Tag Archives: Tegan and Sara

Tegan Quin Talks LGBTQ Rights And US Politics

Tegan Quin – of Canadian pop duo Tegan And Sara – has spoken out about the political division of politics in America, and the fight to keep people engaged despite their ‘exhaustion’.

Talking to NME, the singer discussed the shifting mood she’d noticed among the population while touring America in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency.

I think there is general unrest and division, for sure. There is no doubt that there is palpable anxiety around health care and immigration. I think the average person is absolutely wondering about some of the issues the media fixates on (Russia, jobs, healthcare). Certainly I think people are still engaged in general. But, I think people are exhausted and the noise of it all is making people turn off. Which is dangerous. Wear people down to the point where they stop paying attention. That’s scary. So. I don’t really know the answer.”

Quin continued:

I think people are divided. There is unrest. I think people are engaged, but exhausted. I think the media is definitely trying it’s best (in some cases) but … even good media feels like click bait. And I believe a lot of people have just returned to their normal lives and aren’t yet experiencing anything “bad” or any “changes” so they don’t care. So. I guess your TV might be reflecting back a small portion of the populations day to day, but the average person is just…back to their lives?”

Asked if the current political landscape might inspire them musically, she replied:

I think for me music is and has been an escape. So, I don’t know if I were sitting down to write a record today if I would write about the “dystopian nightmare” but, I do think my emotions and feelings around life, relationships, love, the future are coloured by the “dystopian nightmare” so in theory I would kind of be writing about it even if I weren’t actually writing about it… As for what music should or should not be for — I think every artist has to define that for themselves. You should write what you know, what you are moved by and inspired by. And that doesn’t always have to be reality or current affairs. So I think in times like this we get both. Reality and escape. Which is good. Balance is good.”

Quin did state however, that the current political situation had inspired the pair to step up their activism for the LGBTQ community.

We started a foundation to fight for LGBTQ women and girls, The Tegan and Sara Foundation. And we are working closely with social justice organisations and political organisations to ensure we are giving back to our community but also using our platform to elevate important causes and ideas.

We are very motivated right now to do more than just tweet. We want to inspire people to action. So. As an artist I feel like I want to continue to play live to give people an escape and a place to feel connected and see their community.”

Daily Juice: Ellen DeGeneres to Make Stand-Up Comeback with Netflix Special

After 15 years away from the stand-up comedy stage, it looks like Ellen DeGeneres is going to return to the microphone. The rumors began swirling when Netflix tweeted this week (Out)

Looks like it's been 15 years since you did a stand-up special, @TheEllenShow. How about one for Netflix?

— Netflix (@netflix) May 24, 2017

Let me think about it. Ok I'm in. https://t.co/kUAdHyXAjS

— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) May 24, 2017

Gillian Anderson Channels Bowie as New God Media

Gillian Anderson goes as the iconic David Bowie in Starz series American Gods. Gillian has previously personified Lucille Ball in the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nBnIgbIFXk

Cara Delevingne & Dane DeHaan star in brand new trailer for Luc Besson’s Valerian

The final trailer for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets indicates the film will take cinema goers on a spectacular visual adventure.

Set in the 28th century, it sees Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne play Valerian and Laureline, two special operatives charged with keeping order in space’s human territories, dispatched on a mission to the multi-cultural metropolis Alpha.

It’s there that a dark force threatens to destroy the peaceful existence of Alpha, known as the City of a Thousand Planets, where species from across the universe converge to share knowledge, intelligence, and culture.

Tegan and Sara are going to be a part of Mothership Women’s Festival this year.

Rachel Maddow was a guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert this week, where she talked about the President’s latest trip.

Greys Anatomy’s Sara Ramirez is set to star in Mary Lambert’s new music video Know Your Name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpo1xPMtvXo

New star of Wentworth, Daniielle Alexis, has come out as a trans woman.

In an interview with Woman’s Day, Daniielle Alexis said

“I can finally say that name and feel safe that I’m not about to get teased. I have lived in silence for over 12 years.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUX6XNwFiov/?hl=en

Daily Juice: UFC Fighter Jessica Andrade Proposes To girlfriend After Title Fight

What’s the best way to cap off a world championship fight? Proposing to your girlfriend, of course.

Jessica Andrade, an Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor, went five rounds with belt holder Joanna Jędrzejczyk. She ended the contest the loser, but showed enormous spirit in defeat.

