunny days I can find.

Wickedly Gay

And now, for some good news for a change. Who wants to hand out some toaster ovens? So, we already knew that the “Wicked” cast was, like, almost too gay to function. But besides the movie’s marquee queers (you know, star Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, leading heartthrob Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, leading Galinda/Glinda bestie Bowen Yang as Pfannee), did you know the movie’s supporting cast was also gay as the day is long? So who else is family?

How about Galinda/Glinda other bestie Shenshen played by Bronwyn James who is happily married to a woman and brought her wife Katherine-Alice James to the “Wicked” premiere. And there’s Elphaba’s sister Nessarose played by Marissa Bode who brought her partner Wren to the Golden Globes. So while Ariana and that munchkin boy are together, I think the rest of the cast needs queer retreat where they play episodes of “The L Word” and “Queer As Folk” on a loop while also dancing to vintage Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. What? You know that sounds fun. So I guess we have our answer to whether “Wicked” could possibly get any gayer. Now, who is in charge of sending out the toaster ovens this month?

Cut that Out, Disney

Well, with less than a week to go there really is no avoiding the fact that we – as a country – have lurched to the right. That old cultural pendulum is swinging back to appease those people mad they have to live next to people of color and watch two men kiss on TV. Just wonderful. One of the first sure signs that representation of LGBTQ+ people will not be spared in this purge of so-called DEI/woke anything is Pixar’s decision to cut the trans storyline in its new upcoming animated series “Win or Lose.”

The show, about a co-ed middle school softball team, follows them as they get ready for a championship game. One of the team members was a transgender girl, voiced by transgender actress Chanel Stewart. The series is set to debut in February on Disney+. But last month, Disney announced the trans storyline had been cut entirely from the show. Stewart’s character will now be portrayed as cisgender after Disney eliminated “a few lines of dialogue” from an episode that referenced the character’s gender identity.

In announcing the change, Disney said: “When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.”

*Endless and endlessly exhausted sigh*

Once again, we are forced to accept another mind-boggling win for bigotry. Also, I love how the entire trans storyline only consisted of “a few lines of dialogue” yet apparently those few lines were so powerful, scary and inappropriate that younger audiences must be shielded from them at all costs. Trans people exist, and their mere existence in this world is not dangerous for children to know.

I’m just so tired of the loudest and proudly hatefulest getting their way. And, in case you’re thinking, “Well – that’s just trans people’s problems,” don’t think for a second that those same people screaming about trans people aren’t also still salty about having to watch commercials with gay couples and shows with “DEI” casts.

Literally 10 years ago - A WHOLE-ASS DECADE AGO – Time magazine ran a cover story about the “Transgender Tipping Point” as America’s new civil rights frontier. Yet here we are facing down hundreds of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ laws being introduced across the country every damn year. There’s a whole damn state where you can’t say gay (like, fuck Florida forever).

It’s a reminder that progress isn’t always linear and it’s never safe and always hard fought. Sure, it might seem insignificant that a major entertainment company has decided it’s too risky (or, per their explanation, risque) to include a trans storyline in a show. But by removing “a few lines of dialogue" they make it easier for the hatemongers of the world to point and say - “See! See, they’re too evil for Disney. See! They’re too evil to exist!”

While I knew corporations and the oligarch class weren’t going to save or support us through this second Trump term, even I am shocked at the instant and obsequious capitulation in this moment. Elon, Mark, all of them are full MAGA now. Corporations continue to not be our friends. Billionaires will never be our friends. And every idiot who thinks That Orange Turd will somehow lower their grocery bills doesn’t deserve friends.

I fear we’re in for at least four years of this kind of bullshit. But instead of capitulating, instead of obeying in advance and hiding back in those closets, I say we all just get gayer. Like almost too gay to function. You can cut our few lines of dialogue, you can pretend we’re too scary to talk about. But we’re here, we’ve always been here, and we’ll never shut up about it.

Music Monday: Waitress Edition

Well, in one week the four-year (well, hopefully only four-year) shit show of the second Trump presidency begins. To have to live through TWO terms by this most manifestly unfit excuse for a human being is beyond the realm of all reasonableness. But, here we are. So please in this final week take a moment of grace for yourself and those you love. We will all need it over the next 1,461 days. May the ethereal beauty of Sara Bareilles and Rufus Wainwright feeling every note of “She Used to Be Mine” from the msuical “Waitress” together transport you to a place where the endless possibilities, disappointments and realities of our occasionally sublime, often mundane and too often painful existences wash over us. Happy Monday, and next four years and one week, kittens.

