Stars Insider
Known especially for my time with After Ellen (contributor), The Gaily Grind (staff writer), Gay Vegas (editor) and RTP (reporter/producer). Currently International Editor at Stars Insider. Member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.
My work has also appeared in Huffington Post Canada, Daily Xtra, NBC Out, Vice, Slate, Teen Vogue, and several other publications.
The below clippings are divided up by:
Multimedia, High Profile Interviews, High Profile Movie Reviews, Long-form Journalism, Sports Stories, Television Recaps/Reviews, Book Interviews/Reviews, More Interviews, More Movie Reviews, News Coverage & Profiles, and Other.
Stars Insider
If 2018 was "20GayTeen," say hello to "20BiTeen." Curiously, a significant number of celebrities came out as bisexual in 2019, including new late-night host Lilly Singh, Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence, 'Pretty Little Liars' actor Tyler Blackburn, and former NFLer Ryan Russell.
There's no turning back: YouTubers are the celebrities of today and tomorrow. Indeed, there's something for everyone on YouTube, and the same can be said for LGBT representation. And if in the past that meant coming out stories from virtual unknowns (still no less valid, of course), today there are bona fide stars among YouTube's queer community.
With LGBT-themed films getting more and more popular at award shows like the Oscars, it's as good a time as any to look at the best of what queer cinema has given us. Some are obvious choices, like critical darlings and fan favorites 'Moonlight' and 'Carol.'
Celebrity couples may quit each other, but we just can't quit them! How many former couples do you wish would get back together? Probably a handful... Many were just plain adorable together. Others were ultimately toxic, so it's a positive thing that they split, but the good memories have stayed with us over the years as well.
Multimedia
Magazine diário da RTP Internacional conduzido por David Dias e que retrata o quotidiano das principais comunidades portuguesas em todo o mundo: as su
Magazine diário da RTP Internacional conduzido por David Dias e que retrata o quotidiano das principais comunidades portuguesas em todo o mundo: as suas vidas, os seus negócios, os seus projetos, a sua realidade, os seus sucessos. Um programa com peças e reportagens produzidas localmente por empresas de portugueses que desenvolvem atividade audiovisual em diferentes países espalhados pelos cinco continentes.
Magazine diário da RTP Internacional conduzido por David Dias e que retrata o quotidiano das principais comunidades portuguesas em todo o mundo: as su
Magazine diário da RTP Internacional conduzido por David Dias e que retrata o quotidiano das principais comunidades portuguesas em todo o mundo: as su
Magazine diário da RTP Internacional conduzido por David Dias e que retrata o quotidiano das principais comunidades portuguesas em todo o mundo: as su
Reportagens semanais alargadas dos episódios com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuai
Magazine diário, com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuais formas de viver a portugal
Reportagens semanais alargadas dos episódios com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuai
Magazine diário, com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuais formas de viver a portugal
Magazine diário, com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuais formas de viver a portugal
Magazine diário, com diferentes olhares, junto de comunidades de portugueses espalhados pelo mundo, para retratar as atuais formas de viver a portugal
High Profile Interviews
Canadian television is yet again giving us intriguing queer female characters. This time the show to thank is Mary Kills People, a drama series starring Caroline Dhavernas ( Wonderfalls, Hannibal) that sees its lead character, Dr. Mary Harris, moonlighting as an assisted suicide provider in a world where that's very much illegal.
"The major feedback that I've got from people on the street and critics and in the industry is that it's a welcome change to have a lead role who is a lesbian, powerful, good at what she does, totally normalized - of course, as it is - and presented in a way where it's not the main focus of the piece, but that it's just a part of who she is."
"I just think that the underlying romance of the story came through more than was intended, so when it came time to unravel the relationship and have Grace state her feelings and have Zoe be upset, I think the fans were really with Zoe and were really upset, and reasonably so," he continues.
It's time to start saying goodbye to the sestrahood of clones on BBC America's Orphan Black, which premieres its fifth and final season on June 10. Fortunately, during a Toronto set visit back in early February, the cast and crew promised a lot of twists and turns, ensuring that the series ends just as well as it started.
Fans of Syfy's supernatural drama "Wynonna Earp" are in for a treat come the show's season 2 premiere on June 9, so says fan favorite Dominique Provost-Chalkley. "If I thought that Waverly had a huge arc in the first season, it doesn't even compare to what we have in store this season," she told NBC Out.
"I can't have this experience and be this advocate and not carry that knowledge forward into the things that I'm creating." Canadian actor, creator and ally Katherine Barrell gets it. A regular on Syfy's "Wynonna Earp" and one half of the Internet-famous "WayHaught" duo (she plays Officer Nicole Haught opposite Dominique Provost-Chalkley's Waverly Earp), these last eight months have been life-changing for her.
At first glance, the connection between Jeff Nichols' new film Loving and the LGBT community might not seem obvious. After all, the film is about a real life interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving, and their fight to have their marriage recognized in Virginia after their marriage in 1958.
Since my review of The Handmaiden was published, some of you have agreed with my take on the film while others couldn't disagree with me more. Still, I can't say I was expecting famed director Park Chan-wook to have read my review, but that's exactly what I found out just minutes before meeting him.
After the recent release of a very sexy trailer, there's been a lot of buzz about new film Below Her Mouth . The story of a passionate love affair that consumes two women over a weekend lives up to that hype, and we'll get into all of that when we release our review later this week.
is a queer rock icon and an open book. Jane Wiedlin The Go-Go's guitarist and songwriter has been out as bisexual and as a member of the BDSM community for so long that, as she mentions in our interview, people don't even think to ask her about it anymore.
We all know the road to same-sex marriage in the U.S. was a long one and one that involved many people. But if you had to credit one woman whose decades' worth of work most made this reality possible, it has got to be Mary Bonauto , who history may best remember for arguing the Obergefell v.
In a world where men usually rule, it probably comes as a surprise to many to learn thatthefirst four openly gay elected California state politicians were women. Perhaps just as surprising is the fact that in a state generally considered to be progressive, it took until 1994 for the first of these four to be elected.
After premiering at Sundance, First Girl I Loved has started to make its way around the festival circuit. The film sees 17-year-old Anne ( Mateo Arias). Most notably, the movie has sparked some controversy by tackling the issue of sexual consent.
Annise Parker made headlines across the United States and around the world in 2009 when she became the first openly LGBT person elected mayor of a major U.S. city. But having been first elected to city council in 1997, she was no stranger to Houstonians.
It may perhaps come as a surprise to many that one of the most vocal voices coming out of Latin America in support of LGBT rights is that of a straight woman named Mariela Castro Espín. Yes, as in that Castro.
It's up for debate, but between Freeheld , Carol, Grandma , and several other standout films, 2015 is arguably the best year in lesbian-themed movies. Thanks to great performances from Susan Sarandon and Linda Emond, you can add About Ray to that list.
Have you binge watched Netflix's new sci-fi drama series Sense8 yet? Well you don't need any more reason than trans lesbian lead Nomi Marks. Nomi, played by the brilliant Jamie Clayton , is a hacker and political blogger living in San Francisco with her girlfriend Amanita ( Freema Agyeman).
Ana Golja may be new on AfterEllen's radar, but she's more than making up for lost time. The 19-year-old came to our attention this summer after her character Zoe Rivas fell for schoolmate Grace Cardinal ( Nikki Gould) on Degrassi: Don't Look Back .
Rookie Blue 's Gail Peck may be a hard-ass, but Charlotte Sullivan who plays her is an absolute sweetheart. Last season Gail fell for Holly (Aliyah O'Brien ), only to have her heart broken. This season we've seen Gail heavily involved in an adoption storyline and some family drama, but, yes, she's still gay.