And once she had discussed the fight with the in-cage interviewer, Andrade showed further courage to take the ultimate leap.

Fans in the crowd started cheering as she made the proposal to her girlfriend Fernanda in Portuguese, before it was translated into English. (Out Sports)

Today, I’d like to make a special request to my girlfriend, Fernanda, who is here. I want to ask her for marriage.”

Watch the full proposal below:

Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell has said that playing a lesbian character on the hit show was “the best”. Talking to HuffPost, Mitchell opened up about what it was like to play a queer character and what it has meant to her.

That’s the best part. That was definitely the best part out of everything. I’ve had guys and girls come up to me and say, ‘Thanks to your character, I came out to my friends and family’.”

Mitchell added:

That means more to me than anything. The fact that I got to play this character that I had so much fun with and we got to be on an entertaining show that’s one thing, but to have a small impact on people’s lives in that way… Words can’t explain. That’s just awesome.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Tegan and Sara are joing forces with VICE and Instagram to discuss challenges queer people face in dealing with mental health issues. (VICE)

Together with the Trevor Project, Julia Kaye (creator of UP and OUT, a webcomic where she’s been documenting her gender transition), and Instagram public policy representative Carolyn Merrell, they’ll be discussing how each are using social media to combat stigma surrounding mental health issues, and how we can empower both physical and online communities to deal with them.

It will be broadcast live at 8:30 PM EST/5:30 PM PST on @VICE’s Instagram.

Trans whistleblower Chelsea Manning has revealed a new photo of herself after being released from prison yesterday.

In one of his final acts as President, Barack Obama commuted the sentence of Pvt Chelsea Manning, who had been imprisoned in Fort Leavenworth military prison after leaking classified government documents concerning alleged war crimes and rights abuses via WikiLeaks.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPbwX0htrw

Tegan And Sara Talk Making Music, Queer-Fronted, And Supporting Ellen Page To Come Out

Tegan and Sara have been opening up to Glamour magazine about all things queer in the music industry, and there new album, Love You To Death.

I have never felt like being in the closet would have helped us. It always seemed like a shame to hide such an integral part of one’s identity. It’s a relief to see people being more comfortable and casual about it. I think it does wonders for the kids out there who are taking it in and experiencing the music.”

With more queer-fronted acts grabbing the spotlight than ever before, Tegan goes on to acknowledge the improvement but calls for more.

I wish there was more queer women making music in the mainstream. I still feel a responsibility to really push ahead. Not that I want to give in or give up or retire, but there are definitely moments where I wish there was more happening.”

The duo, also discussed their friendship with fellow Canadian Ellen Page and supporting her come out.

Tegan said:

We talked a lot about how wonderful and intelligent she is and how important and significant it would be if she came out. I was really proud of her and how she used her celebrity at that moment. I was proud of her for taking the leap and doing it so articulately, but also giving props to so many other amazing people who she had been influenced by. I was honoured to be included in that list.”

Tegan and Sara twin sister, have spent 17 years creating music together – their sound has shifted from alt-folk to indie rock to pop-punk – but their move to pop feels like a natural progression.

Read Tegan and Sara’s complete interview with the magazine at Glamour.com

Daily Juice: Shay Mitchell Is Open To Dating Women, Beyoncé Slams Anti-LGBT Laws In North Carolina

Pretty Little Liars’ Shay Mitchell is Cosmopolitan‘s cover girl this month and in the mag she talks about the possibility of dating women in the future.

When I started, people were like, ‘What are you?’ I’m like, right now I’m dating a guy. I don’t know what it’s going to be in three years,” Shay told the mag. “You love who you love. Black, white, polka-dot, that’s what my dad always said. I’m never going to label myself. I could be 50 and dating a woman and then what? I said I was straight and now I’m not?’”

Beyoncé slams Anti-LGBT laws in North Carolina, ahead of ‘Formation’ tour date

She said:

As the ‘Formation’ tour makes its stop in the Tar Heel state in the midst of such a controversial time, we think it is important for us to bring attention to those who are committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality in this core of controversy.

Among the many organizations doing the good work to get this bill overturned, there is Equality NC, a local organization dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) North Carolinians.”

Tegan and Sara take a ride in the music video for U-Turn.

Ellen DeGeneres is bringing Tyler Oakley into her expanding digital universe. The deal with Oakley comes with the launch of the Ellen Digital Network, a new umbrella brand encompassing all of her online content that will combine original programming and user-generated content. DeGeneres and Oakley are set to collaborate on a range of original digital projects with an aim toward developing projects for TV as well.

