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.

Music Monday: Bad Rapp

No words, just pure lesbian joy half way through Pride. Wait, sorry, that’s not totally true. It’s just pure lesbian real bad girl, but a real good kisser joy half way through Pride. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Weekend Crush

This. Right here. This. *taps the screen aggressively* THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. As this year has progressed I’ve become more and more uncomfortable – and quite frankly angry – with the silence coming from some of those with the most. No, I’m not talking about the billionaires – those assholes are a lost cause. But celebrities, actors, musicians, influencers. Uh, hello, can we get a little righteous indignation going from the creative class? This is especially true at award shows. When given a microphone and a podium at these well-watched public events, I need them to use their voices for more than just witty thank yous and self aggrandizing. I need less vague “love is love” and “be kind to one another” soft-sell messaging. I need more flat-out acknowledgement of the fundamental fuckedupness of our current political climate. I need more celebrities to directly call out Trump, his authoritarian administration and the weaponized infrastructure that is supporting his destructive, chaotic and cruel policies.

So, super stars of the world, take a lesson from Doechii at the BET Awards this week. I’ve listened to her short speech several times now, and each time I am struck by the clarity and the decisiveness. “I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?” The worst type. The fascist type. Yet here we are here, America. As an artist, as a public figure, as anyone with any kind of platform, this is the moment. Either you are with the oppressed and marginalized communities of this world, or you truly are just some well-paid bread and circus to distract and disengage the masses. I fear for my beautiful state right now. I fear for all immigrants in this country no matter how they got here. I fear for all Black and Brown and other POCs whose communities are being ruthlessly targeted. I fear for women and all pregant people seeking life-saving healthcare. I fear for trans and other queer people just trying to live their lives. I fear for the families and children being bombed into oblivion in Gaza. I fear, but I am also ready to fight. At the very least, we should all be using our voices to scream as loudly as we can. This, this is not right. This, this is not normal. This, this will not stand. Fuck Donald Trump. No Kings. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Boys Edition

I feel the urgent need to draw your attention to the fact that there is a new off-Broadway production starring Meryl Streep’s hot masc queer daughter, and a bunch of other queer and gender nonconforming performers. Louisa Jacobson, the aforementioned hot masc queer daughter of Meryl Streep, stars in “Trophy Boys” which opens this month in NYC. The show stars Louisa as Jared, nonbinary actor Terry Hu as David, trans actor Esco Jouléy as Scott and the nonbinary playwright themselves Emmanuelle Mattana as Owen. Get it, they’re the “Boys.” The storyline is described by Playbill as: “A debate team at an elite all-boys prep school one hour before their final match. As they prepare to smoke their sister school (on the prompt "feminism has failed women," no less), a rumor emerges that threatens to ruin everything.” I for one would love to see gender fucking take on that old chestnut “Boys will be boys.” I also very much approve of Louisa in her tuxedo shirt. What, just because it sounds like a sharp, smart play I can’t also be shallow? It’s like you don’t even know me at all.

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Scary Good

Let’s keep these good vibes going, eh? (It’s that or just sob/scream endlessly about the full-scale military response our federal government is insisting on for people exercising their constitutional First Amendment rights in my beautiful state.) So when this news broke recently I was genuinely, genuinely psyched. Not just because it’s queer “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder and THE Gillian Anderson (also queer), but because it’s also queer, trans, nonbinary director Jane Schoenbrun. Bottom line: shit’s gay, and in the most exciting way. Jane, you might recall, made my favorite movie last year, “I Saw the TV Glow.”

Now this tremendous trio will team up for Jane’s next movie, “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.” Variety describes the storyline as such: “The infamous 'Camp Miasma' slasher franchise is getting rebooted yet again. But when the latest movie’s director becomes obsessed with the mysterious, reclusive actress who played the ‘final girl’ in the original film, a whole new kind of slasher emerges from the bottom of the lake.”