Rookie Blue is the little Canadian cop show that has captured our hearts. More specifically, Officer Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan ) has arrested our attentions since the moment she swapped kisses with Holly the forensic pathologist (Aliyah O'Brien ). While Holly left at the end of the mid-season finale, gay Gail is still very much on board.
Erin McLeod is an Olympic medalist, the starting goalkeeper for Canada's national women's soccer team and an out and proud athlete. Erin was on hand to open PrideHouse Toronto Pavilion this Wednesday morning ahead of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
After what feels like forever, Carmilla is finally back. Season 2 of the web series based off of J. Sheridan Le Fanu 's novella brings us a new set and new faces, as well as the return of familiar favorites.
It's easy to forget about the trailblazers as time passes by; some of us never even get to know them. Back on Board sets out to make sure we don't forget Olympic champion Greg Louganis.
Angela James feels mixed emotions when she thinks back to her early years on the ice at North York's Flemingdon Arena. It's where she got her first taste of competitive hockey. It's also where she had her first major brush with sexism when, at eight years old, she was kicked off the community centre's all-boys team despite being the league's leading scorer.
Photo by DILLON TAYLOR A lesbian vampire crushes on her pint-sized roommate, who reciprocates while also carrying a torch for her statuesque TA. Add to the mix an obsessive-compulsive floor don and her gender-questioning best friend and you've got the super queer web series Carmilla.
High Profile Movie Reviews
So, a much-needed shout-out needs to go to my editor, Trish Bendix. Why? Because without her, I would've completely forgotten to check out Catfight at the Toronto International Film Festival. Really, I've wondered, how could that even be possible?
I must admit, after some initial frustration, I'm glad the Toronto International Film Festival's two lesbian offerings this year are The Handmaiden and Below Her Mouth , both because of what makes them so similar and so different.
You know, as a film reviewer, critic, or whatever you want to call me, I have to go into a movie leaving behind any preconceived notions I may have. For two years in a row now, the Toronto International Film Festival has made that incredibly difficult for me, with screenings of Stonewall last year and with this year's world premiere of (Re) Assignment.
My, my, what can I say about The Handmaiden (Agassi)? Do I think it's going to be one of the most (if not the most) talked about lesbian films of the year? Yes, I do. But do I think it'll be considered the best? Certainly not by queer women. Why?
Yesterday was a bit surreal for me. Less than 24 hours after hearing about legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall's passing, a personal courier showed up at my door with a DVD copy of his last film: Mother's Day .
Holy reunions! I mean technically an "intervention" is a reunion, but I was thinking more along the lines of the holy But I'm a Cheerleader trinity of Clea DuVall , Natasha Lyonne and Melanie Lynskey , back together again for Clea's directorial debut in The Intervention .
Folks, after what's felt like a really long wait, Almost Adults is about to have its world premiere on May 28 in Toronto at the Inside Out LGBT Film Festival . Yes, the brainchild of The Gay Women Channel's Adrianna DiLonardo and Sarah Rotella, and brought to life by Carmilla stars Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis , is finally upon us.
Out director Deborah S. Esquenazi's Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four will undoubtedly make you mad, and that's a good thing. This documentary about the cruelest of injustices demands a response and presently still needs one. So who are the San Antonio Four?
First Girl I Loved premiered this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival as one of several films about LGBT women screening at the festival. That alone speaks well for the future of lesbian cinema in 2016, but the movie itself is sure to divide opinions. Nonetheless, it's an intriguing watch, fit for Sundance.
If my entire film going experience this year has just been a dream, you can have the real world and leave me right here (except for the nightmare that was Stonewall -then just Inception the hell out of me so I can, at least, hang with Ellen Page ).
You know, despite the bad rap Stonewall got before anyone even saw it, I largely withheld my judgment. I figured since the finished product wasn't that far away, I could wait until I actually watched the film before coming to any conclusions.
Have you ever loved a movie despite it not completely satisfying all your needs? Like, it didn't check off all your boxes, or one specific box that's really important to you, but you still very much enjoyed it overall?
The Danish Girl was never going to be just another movie. With people already hailing it the Brokeback Mountain of the trans community, and the hype around it being Eddie Redmayne's first big role since winning the Oscar for The Theory of Everything, expectations were heavy.
Oh the French, what with their flair for the dramatic and lengthy lesbian sex scenes. Let me tell you, if Blue Is The Warmest Color set the standard, Catherine Corsini's Summertime ( La Belle Saison) surpasses it in that it's a much better film. Here's a tagline for you: French feminists fucking in fields ...
The international premiere of the Jamie Babbit 's Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto this past weekend was the talk of the festival. Fresno at That's right, folks: Babbit is back with another movie. Actually, I should say Jamie Babbit and Natasha Lyonne are backtogether for another movie.
Long-form Journalism
Of the visual media available to us in 2017, Web series are still what many consider a recent phenomenon. These sets of related videos are released on the Internet, typically in an episodic structure. Yet despite a bit of mystery around the format, its history goes all the way back to 1995, when the first Web series with video, The Spot, premiered online.
This is a safe space, right? We can talk about anything, as long as it relates to queer women? So when I tell you I'm a queer Christian, you won't rule me out as a serious writer, think of me as naive, or call me out as "part of the problem"?
"All hell is going to break loose," "I think it will...literally cause the destruction of our country," "This could split the country right in two," "A disastrous ending." What are those statements referring to? A nuclear war? Nope. Terrorist attack? Nah. Asteroid collision? Wrong.
The stories of five youth who have experienced homelessness highlight the need for a dedicated LGBT shelter in Toronto
The area's revitalization is bringing sweeping change to the city's black-sheep neighbourhood - and that change includes Toronto's queer community
Will Toronto's gay neighbourhood live to see another day?
Are posters a form of community expression or a nuisance to be stripped away?
Sports Stories
If Canada's loss in the women's wheelchair basketball final to the United States during these past Parapan Am Games still stings, here's one bright spot - Stephanie Wheeler, the US coach, is a proud lesbian. This champion coach and former player has long been an advocate of wheelchair basketball, and has more recently joined the call for advancing LGBT inclusiveness in sports.
"Savannah's got a badass throw!" an observer exclaims as a ball comes whipping through the air. The impact against the wall is even louder. Savannah Burton does have a badass throw, and she should - it's the result of over seven years of playing dodgeball.
The Bonham Centre and the Canadian Olympic Committee host this year's Bonham Centre Awards Gala and Summit, with partners You Can Play and Egale. Established in 2007, the awards recognize individuals or groups that have made a difference in the field of sexual diversity education.
In our sports-obsessed culture, 2014 stands out as the year of the gay athlete. Defensive Player of the Year honor along the way. In all of this, we cannot forget to mention that several trailblazing athletes paved the path to this progress.
The 519 plans to build the centre over 9.3 hectares of land in Toronto's new West Don Lands community
'We're obviously very proud of our Toronto connection': Patrick Burke
Gay teams take to the ice at former Maple Leaf Gardens
Disgraced player meets with Patrick Burke and gay long-distance runner ahead of Sept 27 game
Toronto Blue Jays player apologizes, says 'I have friends who are gay'
Television Recaps/Reviews
Whatever it takes, I know I can make it through this review. Welcome to Degrassi: Next Class, the latest reincarnation of your favorite Canadian show that never ends (you can thank the Family Channel and Netflix for that). So, why do we care this year?
By the good gay gods! It finally feels like summer in Canada now that I've watched this year's Degrassi movie offering, Don't Look Back. And while I can understand why many of you may believe we Canadians scheduled our travel plans around this event, I was watching with a purpose in mind: lesbian love!
