All articles tagged with #lgbtq
Farah, a 21-year-old Moroccan lesbian with a U.S. protection order, fled violence, sought asylum in the U.S. but was denied and eventually deported through a third-country to Cameroon, then Morocco—raising concerns that third-country removals bypass due process and threaten asylum seekers facing danger.
Olympians at Milan's Winter Games used their fleeting global spotlight to comment on U.S. politics—from anti-ICE messages to LGBTQ-rights debates—reflecting a broader shift toward athlete political expression as social media and looser IOC rules amplify voices, while not all athletes chose to speak out and some faced backlash.
Hilary Knight, captain of Team USA Women’s hockey, proposed to Brittany Bowe, a speed skater, during the Winter Olympics in a joint Team USA–garb Instagram video, where Knight got down on one knee and lifted Bowe to reveal her engagement ring. The couple, who grew closer after the 2022 Beijing Games, celebrated the moment publicly with the caption “Olympics brought us together. This one made us forever,” a moment that drew playful reaction from peers like Adam Rippon.
Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans on two counts of simple battery after allegedly punching two men at a bar during Mardi Gras and shouting homophobic slurs at them, including faggot; one victim, Jeffrey Damnit, was dressed in drag, and the other, Nathan Thomas Reed, identified as queer, was also struck. He was released on his own recognizance, with a March 19 hearing tentatively set, as police investigations continue.
The piece profiles Billy Preston, the keyboard virtuoso who electrified the 1971 Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden and later scored solo hits, while revealing the private pain behind his public joy—his sexuality, childhood abuse, and years of addiction—set against a backdrop of gospel roots and legendary collaborations, as a new documentary aims to honor his genius amid his life’s silences and tragedy.
Ted Levine, who played Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, says he now regrets certain aspects of the character and the film’s portrayal of transgender people, describing some lines as unfortunate and acknowledging the depiction demonized the trans community. He notes his understanding has grown after working with trans people later in his career, and says he did not intend to portray the character as gay or trans. The piece also recalls director Jonathan Demme’s past defense of the film and mentions LGBTQ+ critics, including Lily Wachowski, who have condemned its portrayal as transmisogynistic.
A WIRED profile of Batemates, a $17.99/month, ad-free app where men connect to masturbate together online, pitched as a safe, community-driven alternative after Zoom and Skype crackdowns. Users join rooms, turn on cameras (with some face-mandatory options), and are moderated; sign-up includes ID checks and a focus on privacy, ethnicity filters, and kink-based rooms. The platform frames gooning as a communal, non-performative form of pleasure and aims to expand with a web/mobile version as it grows beyond niche gooning culture.
A Daily Signal article claims the Human Rights Campaign has shed about 65% of its Fortune 500 partners, dropping from 377 disclosed in 2025 to 131 this year, as conservative activism and backlash against transgender policies push companies away from HRC; it notes the remaining partners still employ millions and urges continued pressure from allied groups.
Thoughtful, candid cinema by Sophie Heldman rethinks the 1810 Scotch libel case behind The Children’s Hour, centering two Edinburgh teachers and a mixed‑race pupil who fabricates a sexual story. The film uses the court drama to explore how racism and empire complicate justice, with the teachers’ relationship emerging only after the scandal, offering a sharper, more modern critique of the original film’s discreet treatment of sexuality.
On the 35th anniversary of The Silence of the Lambs, the film’s team addresses long-running criticism from transgender and LGBTQ audiences, with Ted Levine acknowledging that some dialogue and depictions are regrettable and stressing he did not portray Buffalo Bill as gay or trans; producer Edward Saxon says the filmmakers weren’t sensitive enough to LGBTQ stereotypes and that the portrayal caused harm, expressing regret while defending their loyalty to the source material. The discussion highlights the film’s lasting cultural impact and the ongoing re-evaluation of representation in cinema.
On the 35th anniversary of Silence of the Lambs, the film’s cast and creators say there’s regret about its portrayal of transgender issues and stereotypes, with quotes from Ted Levine and producer Edward Saxon acknowledging insensitivity and outdated lines. Some fans and commentators push back against apologies, arguing the movie reflected its era and remains influential, while others race to distance the work from modern sensitivities.
The Church of England’s General Synod formally abandoned proposals to introduce standalone blessings for same-sex couples in churches, citing theological and legal barriers, while directing the issue to a continuing working group; blessings within ordinary services remain allowed, and leaders apologized for the hurt caused, as some liberal members warn they may disengage from the Church amid the ongoing controversy.
Amber Glenn finished third in Milan’s Olympic women's free skate with a 138.62 as the U.S. captured team gold. She said she didn’t feel at her best, wrestled with disappointment and pride in her teammates, and faced a wave of online backlash for supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Glenn emphasized mental health, vowed to keep speaking her truth, and will aim to improve for the individual event while continuing to represent what she believes in.
The HBO series Heated Rivalry has become a surprising cultural touchstone for older gay hockey fans, reframing coming-out memories around the sport and building renewed community; real-life couples share their stories—getting married on the ice and rediscovering love through hockey—while fans and a longtime blogger reflect on inclusivity in hockey and the show's potential to revive a once-vibrant gay fandom, despite some critics calling the early episodes a slog.
The HBO Max series Heated Rivalry highlights that, despite some progress, men’s professional sports still stigmatize openly gay players: few active gay athletes exist in major leagues, many come out after retirement, and locker rooms cling to a narrow masculine ideal. The piece contrasts with women's sports where out players are common, cites landmark figures who came out, and notes surveys suggesting growing acceptance, even as incidents and resistance persist. The show has spurred more LGBTQ hockey participation and conversations, but hasn’t yet produced a broad cultural shift in top leagues.