Music Monday: Melissa & k.d. Forever

Told ya the Gay Goes Up to Eleven in these final days of Pride. It’s hard to be more unabashedly and joyously lesbian than Melissa Etheridge and k.d. Lang dueting on “You Can Sleep While I Drive.” That it still feels radical looking back at them perform this together 32 years ago says a lot about where we are 32 years later. I wonder where we’ll all be in another 32 years. I hope, even gayer and much freer for all. Happy last Monday of Pride, kittens.

A Shave & a Gaycut

Who remembers 1993? Honestly, when you think about it, it’s still a little shocking some 30+ years later that k.d. lang and Cindy Crawford – arguably the most famous supermodel of her era – were on the cover of Vanity Fair like this. Because, truly, this is so gay. So. Gay. Yes, yes, I know this was part of that momentary “lesbian chic” moment we had there in the 90s. But this image is still so strikingly queer that 32 years later Lucy Dacus and Katie Gavin can recreate it for Alternative Press and it still feels fresh and hot and, yes, SO GAY. Lesian chic this, queer ladies of all generations. Happy Hump Day, kittens.

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.

Let’s Jingle

Just because Christmas is over, doesn’t mean the holiday spirit is done as well. So as we enter into the strange twilight week between Christmas and New Year’s when no one knows what day it is or how many cookies they’ve eaten, may we all rejoice in the weirdness that was the 1988 Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special featuring kd lang singing “Jingle Bell Rock” in a denim western dress. This is the chaotic queer joy I hope to bring to every holiday occasion. Make the yuletide gay, indeed.

Music Monday: Craving k.d.

I was thinking about k.d. lang the other day. And I was thinking how in with our current class of queer music stars (boygenius, Renee Rapp, Janelle Monae et al) we sometimes overlook our O.G. butch lesbian icon. Like, “Constant Craving” probably awakened the nascent lesbian cravings of countless baby dykes. Yet k.d. doesn’t always get lumped into the same queer history conversations as a Melissa Etheridge or Ellen DeGeneres or Rosie O’Donnell. But, unlike those three, she couldn’t really hide her queerness. (Yes, of course, I realize the climate was different back then – I lived through the 90s thank you very much.) We haven’t really had a debonair queer crooner of her caliber emerge to fill the void. So I sincerely hope that k.d. rethinks her “semi-retirement” and finds the muse to make music again. Perhaps, buoyed by our current wave of queer hitmakers, she might reemerge to get all the gay flowers she deserves. Otherwise, I’m sure we could find some willing tribute to try to help her find that muse again. Ahem. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Lesbian Pride Edition

It’s been almost 30 years since Melissa Etheridge told a screaming room at the Triangle Ball for Bill Clinton’s first inauguration that “I’m very proud to have been a lesbian all my life.” But, rewatching the moment (and seeing k.d. lang’s immediate joy) makes it feel like it was yesterday. Back in 1993, yeah, that mattered. Goodness, did it matter. So let’s close out these Pride Month Music Mondays with Melissa and k.d. Happy last Monday of Pride, kittens.

p.s. Honestly, the coming out moment deserves a rewatch too. Thanks, ladies, we’ll always be grateful for your honesty and openness. We will not go back into the closet, ever.

Throwback Thursday

So am I doing this Throwback Thursday thing right? Sorta? How about pictures of celebrities when they were just wee little celebrities? I mean look at wee little Jodie Foster, circa 1884. Sweet merciful Zeus, that hair. Stars – they were once younger, just like us. Granted, some celebrities don’t get older – but that’s another story altogether. Anyway, here are a bunch of our favorite famous folks back in the day. TBT, as the kids say.

Glenn Close & Jennifer Beals, circa 1985
Eighties hair is the gift that keeps on giving.

Queen Latifah, Ingrid Casares & k.d. lang, circa 1990
What I wouldn’t give to have been a big lesbian fly on the wall here.

Natalie Portman, circa 1990
Who would have thought this cute face would grow up to be driven mad by ballet, pick feathers out of her back and have really hot lesbian sex with Mila Kunis. Wait, never mind – I totally see it.

Gillian Anderson, circa 1996
Imagine, just 20 years ago it was perfectly acceptable to wear your bathrobe to the Golden Globes.

Jill Hennessy & Angie Harmon, circa 2000
It’s a “Law & Order” ADA Off and we’re all winners.

Ellen Page & Anna Paquin, circa 2006
Aw, look at them. Before we knew they were both totally queer ladies.

Jennifer Larence & Selma Blair, circa 2008
Four years before Katniss, JLaw proves she was always a huge ham sandwich.

Jodie Foster & Kristen Stewart, circa 2002
People said the casting of K-Stew as Jodie’s daughter was uncanny…

Jodie Foster & Kristen Stewart, circa 1981 & 2000
…Yeah, I don’t see it… KIDDING, obviously.

U-Haul not included

Uh, so when did Elton John and k.d. lang become lesbian twinsies? I mean it -- the hair, the jacket -- it’s almost creepy. I’m having some sort of crazed “The Bitch is Back” for “Constant Craving” flashback just looking at these photos.
Also, just because it’s Friday and apropos of nothing, here is Uma Thurman’s cleavage. It kind of takes the sting off the lesbian look-alike thing, doesn’t it? Thank God it’s Friday, indeed.