Can you believe Clipped has already wrapped up for the season? It seems like it was just yesterday that I began my stakeout for the queer exploits of Charmaine Eskowitz, only to never really see them. Who knows what could've been if, instead of 10, it had been a 15-episode order.
After my lackluster review of Clipped last week, I was really hoping the show would step up its game this week. Unfortunately, what they delivered is what I consider their most underwhelming episode yet. Did they underuse Charmaine again? Yes, but unlike last week my major beef with this episode is that it was just boring.
There are two main plot points on Clipped this week-Buzzy's struggles with his gambling addiction, and Joy's doubts about her marriage-and this is all happening as the Doyle sisters prep for their cousin's wedding. Suffice it to say, this was not a Charmaine-heavy episode.
When I found out that this episode of Clipped was about A.J.'s love life and Mo's parents' potential divorce, I thought for sure this would be my least favorite episode of the season. After all, those two storylines don't leave a lot of room for Charmaine.
If you've been watching these first few episodes of Clipped , then by this point you knew it was only a matter of time before Charmaine's caustic nature got her in trouble. That time is now. Turns out a video of her tearing into a client has gone viral-116,000 views in 30 days.
Disclaimer: Although they called this episode of Clipped "Big Gay Wedding," they're not talking about Charmaine's. I hope your big gay hopes weren't shattered like mine were. For many of us, there comes a time where inevitably you've got to put a ring on it.
This episode of Clipped starts off on a sad note: Danni can't buy a pair of the "cute shorty overalls" she wanted because she lost cell reception after Charmaine sneezed and lost her grip-on her. "I guess I'm allergic to having your ass in my face," she justifies.
A new week, a new episode of Clipped featuring Charmaine and her razor-sharp tongue. Actually, this week's episode gives us a healthy dose of Char, so pop the bubbly folks. But don't bother pouring Charmaine a glass-girl is upset her tip jar isn't quite full.
After its premiere last week, Clipped returned to our screens Tuesday. And just in case you forgot what channel it's on, look, it's Conan O'Brien! TBS, you take product placement to a whole new level. But I tip my hat to you for at least making it plausible, because I guess I can see how Boston boy Conan could maybe pop by Buzzy's.
Ladies, we've got a new scissor-wielding queer woman to admire. Goodbye, Shane McCutcheon. Hello, Charmaine Eskowitz. When I heard David Kohan and Max Mutchnick were behind TBS' new sitcom Clipped , I was positively optimistic. After all, this is the team that gave us Will & Grace.
Book Interviews/Reviews
Having watched a lot of documentaries, 1992's Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives still stands as one of the best (if not the best) feature-length documentaries about lesbians that I've ever seen.
Every Friday through September, we'll be posting a review of a lesbian/bi-themed romance novel as part of our Summer of Love. Miss the first few? Read them here. Over 40,000 applied, but of 256 viable candidates only two will make it to...Mars! It's the challenge of our lifetime-the colonization of the Red Planet.
After honing her craft over the last several years, award-winning essayist Chelsey Clammer is out with her first collection of essays, BodyHome. Sex, addiction, mental illness and assault-she covers these and more with an honest voice that will have readers laughing at times and completely silenced at others.
More Interviews
"I hope it allows people to have a sense of freedom and break down any perceptions that they might have had going into it, or perceptions they might have had about love or reservations they might have had about same-sex relationships."
That's My DJ is a Canadian web series described as an "unapologetic look inside the new order of rave" with a Season 2 that focuses on a "sexually charged narrative between two women in Toronto's music scene." It's even cooler than it sounds.
Not in her world there isn't, and that's why she's brought us the aptly named web series, Pot Luck. Believe it or not, this little gem is New Zealand's first lesbian web series. "We're still in a situation where representation of queer characters is really limited," said Ness of the country's entertainment industry.
I knew that Atlanta was a cultural hotspot and even that it had a sizeable and involved queer community. I could not have guessed, however, how diverse its queer arts scene is. Fortunately, the new documentary Queer Moxie has brought me up to speed.
The Australian documentary Gayby Baby looks at the everyday lives of same-sex parents and their children, including three families with two moms. Director Maya Newell was inspired to make the film by her own upbringing with two moms and by the current situation for families like hers in Australia, where same-sex couples can't get married, and same-sex parent adoption is only legal in a few states.
Briana Evigan might be best known for her starring role in two of the Step Up dance film series and for a slew of horror movies that followed, but it seems she's found an even better fit now: playing queer. Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic In Love Is All You Need?
When you think "romance writer," names like Nora Roberts immediately come to mind. Fair enough, because she is featured somewhat at length in a new documentary about the genre, Love Between the Covers . But so is lesbian author Len Barot, aka Radclyffe , aka L.L. Raand.
There's been quite a stir about the new Italian film Me, Myself and Her ( Io e Lei) because of the big name actresses at its center and the controversial crisis their relationship faces. But it's also an undeniably good film that highlights middle-aged queer women, bi-erasure and internalized homophobia.
Loved for her work on films like Anatomy of a Love Seen and Raven's Touch , Marina Rice Bader is back with a new movie, Ava's Impossible Things. The film looks at the life of Ava ( Chloe Farnworth), who's been taking care of her mom who has Huntington's disease, which Ava's also inherited.
If you're a fan of the lesbian web series The Slope and F to 7th , you don't need me to tell you Ingrid Jungermann is one funny gay lady. Showtime must think so too, because they're adapting F to 7th for television.
After gushing about AWOL in a recent review , I was thrilled to speak with the movie's out writer-director, Deb Shoval , ahead of her appearance at Frameline for the movie's screening in San Francisco.
The new documentary Femme Brutal looks at Austrian queer and lesbian burlesque troupe Club Burlesque Brutal, using intimate interviews and live performances to tackle such themes as femme identity and sexual power. Have you always wondered about the motivations behind burlesque? Well, these seven give you their views on the art they love.
looks at the injustice faced by four lesbian Latina friends: Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four Elizabeth "Liz" Ramirez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra "Cassie" Rivera and Anna Vasquez. They were tried in the late '90s and fell victims to the "satanic panic" child sexual assault theory that had become a popular attack on gay individuals in the American legal system.
The new film Bruising for Besos is unique not only because of the lesbian Latinas and Xicanas at its center, but also for dealing with the rarely discussed issue of domestic abuse within lesbian relationships. Ahead of the movie's world premiere at Frameline, we spoke with its queer writer-director and star Adelina Anthony.
The Revival: Women and the Word is a new documentary that looks at The Revival Poetry Tour and the queer women of color at its center. The traveling salon-style performance art show hit seven cities across the country and brought some amazing spoken word and song to enthralled audiences.
If you enjoyed lesbian web series Chica Busca Chica, you're going to love creator Sonia Sebastián's follow-up film Girl Gets Girl . Featuring several fan favorites with different names but very similar personalities, this Spanish flick's a laugh riot. We had the pleasure of speaking with Sonia, who now resides in Los Angeles.
"I was actually terrified because as soon as I finished reading the script I called Shonali, and I said, 'Look, I love the script. I think it's amazing.
"This is Thelma & Louise plus Jack Farthing). Dan guides them along the trip through video messages, making it clear this journey is just as much about their need to deal with their own issues. Both aren't happy at their jobs, and both aren't getting what they need out of their relationships-Seph with her boyfriend, James, and Alex with her girlfriend, Pandora.
For a story about a 17-year-old high schooler in LA, First Girl I Loved has caught a lot of us (myself included) by surprise by virtue of its depth. The majority of the credit for this must go to the movie's writer-director, Kerem Sanga.