My Weekend Crush

So, like probably many of you, I have not been looking forward to 2025. We all know why. But one thing I know for sure I am looking forward to in 2025 is (if we all make it to the end of 2025, welp) is Cynthia Erivo an Ariana Grande’s version of “For Good.” If you thought it has been fun watching non-Wicked acolytes discover “Defying Gravity,” oooh wait until they find “Fod Good.” Tears, Kleenex, more tears. Bring it on. Until then, let the OG’s Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel remind you of the magic of this song. Happy weekend, all.

Dancing Into an Apocalypse

Are you ready for the end of the world? No, not whatever is going to happen in approximately 10 days in Washington D.C. I mean the end of the damn world, with mushroom zombies and armed lesbians. “The Last of Us” is back and amid to bring us more death and and decay, both physically and morally. If you’ve played the game, or read the spoilers like me, you will know the aftermath of Joel’s actions to save Ellie at the end of Season 1 will drive much of the story in Season 2. We also get clearer looks at Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, who you’d better believe is coming for Joel’s ass, and Isabela Merced, who plays Dina Ellie’s new love interest and slow dance partner. Something tells me we’d better hold onto every last moment of warm, sapphic happiness because the rest of the trailer. Yeah, the end of the world isn’t for everyone.

SGALGG/GGALGG: Gay Golden Gals Edition

As SGALGG has evolved over the years, I think a not-insignificant small sign of progress has been how many out gay gals have snuck in as well. They originally started because, well, there weren’t enough queer celebrities to fill a post so straight acting like gay gals had to do. But these days so many celesbians and queerebrities (I dunno, I’m trying out a new word, just go with it) you could practically post just about them. In fact, I think I will. So here are all the gay gals acting like gay gals (sometimes with other gay gals, sometimes with the obligatory straight gals – not that there’s anything wrong with that. We’re here, we’re queer, and our Globes are totally golden.

Jodie Foster

Jodie’s evolution into our reigning Lesbian Elder Stateswoman (LES, for short because of course) has been a true joy to watch. She’s married, she’s winning awards, she’s looking great and she’s doing it all on her own terms. And those terms are stone-cold gay. May we all become the biggest LES possible! Also Jodie showing up with her son instead of wife at the Globes is s true mombian flex. I not-so-secretly hope that Alexandra said take the kid, I’m going to watch it in my PJs like before. Though, I also not-so-secretly hope that Jodie sitting on Kate Winslet’s lap has made Alex reconsider attending next year. That, or the sight of her throupling with Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. Or, possibly, the death-grip Nicole has on her wrists here. Just saying.

Angelina Jolie

They say three makes a trend but we’re talking about queer women here so two will do (what, we move all relationships faster – it’s kind of our thing). The Globes were apparently also Bring Your Child to World day for the queer female nominees. Following in Jodie’s footsteps, Angie showed up with daughter Zahara. She also got hugged by Kate Winslet (Jodie and Angie? Shoot your shots, Kate) and stood very close to Salma Hayek. We’ll take all the beauty proximity we can get.

Ayo Edebiri

Like I don’t know if Ayo has ever openly dated a woman before (at least not in public since she got famous, that I can tell…), but she sure is shooting her shot at becoming the next queer female heartthrob in this suit. First of all, LOVE the golden feather tie. Second of all, love the swagger. Third of all, love all the flirting with Zendaya, Ali Wong, Andrew Scott and, of course, Michelle Yeoh. Oh, and then showing up at the afterparty with a ballcap on? Shots shot.

Cynthia Erivo

I spotted Lena Waithe in the background, so relax everyone. Cynthia continues to live her best gay life. Like who wouldn’t be thrilled to meet Kathy Bates/Evelyn Couch, or sneak a snuggle with Zoe Kravitz or cling to Kate Winslet’s shoulder like she’s a piece of door floating in the icy North Atlantic Ocean?

Sarah Paulson

Dearest, we already did the Cate/Carol thing. But after seeing this photo doesn’t it feel canonically impossible that Sarah isn’t in the second “Wicked” movie somehow? Like, that much queer energy needs to include some Paulson. Make it happen, gay GCI wizards. You have until November.