No word on who exactly is who, but I’m going to assume Gillian is the O.G. final girl and perhaps Hannah is the director? Just a guess.

Of this new project Jane has said, “I make movies I wish existed when I was a kid. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is my best attempt at the ‘sleepover classic:’ an insane yet cozy midnight odyssey that beckons to unsuspecting viewers from the horror section at the local video store. I couldn’t be more excited to be heading to sleepaway camp this summer with the mad comic genius Hannah Einbinder, the legendary Gillian Anderson, and the daring folks at Mubi and Plan B, who by greenlighting this movie have summoned a plague-like flood of blood, guts, and various other fluids to rain down on us all.”

What I loved about “I Saw the TV Glow” was the singularly queer, yet deeply pop culture coded aesthetic Jane brought. This is horror for folks who know life/society/other people are the true horrors. I can’t wait to see what beautiful madness they all make together. And this is coming from a person who hates all those classic slasher movies.

Wicked Pride

Well, how about a little totally gay razzle dazzle for a change amid all the * waves at the horrors *. I really enjoyed “Wicked,” the first part at least. It felt like an old-timey Hollywood affair, while also feeling fully contemporary. So, of course, imma watch part two, or “For Good” or whatever it’s called. And, you know me, I love a good femslash ship as much as the next queer gal. So this trailer does not disappoint in the Elphaba/Glinda touchy-feely department. Also, you gotta love a marketing campaign that purposely launches at the start of Pride Month. I mean, the trailer really said, “Happy Pride!” Thanks, back at ya. Gotta love those fabulous witches.

p.s. Cynthia did a pretty charming job of hosting those Tonys too if I do say so myself. Which I just did.

Music Monday: What's Up, Again?

Well, if this song isn’t just wildly relevant – again. Linda Perry and her 90s band 4 Non Blondes reunited for only the second time in the past 30 years at Bottlerocket in Napa last month. And, of course, they played the group’s humongous hit “What’s Up?” Now, we all know Linda has had a wildly successful career as a producer and songwriter behind hits like Pink’s “Get the Party Started,” Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and a host of other artists from Adele to Alicia Keys. And, us sapphics will of course remember when she was married to Melissa, doh, that's a perimenopause brain typo! Sara Gilbert for 10 years, from 2004 to 2014. But there’s just something about “What’s Up?” that continues to be such a clarion call for our times. Like, what the fuck is going on? And, yes, let’s all pray for a revolution. Happy Monday, kittens.

p.s. I also admire Linda’s commitment to humongous hats. Like, don’t get it twisted, she was the O.G. well before Pharrell.

My Weekend (Protest) Crush

In recent years, given the apparent progress the LGBTQ+ rights movement has been able to make with marriage equality and overall acceptance, it was easy for it to perhaps feel Pride was just one big victory lap. As such, we invited all kinds of groups to the party. Sure, corporations, you can have a float. Go off, Lochheed Martin, with your sassy genocidal missiles! Yasss, queen…

But, as you know, I’ve always said outright that corporations are not our friends. Sure, we can celebrate their actions sometimes as bellweathers. But their only interest is making money, and if they think supporting queers will make them more money they will do that. And when they stop thinking that, like now and how every single company that ended their DEI programs so clearly showed us, they will drop us and all other support for marginalized groups from Black and POC people to women, etc etc etc. like the hottest of potatoes.

But the thing is, we always knew Pride wasn’t just a party. And it’s definitely not a victory lap because we don’t have full equality – and the new administration is doing everything it can to roll back what rights we have won. Make no mistake, trans identity is under a full-scale attack, which means all LGBTQ+ rights are under attack.

You only have to read the headlines (though, please, read the entire articles) to see this is true. From giving active-duty trans troops until June 6 to self-identify and leave the U.S. military to stripping the name of gay rights icon Harvey Milk from a US Navy ship named after him (along with other civil rights leaders including Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall) we are not welcome in Trump’s America.

Doing that shit during Pride is on purpose. The cruelty, you see, is always the point.