We've told you about Heartland before. This time, the film's star and co-writer, Velinda Godfrey , and director Maura Anderson , are going to fill you in on the flick. We recently spoke with the duo about the importance of setting the film in Oklahoma, losing your partner, familial and societal prejudice, and more.
Angry Indian Goddesses has been hitting the film festival circuit hard since it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September. While it has most people talking because of its depiction of female friendship and discussions of sexual assault, it's just as important to note that the film's protagonist is a lesbian portrayed in a loving relationship with her fiancée.
is one of the most moving documentaries I've seen in a while. The film looks at the story of four lesbian friends, Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four Elizabeth "Liz" Ramirez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra "Cassie" Rivera and Anna Vasquez, who got caught up in the "satanic panic" that ran amuck in the American justice system in the '80s and '90s.
Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in France, reports emerged that homophobic attacks in the country had risen by over 75 percent . Paying attention to these stats was director Jean-Baptiste Erreca, who decided to make a film that would highlight homophobia and transphobia in France.
You might think a play about mother-daughter abandonment issues is the last place anyone would want to be on Mother's Day weekend, but not so. Out writer/director Trey Anthony's How Black Mothers Say I Love You opened to a packed room in Toronto on Saturday night and closed with a standing ovation.
When conceptualizing a documentary that deals with the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, telling that story through the use of puppets and toys probably isn't an idea that jumps out at you. But it did for filmmakers Mathias Théry and Etienne Chaillou, whose film La Sociologue et l'Ourson ( The Sociologist and the Little Bear) details these events in France.
Being half Brazilian, I grew up watching a lot of telenovelas and the occasional Brazilian movie. Today, I spend more time watching foreign films than I do watching daily soaps, so it was a really nice change a pace to watch a movie I didn't need subtitles for (but don't worry, it has them!).
Back in February, we told you about the edgy Israeli film Barash . Wanting to know more, we reached out to the film's out writer/director, Michal Vinik. She was kind enough to chat with us about all things Barash, including her choice to cast queer leads, why the film isn't about coming out and how she didn't intentionally write a love story.
What was queer cinema like before the '70s hit? Does it have claims on the very beginnings of moving pictures? Is this part of our history only a tale of censorship and subtext? An Early Clue to the New Direction: Queer Cinema Before Stonewall, a series from the Film Society of Lincoln Center, is tackling this all head on.
Having considered Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson one of the best queer documentaries of 2015 , I'm thrilled to have been able to chat recently with director Michelle Boyaner and her co-writer and star of the movie, Jane Anderson ( If These Walls Could Talk 2, Normal).
We recently told you about a film that's likely to become a favorite on the LGBT film festival circuit this year: The Firefly ( La Luciérnaga). The film, which showcases just how beautiful Colombia really is, follows the sudden death of main character Lucia's ( Carolina Guerra) brother and the comfort she finds with his fiancée, Mariana ( Olga Segura).
We first told you about the adorable Canadian web series Out With Dad six years ago. Well it's been chugging along since then and we were lucky enough to snag an invite onset as they shot for Season 4 in Toronto. What follows are some spoilery photos and an in-depth conversation with series creator Jason Leaver.
Pregnancy is a challenge that a lot of lesbian couples know well. Alexis and Jessica Casano-Antonellis know this a little too well. Their pregnancy journey was documented in Lizzie Gottlieb's 2012 film, Romeo Romeo . The documentary will now be nationally broadcasted as part of World Channel's America ReFramed series on March 22.
The Australian web series Starting From Now came on the scene almost two years ago and since then it's built a loyal fan base and garnered over 20 million views. The series follows the lives of four Sydney lesbians-Steph, Darcy, Kristen and Emily-and all the drama that comes with them.
What happens when a well-intentioned American TV producer wants her Israeli and Palestinian friends to bond? A half-assed music group and a documentary called The Promised Band . And made by and starring several queer women, the filmhas a queer and feminist bent to it.
We first told you how much we loved Flash forward to the end of 2015 and we Margarita, with a Straw 10 months ago. This movie about two women with disabilities falling in love with each other completely captured our hearts. still thought it was one of the best lesbian/bi foreign films of the year.
Vanessa Dunn is a very recognizable face and voice in Toronto's queer scene, but After Ellen readers everywhere might remember her from B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye . Now with her latest role in Portrait of a Serial Monogamist , she'll be catching the attention of even more queer women.
Today is Blogging for LGBT Elders Day and Logo TV is fittingly screening the documentary Gen Silent . The 2011 documentary is about six LGBT seniors facing isolation and the fear of discrimination in long-term and health care facilities. We spoke with two of the film's subjects: trailblazers Sheri Barden and Lois Johnson.
VH1′s Sabrina Jalees is an out Canadian comedian, long loved in her native country. After a few years of living in New York City and then moving to Los Angeles, 2014 and 2015 were breakthrough years for Sabrina where she joined Best Week Ever and Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and appeared in the film Portrait of a Serial Monogamist, opening in select theaters this weekend.
Several months ago we raved over the Aussie flick Skin Deep in our review of the film. It was no surprise then when it made it onto our year-end list as an Indie Winner. This movie about a newfound friendship between a self-destructive lesbian and a straight-laced straight girl diagnosed with melanoma has endeared itself to audiences everywhere it has screened.
When I first heard about the latest Janis Joplin documentary on the scene, I knew I had to set my eyes on it. It was one of those rare occasions where you already know you love the film's subject but you also have faith in the person bringing it all to life.
Our recent article on the firing of LGBT staff at Catholic schools was just the latest reminder that many faith communities and institutions are still reluctant to truly open their doors to all-that being in direct conflict with their core values and teachings.
Since we told you about All About E a few months back, the hype around the film has just continued to grow. The movie focuses on E (played by out actress Mandahla Rose), a former clarinet player and present-day DJ on the run from her dirtbag boss with her gay best friend Matt ( Brett Rogers) and a bag full of cash.
Less than two weeks ago I told you about a new lesbian movie that's stealing our hearts here at AfterEllen-the French film Summertime ( La Belle Saison). The movie is about feminists Delphine and Carole, who meet and fall in love in early 1970's Paris, despite being from two different worlds.
Writer/director Alexandra-Therese Keining forever carved out a place in our hearts with her 2011 release, Kiss Me ( Kyss Mig). If, like me, you were anxiously waiting to see what she'd bring us next, you're in luck because the wait is almost over.
Stories of Our Lives is a Kenyan film comprised of five shorts based off the true stories of LGBTQ Kenyans. Although successfully making the film circuit rounds, the movie has, sadly, never been shown publicly in Kenya, where the Film Classification Board banned it.
Two seemingly straight best friends with relationship issues hit up a couples retreat for the weekend and, of course, pretend to be lovers. But Kat ( Tara Karsian) and Samantha ( Andrea Grano) get more than just the laughs they're expecting-they get a dose of the kind of lesbian processing we're all too aware of.
If you haven't yet, you'll definitely come to know a lesbian or two (or six) who is perpetually in a relationship. One ends and another one starts. Maybe you are that lesbian. If you are, sorry, but from the outside looking in, that's a recipe for laughs.
That's Not Us is a different movie experience. This romantic comedy that follows three couples (one lesbian, one gay and one straight) over the course of a weekend getaway is completely improvised. Your eyes will be glued to long-term girlfriends Alex ( Sarah Wharton) and Jackie ( Nicole Pursell), who are struggling with lesbian bed death, but handle it-shockingly-like adults.
Think back to the summer of 2011 and to a little blog called A Gay Girl in Damascus. Do you recall the reported kidnapping of lesbian blogger Amina Arraf? Well, we certainly made mention of it at the time. We also updated you just days later about even stranger events surrounding the story.