Emma D'Arcy

I applaud Emma for continuing to show up on red carpets looking like a haunted orchestra conductor. I also applaud them for checking out Michelle Yeoh on the red carpet, as one should to be respectful/horny.

Hannah Einbinder

Speaking of showing respect, I respect the way Hannah makes her and Jean Smart look like the one May-December couple you can’t stop shipping despite all the problematic everythings. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not into Ava and Deborah. But I am totally into Hannah and Jean. What, I already admitted it was problematic, but the heart wants what it wants.

Auliʻi Cravalho

Since we’re talking queer female heartthrobs, hello. Gen Z, why are you sleeping on Auliʻi Cravalho? Like, I am in a totally different age bracket. But if I was a quarter century younger? Yeah, I’d want to be that rose. Youths, act appropriately.

Jessica Gunning

The “Baby Reindeer” star and newly minted Golden Globe winner scores major queer points for getting her award from THE Kathy Bates (every queer gal is doing it, see above). I hope she whispered “Towanda!” when accepting the trophy from her.

Kali Reis

I couldn’t find any pictures of Kali and her fine-ass suit hanging with any other celebrities at the Globes. But I did see her connecting with Kathryn Hahn the night before at a Globes pre-party in a different fine-ass suit. So, you know, Gay Card stamped, approved and notarized.

So, any favorite queer moments of the night for you?

Carol & Abby: The Sequel

I’m still a little rusty after the Holiday Twilight Zone of the last two weeks. Instead of a full SGALGG post for the Golden Globes, I thought I would stall and give you these instead. So please enjoy Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson at the Globes. Carol and Abby, together again. You’re welcome. You are so, so welcome. You are particularly welcome for that last pictures.

Music Monday: Gods Like Us

Right, so let’s kick 2025’s ass. We are not just the obsequious serfs for the billionaire class. We are the gods of our own lives. And we have electoral, political, and personal power. Also, wouldn’t “Gladiator II” have been so much more interesting if it was about women in whatever Romanesque/Shakespearean/Game of Thonesian setting this is instead of just beefy men beefing in sandals? We grow human life. What can do you do, dude? Lift heavy things? That’s cute. Happy we are gods Monday, kittens.

My Weekend (Somebody) Crush

Yes, I know, more “Somebody Somewhere” proselytizing. But while searching for clips from the show, I came across this song from the first episode of the first season. Truly, this song – this scene – sums up the entire series. After finishing all three seasons, if you don’t cry buckets watching early Sam and early Joel find each other in this music, well, then you’re made of stronger stuff than me. May we all find your Sam or your Joel – be they romantic, platonic, familial – in this lifetime or possibly the next. Somewhere there is a place where we belong, each and every one of us. Happy weekend, all.

Ode to the Secretly Gay Pop Stars

If I’m being brutally honest, SNL these days usually only elicits some earnest yet not-overly-enthusiastic guffaws these days – at best. But when cast newcomer Jane Wickline sang this song on Weekend Update late last year, I laughed – like really, really laughed. Like out loud and everything. And then I watched it again, and laughed and laughed. So in the interest of starting this year as hilariously gay as possible, please enjoy Jane’s “Sabrina Carpenter” song. And, not to belabor the “if you asked me on a deeper level” meme, it’s a glorious sign of our continued progress as a queer community that a song about wishing people would think you are gay to increase your cultural cache, but alas instead being recognized as the most benignly straight pop superstar around hits a universal theme. I mean, she really did make out passionately with Jenna Ortega and a female alien and we’re all like, aw, I wonder why her and Barry couldn’t work it out. Truly, if you don’t lose it at the deadpan “Hellllp me” then I’m not sure we can be friends.

Roaring into 2025

I know people clown on this song. But if Lee Greenwood can keep trotting himself out as a pinnacle of MAGA patriotism, we should keep embracing the unabashed feminism of Helen Reddy. “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar” remains as relevant as it was when it was released 54 years ago. Two years later, and Roe v. Wade was decided. This performance, in 1989, came after abortion had been legal federally for 16 years already. Yet here we are nearly four decades later and women and pregnant people have now lost that guaranteed right. Well, fuck that. Fuck them. And for the next four years and beyond I hope we all roar with our disapproval and defiance. Indeed, “women are not without electoral or political power” – so let’s keep working and pressing and demanding our full equal rights and complete bodily autonomy. Roar more in 2025, ladies. Roar more.