But even more troubling – and don’t get me wrong, every-fucking-thing is troubling – is that these decisions help to embolden those who wish LGBTQ+ people ill. We have seen real, deadly violence against our community. This week former Parks & Rec and King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss was shot and killed outside of his home. His husband has alleged that the attack was fueled by homophobia and disgust in their relationship. So, cool, they’re just killing gay people out in the open now.

This year, amid the needed frivolity and fun, let’s remember what Pride is really all about. Pride started as a riot, a riot against the police and their discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ+ people. Pride remains a protest because the discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ+ people has not ceased – and instead with this new horrid administration it has increased.

We celebrate Pride so that no one feels alone, in what can often be a lonely world for people who feel different. We celebrate loud and proud so youth, the closeted and any other questioning folks know the possibilities of living your authentic life. We celebrate Pride because we will not be silenced, we will never go back to hiding ourselves.

I hope everyone makes plans to support the June 14 No Kings protests – by attending or supporting their other actions. Truly, we should all be looking for ways to fight back, even in small ways. Because everything counts right now.

What is happening in America right now is the dismantling of every single public good the government provides. All of our lives – gay, straight or whatever – will be affected by the enshitification of our vital services. Cuts to Medicaid means fewer people get needed healthcare. Cuts to NOAA staff means fewer warning about deadly weather events. Cuts to the FDA means more dangerous food can enter our supply, sickening and killing people. Cuts to National Park Service means fewer public places for everyone to enjoy. Cuts (well, the decimation) of USAID means children all over the globe die of preventable diseases. I could go on and on and on and on and on.

In the end, I hope this Pride finds you angry. I hope this Pride finds you furious. And I hope we all take that anger and that fury and channel it into action. Don’t worry, you can still dance your ass off. But just use that energy, use that joy, and do something with it. All of our futures depend on Pride continuing to be a riot. Happy first Pride weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Newlywed Edition

Continuing the all-Pride, all-the-time theme of this month, please enjoy Kristen Stewart as a newlywed little pageboy at the Cannes film festival recently. While most of K-Stew’s red carpet choices are things I would/could never wear, I feel like this look is one I might be able to pull off. Maybe minus the cap. And, of course, never heels. Also I’d wear a full shirt. But, that’s me. As I was saying, marriage – and this look – looks good on her. Mazel tov, I hope the honeymoon lasts forever.

No Fear, Foster Edition

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Happy first Wednesday of Pride. In honor of this most auspicious Hump Day (ahem) So clearly you need to hear Jodie Foster speaking in French at the Cannes film festival recently. She spoke about how fear kept her from taking a larger French-spreaking role before. Yes, the badass from “The Silence of the Lambs” was scared of speaking French on screen. We all have insecurities, but do it anyway like Jodie.

King Me

Now that we’ve shaken off our initial Pride anxiety, how about we celebrate our queerness with a big middle finger (in a fun, fabulous way, naturally) to the gender binary. Get ready for the first major drag king competition series from the free LGBTQ+ streaming service Revery. “King of Drag” is hosted by “Somebody Somewhere” star Murray Hill. They’ve lined up some great guest judges as well including “Somebody Somewhere” co-besties Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller, “Yellowjackets” sapphic survivor Liv Hewson, comic Cameron Esposito, and director Paul Feig. I know? I’m going to have to figure out how to stream Revry now.

Music Monday: Anxiously Proud

Starting off Pride Month with some queer anxiety from a queer artist? Yep, sounds about right. Also, yes, in case you were wondering, I am still on my Doechii kick. Like how can you not when she takes a bedroom recording made to the melody of Gotye and Kimbra and their “Somebody I Used to Know” and turned it into a bona fide hit about, of all damn things, anxiety. And the music video is cool and creative as hell too (with a nice painted people nod to the song’s O.G.s). Like, come on! I don’t care how many umbrellas this woman needs. She deserves them, and everything else. Happy first Monday of Pride, kittens.