More Movie Reviews
The stats might be nothing new to you: 40 percent of homeless youth identify as being LGBTQ. But having spent some time with these youth, I know that numbers are just numbers until you see a face and hear what is often a very disturbing story.
How to tell when a lesbian-themed film really wasn't made for a lesbian audience: its leading lesbian does something super un-lesbian-like and it's not even questioned. The worst of these cinematic sins is of course very familiar to us-baby crazy lesbian sleeps with a man in order to have said baby.
It's 2016, and more people are out in South Korea than ever before, yet discrimination against LGBTQ people seems to be a growing trend in the country. "Collective violence action in public is a striking phenomenon of recent years," said Lee Young, a filmmaker who credits fundamentalist Christianity and a new conservative government for the rising levels of hatred.
Are you a fan of B-movies and/or MMA? If your answer is "no" to both of those, chances are you're not going to like Fight Valley. But if you enjoy either of them and have reasonable expectations when it comes to the acting skills of MMA fighters and the writer-director who wanted to make a movie starring them, then you might just get a kick out of this new film.
When director Lisa Olivieri met Patricia Livingstone, the subject of her would-be documentary Blindsided, in the mid-90s, she could not have imagined that she would still be filming her 17 tears later. "I probably would have run for the hills," Lisa said.
If 81 percent of your state's population reported believing it's wrong to fire individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, you would think legislators would feel confident enough about the security of their political futures to simply add the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to their state's human rights act.
I've got a lot of affection for Australians, but the one thing I don't appreciate is the slow progress Aussie politicians have made on the matters of legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption at the federal level. How could I not when families are disadvantaged because of a government's unwillingness to adapt to a changing world?
Despite its playful name, ToY is not the lesbian version of Pretty Woman. There are, however, some similarities-namely two attractive leads, an age difference and, oh yeah, a sex worker and a client falling for each other. But this is no romantic comedy.
Lovers of Marina Rice Bader films: she's back. Her latest is the fantasy drama Ava's Impossible Things -yet another female-centric tour de force. And yes, there is, of course, a sexy lesbian romance to look forward to in this one as well. Speaking of which, that's exactly how this film opens.
Lesbian themed horror films seem to be all the rage in 2015-2016. From international thrillers like Sweden's Alena to the recent Hollywood release The Neon Demon to the indie effort Sisters of the Plague , it's clear the film industry is interested in us beyond vampire lore.
As a society in general, we tend to look back on the early '80s with a sense of nostalgia. After all, some of the best music and films were made during this time, fashion rocked, sports were on point and "must see TV" became a thing.
Doesn't it suck when you suspect your girlfriend might be a murderer? Hold up-let's rewind the tape here. We're going into dark comedy territory, folks. And you're going to love it. Women Who Kill is out writer-director Ingrid Jungermann 's debut feature film (and the winner of Tribeca's Best Screenplay Award).
Damn, I really liked AWOL . Like a lot more than I was expecting to like a lesbian love story set in rural Pennsylvania. I guess I should've seen it coming given the success of writer-director Deb Shoval 's 2010 short of the same name but, still, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed this film that screams realness, this despite its less than fairy tale happy ending.
If you've watched more than just "the classics," you know that some lesbian films need a minute or 20 to find their groove. That's certainly the case for new film Bruising for Besos, the first feature-length effort from writer-director Adelina Anthony, who also stars in the movie.
I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of dancing up a storm at Jewel's Catch One in LA and sadly I never will-it closed in 2015. I suspect a lot of you are in the same boat, but fortunately, we can get pretty close to the Catch One experience, which spanned over four decades, by taking in writer-director C.
I can't believe we're already closing in on the one-year anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in America. I still remember the euphoria that surrounded that day and the days that followed. Of course, there's still more to do, like ensuring the Equality Act gets passed, but this historic anniversary lends itself to reflection.
With Pride season around the corner and a lot of us preparing to show up as our best queer selves, it's easy to forget that not everybody is taken to be proud because of the way they look. Or maybe it's the way they don't look.
Doesn't it suck when your best friends invite you over for lunch and you have to figure out which one wants to off herself? What, that's not funny or all that realistic? It is when it's done in the name of dark comedy. Suicide Kale writer/producer/star Brittani Nichols approves your laughter.
It's often said that films are a mirror of society and not the other way round, meaning that if you're waiting for a film to come along and change society, good luck. That's why it doesn't really surprise me that only now are we seeing gender non-conforming leads in narrative film.
I watched BFFs for the first time about a year ago and thought it was really funny then. Having watched it again almost a year to the day, I'm happy to report it holds up very nicely. In fact, it was better the second time around.
Fair warning: there probably isn't a more spoilery review of the film Angry Indian Goddesses out there. For the purposes of this site, we kind of have to give away the film's big "surprise" plot point.
Now around for over a quarter of a century, the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival is back with its 2016 edition, running from May 26 to June 5. We've already reviewed, and will continue to review, several of the fictional features that are showing at the festival, but we thought we should also share some must-watch documentaries.
Maybe it's just me, but I think it says a lot about the times we live in that we can now say there's an abundance of formulaic adolescent lesbian love stories. I find it even more impressive when these formulas cross borders and cultures and still find a home in cinema.
Spoiler alert (yes, alread y): this movie contains cheating with a penis. If you have a rule about not watching such films, I respect that. BUT, I still think you'll like it if you give it a chance. Maybe start with this review? Italian women in their 50s in love.
Holy horror movie! The Swedes went from giving us of the same name, let me tell you, as far as this Kyss Mig to this lesbian thriller- graphic novel very specific genre goes, it's one of the best I've seen. Alena. Adapted from Kim W.
Following #OscarsSoWhite and the poor showing of LGBT films at the just past Academy Awards, the 2016 Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival could not have come at a better time.
Dancer, teacher, activist, scholar-all roles held by powerhouse out lesbian Angela Bowen. Such a life undoubtedly deserves documenting, and that's exactly what filmmaker Jennifer Abod did with her new documentary, The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen. The film details Angela's incredible journey in her own words.
No, this isn't the semiautobiographical set in the future film about a child of celebrity turned secret agent. That would be West, North West, which sadly will probably hold your attention longer than the Japanese flick we're actually reviewing. But hey, this one's got lesbians! So what's West North West about?
Anita Bryant -is there a more hated name amongst the LGBT community? Perhaps, but not many. Even though it's been decades since her damaging words filled pages and airtime, her work has left a legacy. For some, the effects of that legacy are more personal than for others.
It's official: Israeli teenagers are too cool for us all. At least the teens in writer/director Michal Vinik's Barash are. Seriously, this movie bleeds cool in a way a lot of American indies only wish they could. But the coolest part? Watching two angsty teenage girls fall for each other.
I love my best guy, who also happens to be gay, but could I marry him? Sorry bud, but I think it's going to have to be a "no" on that. No doubt then that the idea of marrying a complete gay stranger would be completely out of the question.
All good things must come to an end, right? But why is that especially true of lesbian establishments? Lesbian bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. have been closing up shop left and right as of late, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Let's take a trip down memory lane all the way back to 2007. Do you remember the much-loved Spanish web series Girl Seeks Girl ( Chica Busca Chica)? Did you just sing the title in Spanish? Because then yeah, you remember it.
I love documentaries. What's more, I've always dug the hell out of foreign documentaries. Foreign documentaries with queer folks at their core? My Holy Grail. So in an effort to spread the love, I thought I would share some recent films that have stood out for me.