Princess Nokia new music video – directed by Milah Libin – which is titled “Tomboy”. It is seen as her most personal look into her life as a New York City youth thus far.

The directors of Captain America: Civil War, Joe and Anthony Russo, have said there’s a “strong” chance that we’ll see an LGBT character in a Marvel movie.

I think the chances are strong. I mean, it’s incumbent upon us as storytellers who are making mass-appeal movies to make mass-appeal movies, and to diversify as much as possible. It’s sad in the way that Hollywood lags behind other industries so significantly, one because you think that it would be a progressive industry, and two it’s such a visible industry. So I think it’s important that on all fronts we keep pushing for diversification because then the storytelling becomes more interesting, more rich, and more truthful.”

And the Guardian talks with Somalian lesbian rapper Berlin, who had to leave Uganda after she was attacked.

Daily Juice: Azealia Banks Beef With Beyonce ‘Lemonade’, And Tegan & Sara Release New Video

Bisexual singer Azealia Banks has beef with Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ – tweeting it’s bad for feminism and black women.

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/724771276636704768

https://twitter.com/AZEALIABANKS/status/724773769596833792

Tegan and Sara have released their new video for “Boyfriend,” directed by Clea DuVall.

The Abs Fab trailer has finally dropped, seeing the duo kill off Kate Moss

Ellen DeGeneres celebrates first transgender man to compete on an NCAA Division 1 Men’s Team

Leandra Joubert has become the first openly gay woman to make the top 100 selection in the annual Mrs South Africa pageant.

Isle of Man finally passes same-sex marriage – meaning Northern Ireland is the last place in the United Kingdom without marriage equality.

Daily Juice: God Plays Matchmaker In UnReal’s Lesbian Web Spinoff, And Tegan & Sara Announce Tour Dates

UnREAL’s has a new web spinoff out, The Faith Diaries, which features a lesbian, God and love.

Tegan and Sara have announced their up-coming tour dates today for our North American, as well as headline dates in Australia, UK and Asia! Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 29th via the band’s website, and the duo will donate one dollar from each North American ticket sale to charitable organizations via Plus One.

Marine Simpson has celebrated coming out as bisexual with a night out with her rumoured girlfriend, Natalie Philips.

To me, that was different because it was just me and her. It wasn’t for any other reason than I wanted to, so it made me think differently. I’m still a bit hesitant to have a full-blown relationship with a girl, but I do think it would be a possibility.”

Buzzfeed asked some people about what it’s really like to wear a chest binder.

https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFeedLGBT/videos/844538515673335/

Orange is the New Black’s Lea DeLaria was the keynote speakers aIowa LGBTQ Conference. She said conferences like this are an example of how far the LGBTQ movement has progressed.

I have seen the world change around who we are. I feel that as a political organization, we finally started to win the hearts and minds of people and organizations like this in Iowa.”

And in a recent interview with Advocate, Uzo Aduba says she gets hit up by a lot of female fans:

Yeah, so many ladies on social media want me to throw my pie for them, or they want to throw a pie for me. They ask to be my Dandelion. I appreciate it. I also get a lot of proposals. Sometimes I’m like, “Hmm, how big is the ring?” It’s all in good fun.”

Daily Juice: Tegan & Sara Tease New Single, Ellen Page’s Gaycation Season 2 Underway, and The Dinah Shore Weekend

Hurrah, we’re finally getting to hear some of Tegan and Sara Quin’s new album, Love You to Death (out June 3), and their single Boyfriend (available April 8).

The duo have once again partnered up with producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Kelly Clarkson) for their latest material.

Get a look at the titles of all 10 tracks appearing on Love You To Death below, and, if you’re in the Los Angeles, Toronto or New York areas, don’t forget to check out Tegan And Sara’s upcoming intimate shows in the cities.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkFYSHmFbD/

According to a new study underserved bisexual students are more likely to binge drink. Researchers found that while binge drinking by their heterosexual and homosexual peers decreased as school support for LGBTQ students increased, bisexual students were left unaffected, suggesting that their needs aren’t being adequately addressed by policies and programs.

Out filmmaker Anna Margarita Albelo (Hooters, Who’s Afraid of Vagina Woolf?), documented her first trip to The Dinah in the 2006 film A Lez in Wonderland, and results are both hilarious and sexy.