Have you ever seen an improbable scenario executed so effectively onscreen that you can't help but suspend your disbelief in order to feel as happy as those characters feel? It happens, but less so in the world of lesbian cinema. And that's just one of the reasons why the Colombian film The Firefly ( La Luciérnaga) is such a delight.
European cinema's unique ability to make you feel so much of something while giving you absolutely nothing continues to astonish me with every film I watch. That's a nothing, mind you, that always feels like something, and usually something big. And that's Slovene/Croatian/Danish film Dual in a nutshell for you.
So, Nazi-era Poland is probably not the best setting for a lesbian love story. Certainly it doesn't bode well for a happy one. Yet, if you're like me, you can't help but be intrigued when these themes overlap, which, admittedly, is not that often.
Try as we might, we can't really peg love-especially romantic love. It just comes in too many shapes and sizes, and with its unique ability to evolve and adapt (although this isn't always the case), you'd end up pulling out your hair if you even just tried to define it.
Lithuania is widely regarded as one of the most homophobic countries in all of Europe, with its capital city of Vilnius thought to be one of the worst European cities in that regard as well. So when the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) organized Baltic Pride there in July 2013, supporters looked on with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
It's a nightmare scenario: You're 16 and your parents ship you off to a psychiatric hospital after finding out you're gay. A year and a half later they release you, only to lock you up again after you confess to your parents that you're still gay.
Today, same sex couples can get married anywhere in the U.S. and have it count anywhere in the U.S. I realize you're probably already aware of this "news," but have you thought about what it means to those that wanted to get married despite knowing their marriages wouldn't be recognized in their home states?
That's it: I'm abandoning my family. The FOMO is too much! I mean, I already knew that Women's Week in Provincetown kicked off on Columbus Day, which just so happens to coincide with Canadian Thanksgiving, but I used to only have an abstract idea of what I was missing out on.
When you think about the LGBT movement in North America, one city is a clear standout-New York. More specifically, the Stonewall riots of 1969 in Greenwich Village come to mind. I recently visited New York and essentially made a pilgrimage to the neighborhood out of a sense of curiosity and a feeling of duty.
One unwritten rule everyone knows: You're not supposed to date your best friend's ex. But come on, the lesbian community is so small that there's bound to be some overlap. It's that overlap that the Australian film Zoe.Misplaced explores. Meet Zoe ( Hannah Raven Smith), the Debbie Downer of lesbians.
I love a well-made biopic. Anything that can transport me back in time to tell the story of a person or people I'm genuinely interested in is gold in my books. So of course I'm excited to see Lili Elbe portrayed in The Danish Girl.
Some dramas are bound to make you feel uncomfortable simply because they straddle a thin line between trying to be "real" and really going for shock value. The South Korean film is this kind of movie and s a queer woman watching the film, having your gender and sexual orientation shown as vulnerabilities is all the more perturbing.
Think you have abandonment issues? Try having your girlfriend strand you during what should have been a romantic trip to Norway. That's the plot behind the perfectly European and perfectly titled Nordland. An opening sensuous love scene (that is so beautifully shot) quickly transitions into drama. Girls with daddy issues-that's rough.
When Euromaidan commenced in Ukraine in late November 2013, the world stood at attention. But as is so often the case during popular uprisings, many of us overlooked the various unique parts that made up the whole. Over one million Ukrainians protested in favor of joining the European Union and ousting their country's Russian-backed government.
Some people are just meant to come into your life, just as you're meant to come into theirs. It can be for the most random of reasons, and it can be over in an instant, but you can't help but feel it was supposed to happen that way.
I think it's important given the context of this review to inform you that I don't consider myself a gaymer, or even much of a casual gamer. But as a product of the '90s, I would be lying if I said video games didn't influence me.
No mincing words- Alto is about as cheesy as the damn lasagna it keeps mentioning and just as stereotypically Italian-American. When I read the describer "lesbian mob comedy," I immediately had my doubts, and they were spot on. If you're a mob movie aficionado, you'll find that this one doesn't deliver on the gore.
Tulsa, Oklahoma has picked up quite the nickname for itself-Buckle of the Bible Belt. Unsurprisingly, life feels pretty constrictive for LGBT teens there. With a population of about 400,000, the city is home to 2,000 churches and only one LGBT youth center.
In the context of the same-sex marriage debate, it's natural for the queer community to ignore the other side-after all, they've ignored us plenty. But we learn nothing in doing so, and it's certainly not the way to build bridges. So what is the other side of the story?
Jane Austen's novels have inspired many a film, several of which are great works in their own right. There have been some pretty noteworthy modern adaptations too, like Clueless and Bride and Prejudice.
If you had asked folks back in the early '90s if they thought little Vermont would be at the heart of the battle for same-sex partnership rights, they would've probably scoffed at the thought. And yet today, in 2015, we look back in gratitude of the Green Mountain State.
I've been in a happy bubble for the past few days, watching and reviewing movies about the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont and North Carolina , and then receiving the amazing news that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide .
When we hear of summers of love, we often think hot, hot heat. They've become synonymous with teenage coming of age stories. But sometimes that heat is instead a pleasant warmness we can bask in for a while, getting neither scalds nor the shivers. That essentially describes Argentinian film Atlántida.
A lesbian of Lebanese background and a gay Irish lad on the lam in Australia-the road movie you never knew you wanted. This is writer/director Louise Wadley's All About E. The movie tells the story of E ( Mandahla Rose) current top DJ and former aspiring clarinetist.
Some movies are labors of love that somehow charm you, all flaws aside. Documentaries that fit that description, well, they're a lot more likely than a scripted movie to get a pass from me.
I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for older women. In the most professional way possible, of course. I mean it! Aging within the lesbian community is one of my favorite subject matters to see tackled, because it reveals so much about our collective past, the now of our trailblazers and, yes, the future of us young thangs.
A damn delight-that's how I'd describe Filipino film Anita's Last Cha-Cha in a few words. Fortunately I have several hundred more to play with! One of the themes we rarely get to see in lesbian cinema is that of early in life sexual stirrings; that moment when you're just on the cusp of puberty and then suddenly a whole new world opens up.
You know it's a sign of the times when you're watching a movie centered on a struggling lesbian marriage in America. That, however, is a far too brief description of Suzanne Guacci's Stuff. What the film really is is a reminder that, even in a partnership, we all have our own "stuff."
"They say to be born a woman is punishment for the sins of a past life. So to be a woman who loves women is punishment for even greater sins." Those are some of the first words we hear in Ruth Gumnit's documentary about lesbian life in Thailand, Visible Silence.
To be a lesbian living in Russia-I can only imagine what that's like. But that's not the sort of thing you should imagine, as you run the risk of over- or understating it (two extremes that won't do). Instead, we should be listening to the voices on the ground that can speak to the reality of LGBT Russians.
There are lesbian relationships of all kinds. Obviously not all are the stuff of romance novels. Love and lust are not always present. Or if they are, it's not always mutual. The movie Sand Dollars makes that uncomfortably clear. Noelí (newcomer Yanet Mojica) is a young Dominican woman trying to rise out of poverty.
Let's get some things out of the way: Thrillers not your cup of tea? You can stop reading now. Lesbian incest insanely creep you out? Hit the back button. If I still have you, good news: Darkness by Day is actually a pretty interesting movie. This Argentinian film predictably messes with the mind.
I watch a lot of "lesbian movies" every year. No surprise there. And as much as I look forward to new releases, I also always find myself re-watching some of the classics. That said, there's a thought that's always in the back of my mind going into a new movie-would I watch it again next year?
When we think about lesbianism, we often don't take the idea of privilege into account-for very good reasons. But there are those of us who are privileged, and it does cause a divide between members of our community. While You Weren't Looking does an excellent job of highlighting this in the context of South African society.
It's been a while since I've seen a coming-of-age story like Summer , one where coming out is the least shocking of events and a new lesbian relationship is one of the few moments of happiness we get. But that's what director Colette Bothof brings us in this charming, if disturbing at times, Dutch film.
How do you think you'd handle sudden helplessness? Could you stomach complete dependence? Many of us don't have the answer because we don't like to ask the question. But the documentary States of Grace puts it front and center. The filmfollows Dr. Grace Dammann on her road to recovery from a head-on collision on the Golden Gate Bridge.
As a fan of lesbian cinema, I'm always on the lookout for a captivating lead. Several heroines have remained a cherished memory throughout the years, whereas others are such cookie-cutter characters that I can't even recall the movie's name. But the best and worst have at least one thing in common most of the time-a lack of diversity.
With every romantic mishap I have, there's a part of me that wonders if I'll ever get it right. I'm sure a lot of us feel that way. I'll admit that a good portion of that panic stems from seeing women in their 50s and 60s out at clubs and still clearly single.
News Coverage & Profiles
While Shakespearean plays have long been favourites of many in the queer community, and drag very commonplace in these performances, it's not often we see flushed out queer characters and storylines. That's why Driftwood Theatre Group's adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew immediately stands out.
Photographer Tania Anderson's new exhibition at the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, We Could be Heroes (Just for One Day), is exactly what it sounds like: a celebration of unsung heroes. It's a series of 14 portraits and four audio-visual projects highlighting Toronto-based artists and activists whose contributions to our queer communities often go unnoticed.
"I just do what I got to do to survive," says 59-year-old Eustace (who asked Daily Xtra not to use his real name for safety reasons), a gay man currently living in Canada. Eustace has been living in Canada since 2006, when he says he left Guyana in fear of his life.
There's never a shortage of parties to attend when Halloween comes around. For a soiree to stand out, it has to offer something unique. The Senior Pride Network (SPN) is looking to do exactly that with its fundraiser dance, Time After Time: HalloQueen on Oct 23, 2015.
Change is needed - this was the resounding sentiment that came out of a Trans Pride community meeting on Oct 9, 2015. Members rallied behind the idea that Trans Pride needs to be independent of Pride Toronto.
NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo announced a new bill that would change Ontario's laws around parental recognition, making it more accessible for LGBT families. Unveiled at a Queen's Park press conference on Oct 1, 2015, the new bill will address how existing laws differ greatly for gay and lesbian couples and trans individuals and families of more than two parents, in comparison to cisgendered, heterosexual couples.
If you've been to Frameline in San Francisco at all during the past week, you may recall seeing a lovely documentary short from Airbnb. Yup, the lodging rental website. They teamed up with the festival to show Love is Welcome Here as pre-roll, but you can watch it online too.
You have a one-night stand with your ex and you both get pregnant. Not your typical lesbian problem, but Two 4 One is not your typical romantic comedy. Two 4 One tells the story of transgender lead Adam and his ex-girlfriend Miriam, who is obsessed with getting pregnant and enlists Adam's help.
End-of-life planning. Those five syllables alone are scary, and that fear often overrides the conversations that should be happening. The need for these discussions is even more important in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, and on March 14, it was front and centre at the 519 Church Street Community Centre.
That gay wonderland would be the Ten Oaks Project and its camp programs. And those would be the words of Anna Penner, chair of the project's Toronto community engagement committee. On March 21, Ten Oaks will host Acorn Prance, a dance-a-thon fundraiser. "It will benefit all of our programs," Penner says.
Imagine you witnessed a beautiful baby girl come into this world and you claimed her as your own. You were there before and after the birth, and helped raise her for over a year. You became attached. And then you were told you couldn't see your little girl anymore.
Jacksonville - When Equality Florida's Action PAC released its list of recommendations on candidates running for office in Jacksonville there was one noticeable exception-openly gay candidate James Eddy.
"With new blood come new ideas." So says Francis Gaudreault, the newly elected chair of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). And when he says new, he means new. Gaudreault, along with two members of his executive committee, has no prior experience on the BIA, but he shows no signs of feeling intimidated.
Going to the doctor's office is never a fun experience. But when patients are met with a lack of resources and assumptions about their sexuality, a checkup can turn into an unpleasant experience.
Young staff at the toll free helpline continue to receive about 6,000 calls each year
Everyone has a story. With the #HearOurStory campaign, Egale is asking the LGBT community and its allies to share their tales online. #HearOurStory is a social media campaign created to promote acceptance of LGBT people and to show what it's really like to be a member of LGBT communities across Canada.
Local organizer Syrus Marcus Ware wins prestigious queer award
When Toronto's 519 Community Centre screened the documentary Gen Silent on Sept 27, it was to a packed room surprisingly light on seniors. Stu Maddux's film tells the story of six Boston area LGBT seniors and their challenges with later-life care.
Allyson Mitchell's new exhibit is best suited for those with a foundation in queer theory
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, police criticized for releasing personal details to local media
Lawyer Doug Elliott presented with Lifetime Achievement Award
West end prepares for 12th annual Queer Arts and Culture Festival
Housing experts warn of flaws in mayor's homelessness task force
"The mass media depicts older lesbians in love way too often," said no one ever. Yup, when it comes to media representation, older queer women get the short end of an already short stick. Just ask yourself, how many relationships between women over the age of 70 have you seen onscreen?
Other
With several LGBTQ film festivals taking place in the United States on a seemingly monthly basis, when does the American queer film buff get to go abroad? Well, Fall 2017 is shaping up to be the ideal time and Canada the prime destination.
If you asked a relatively knowledgeable movie-goer what notable lesbian-themed films have come out in the last three years, she'd probably tell you Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013), (2015) and this year's The Handmaiden . These are certainly noteworthy films, but they only account for a small portion of new monthly offerings in queer women's entertainment.
As a queer media critic, I've watched a lot of web series. As just your regular fan of lesbian storylines, I've watched many more. Some of my favorites never get more than a few hundred views while others fill convention rooms with excited adolescent girls.
More than 100 features and short films are being shown at NewFest: New York's LGBT Film Festival this year, and the slate includes the largest offering of international films in the festival's history. "More filmmakers around the world are interested in telling LGBTQ stories, and they're doing them better than ever," NewFest Executive Director Robert Kushner told NBC OUT.
Well, it's official: they let me back into Fan Expo Canada for the second year in a row. I guess I'm a veteran now, but of course I still managed to get lost. Come on, over 129,000 people packed those halls during the four-day event (Sept. 1-4).
If you haven't heard, Fan Expo Canada is basically Toronto's version of San Diego Comic-Con. This four-day event attracts over 125,000 people from around the world, but, more importantly, it's a fangirl's dream come true. This year Fan Expo ran from September 3 to 6, and I had the pleasure of attending for the very first time-and as a "professional fangirl" to boot!
When it comes to dating, I try to close as few doors as possible. Dating sites, apps, introductions by friends and, yes, even the club scene - I've tried them all with varying degrees of success. I like to think I'm pretty open to different dating experiences, and now I've put that claim to the test by trying my luck at speed dating.
Vegas Gay Guide ™ // One Night for One Drop presented by Cirque du Soleil // Major Changes at The Center // Vegas Gossip // Todrick Hall // A Vegas Experience // Community Resources // Gay Vegas Map // Nightlife Guide
Gay Vegas Magazine February 2017 / For the Love of Fashion - Kevin Smith is building bridges with FASHION and starting a school in the HEART of downtown Las Vegas. / Tom Ford Removed from Wynn / Exclusive Clexacon Interview / Nevada Reaches 10,000 Same-Sex Marriages / Community Resources
Gay Vegas Magazine January 2017 / Sin City Shoot Out - 10 Year Anniversary / Goodtimes Bar and Nightclub Closing / Landmarks and Casinos Go Red For Work Aids Day / The Center To Open Second Location In Henderson / Nevada Legal Services Offers Help To Trans Nevadans / Community Resources / Nightclub and Bar Schedule
Michael Bublé - On leaving an LGBT affirming legacy, man crushes and male admirers / Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida LOCAL - Latinx pop star announces Vegas residency and engagement / Moonlight - Meet the playwright whose life inspired the gay-themed film / NEW YEAR'S EVE Las Vegas - A Saturday night, five years in the making / Mormon and Gay - LDS church changes tone with new official website advocating love and acceptance towards LGBT community
Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu's millions of monthly readers. Title: Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 October, Author: Gay Vegas, Name: gayvegasmagazine2016oct, Length: 40 pages, Published: 2016-10-02T00:00:00.000Z
Cyndi Lauper - Exclusive Interview / Come Out Vegas Weekend - NCOD 2016 - October 7 & 8 / Pokemon Go Trolls the Westboro Church / Queercon 2016 Event Recap / Lesbian Vegas Events - Clexacon 2016 / Vegoss - Melissa Etheridge - The Center Donation / AFAN Celebrity -
Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 August / Dishing' It Out with D'Andre Balaoing - LGBT Local & Masterchef Star talks about being gay, behind the scenes with Gordon Ramsay & more. / AFAN's - Black & White Party / Gay Vegas Dining - An evening at Ichabod's Lounge!
Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 July / The War On Gays / Historic Walk For Orlando / Share Nightclub Closes / We Stand For Vegas Photos / Nightclub and Bar Schedule / Community Resources / Las Vegas LGBT Events | Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online.
Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 June / Do Speak - Gwen Stefani on her gay truth / Golden Rainbow - Ribbon of Life - 30th Anniversary / Channing Tatum - to bring Magic Mike Show to Vegas!
Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 May - Real World Downtown Las Vegas - Go Big or Go Home - Chris Ammon - MTV's Pansexual Mormon stud SPEAKS OUT!
Gay Vegas Magazine 2016 April - The Women's Issue / Kaya Jones - Former Pussycat Doll turned EDM Princess is headlining Dinah Vegas & talks about her sexual fluidity and LGBT fans / Trans Vegas Spotlight - Ryanne Alcaraz - I am a Woman / Lesbian Vegas Spotlight - Kelly Gwinn - Capriotti's 24/7 "family" / Dinah Vegas / The Center's Picnic by Design / Afan's Aids Walk 2016 / Mother's Day Dining / Community Resources / Las Vegas LGBT Events #GayVegas
Gay Vegas Magazine March - Glee star Alex Newell's Unique Identity Gives Zero F**cks for Red Lobster, but will slay for Beyoncé / Furry Vegas and beyond - a look into the furry fandom, a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics.
Gay Vegas Magazine February - Danny Pintauro - "Who's the Boss?"
Gay Vegas Magazine January - Joe Jonas - Gay Clubbing With Brother Nick Jonas, A Jonas Brother Reunion, DNCE Band and New Music / Male Pregnancy a Reality / Wynn Tashman - A Voice for LGBT Youth / Building a Family - Ace Daniels & Raul Daniels Adoption Insured Kitchen Crashers Show HGTV / Transparent Light - Judith Light's longtime LGBT advocacy / Sin City Shootout / CES / AVN / Crossword Puzzles / Community Resources / Vegas LGBT Events
Selena Gomez - Talks LesbianRumors - Ex-Beau Nick Jonas' Gay IconStatus - Gay Clubbing with Gal Pal Taylor Swift - Her New Album and more / Trand Nevada Boy Denied Bathroom Request / Madonna's Rebel Heart / UNLV Student Visits White House for Bisexual Awareness Week / Vegas Burger Bonanza / National Coming Out Day & Honorarium Photos
iHeart Vegas Issue / The Hidden World of Gay Poker Players - Millions of Dollars, Millions of Players, Millions of Secrets / VeGoss - New Gay Club, Celine, Clinton Visit & Ex-Lesbian Makeover Madness / Queercon - Gay Vegas Hackers / Gay Rut - 7 Positive Ways Out / Gay Vegas en Español - Premios Tu Mundo / Infamous Anti-Gay bakery Ships Cake To The Center / Celine Dion - The Heart of Las Vegas / The Names Quinto...
The Pride Issue / Hilary Duff - On Marriage Equality, Her Grindr Fascination & Why She Took A Break / Boy George - On Finding Himself, Caitlyn Jenner & Being A Mad Hatter / Ed Williams - First Openly Gay Clark County GOP Chairman / Chris Miller - Clark County
The Trans Issue & The Anniversary Issue / Love Wins - Supreme Court Rules on Marriage Equality / Trans NV - Nevada Healthcare & CCSD Policy / Adam Lambert - On Dating & New Album / Gay Vegas en Español / Trans Jenner - A Local Look on Caitlyn Jenner / Mariah Carey - On Vegas Show, Disney Favorites, Vegas Pide, and Music Career
Most of us have (or will have) a first kiss story. I mean with a woman, though perhaps it's one and the same for you. Maybe you were 12, or maybe you were 20. Maybe you've recalled it everyday since, or maybe you were too drunk at the time to remember.
The Indepen-DANCE Issue / Britney Spears - Gay Vegas Matchmaker / Vegas Prom-Posal - Anthony & Jacob's Story - Gay Vegas Exclusive / Sin City Gallery - Suzanne M Shifflett Featured LGBT Artist / Gay Vegas en Español Billboard Awards / Tyler Glenn - Exclusive Interview - On Suicide, Doing Drag, Vegas Favorites, Vegas Pride and Their Upcoming Show / Nevada Senate Panel Approves Banning Sexual Conversion Therapy For Youth / College of Southern Nevada Students Get an LGBT Safe Zone Program
The Summer Issue / Matinée - Celebrates 5 Years in Sin City Memorial Day Weekend 2015 / Lisa Lampanelli - Gay Vegas Exclusive Interview / Barry Manilow - Marries His Man on The Low / Gay Vegas en Español
The Women's Issue / Melissa Etheridge - Gay Vegas Exclusive Interview - On Vegas, Love, New Album and Medical Marijuana / Robin & Sandy Sachs - Dinah Vegas Creators - How Vegas' Premiere Lesbian Event Came About And What To Expect This Year / Lesbian Coaches - And Their Fight For Equality / Mom's Day Out - A Vegas Guide For Your #1 Fan / DJ Bad Gyrl - On Vegas Career & Radio Show / Gay Vegas Yellow Pages / Ribbon of Life / Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada
The 15th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival is almost amongst us. The famous festival is running from April 13 to 24 in New York City and you can count on several movies and events featuring queer themes and women.
This chick right here is so annoying in 2015. She's the one sending you all those Facebook event invitations to that super gay movie your local LGBT film festivaljust missed out on a few months ago that's now playing at that out-of-the-way theater downtown.
Here's the thing about Canadian lesbians-we love our American sisters. We really do! Some of us even love love you. But we're not you. While the struggle with Americanization extends even into lesbian culture, we remain distinct. To cement that claim, I've outlined 10 reasons why the Canadian lesbian is a unique entity.
I propose a trip. Pride season in Canada. A coast-to-coast adventure that will put you at the center of Canada's best Pride festivals. Francophone fun, cowboy culture, maritime madness and so much more. You'll never see Canada the same way again. Here are six "can't-miss" Canadian Pride festivals.
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