Wanda Sykes is in a new TV series Dream Team. In an interview with the Windy City Times she explained.

We just wrapped the pilot last night. We will see and hopefully get good news about it. My lesbian character is married to a woman. I am an OBGYN and our daughter is on the soccer team.”

Salon says Hollywood super heroes should be shutting down Georgia’s anti-LGBT bill. (and we agree)

Veteran lesbian reporter Karen Ocamb, 66 says she was fired by prominent queer publication for being too old.

Martha Plimpton admits her Catholic character on TV’s ‘The Real O’Neals’ is a homophobe.

And finally Ellen Page’s Gaycation is set for second! And according to recent Instagram posts Page and Ian Daniel are already shooting new episodes of their Viceland series.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDi1tatwQ1M/

Watch: Rosie O’Donnell It Gets Better Video

Last year, the It Gets Better Project had out celebrities like Jane Lynch and duo Tegan and Sara, sharing their stories about how “It Got Better” for them as they grew older. Now the series has returned with a new selection of videos, which will include six stories from public figures like Rosie O’Donnell, and Portia de Rossi.

Below is Rosie O’Donnell journey. In it, O’Donnell has made a career out of making us laugh. But her past heartbreaks are no laughing matter. In the video she discusses losing her mother and how becoming a mother herself inspired her to advocate for gay parents everywhere.

She also discusses growing up in New Jersey, her first crush on a female friend, being a tomboy, and coming out to herself at 17. Then she discusses why she came out publicly in the 2002 and advice she offers to LGBT youth.

Tegan and Sara to Open Women’s World Cup

As if the soccer itself wasn’t enough, now there’s another reason to watch Canada’s opening match of the Women’s World Cup

Grammy Award winning artist Sarah McLachlan and Juno Award winning duo Tegan and Sara have been announced as featured artists for the opening ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 taking place directly before the opening match featuring Canada against China.

The duo, originally from Calgary, said they are “looking forward to being there in Edmonton, in our home province of Alberta, to take part in such an exciting event.” Watch the video here.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup runs June 6 to July 5 in several Canadian cities.

The pair also featured on the hit show This Just Out with Liz Feldman.

Tegan and Sara Talk Fans in New Rolling Stone Documentary

In the new short documentary by Rolling Stone, “Dear Tegan and Sara: Inside The Band’s Bond With Fans,” addresses the evolution of their relationship with their fans: from their early days playing for friends in coffee shops, to their recent mega success sharing the stage with Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Macklemore.

We’d hang out all night talking to people. By the time we actually had real fans, that was how we thought you did a show. We created relationships with these people and they told us their stories.”

For 20 years, Tegan and Sara have been forging a unique relationship with their fans. The short video shows rare footage and photographs from the band’s earliest performances, the film also includes the voices of some of their biggest fans, who attest to the group’s profound influence on their lives.

As much as we have felt like we never shut up about being gay, we’ve represented hope for a lot of these people because we do get embraced.”

The Epic Dinah Shore Weekend Once Again Rocks Palm Springs

There are plenty of reasons to attend the Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend. One, its the world’s largest women’s party. Two, the headline acts. And Three, the mélange of out and proud women, in all makes, shapes, and sizes; from lipsticks to butches to bois (and everything in between).

Then, toss in a few wild pool parties, plenty of sun, and an array of cocktails, and you get the complete celebratory package.

However, the best reasons to go to The Dinah, according to promoter Mariah Hanson, are the thousands of women living out and loud.

In celebration of its silver anniversary, Hanson and her production company Club Skirts went for the gold. With headline acts includeing international Billboard Top 40 superstars Meghan Trainor, Christina Perri, as well as pop music’s fresh “it” girls Bebe Rexha, and Ivy Levan, and old-school legends Crystal Waters and Rose Royce.

“We have a couple of surprises Saturday night, but I think the lineup’s phenomenal this year. I want to bring something bigger. I want to do Coachella for lesbians. We’re trying to create a legacy of a top-notch women’s festival, and that’s what we provide.”

Mariah Hanson

While The Dinah has matured over 25 years, the rhythmic heart of the event beats steady and true.

“It’s still as vibrant, successful, and relevant as it always was, because the core of it doesn’t change. The message is always the same: Here’s a space for you to celebrate your life.”

Mariah Hanson

A lot of the fun was caught on camera and we present to you the choicest shots from off the web…

Images courtesy – www.facebook.com/TheDinah

Awesome, Tegan and Sara To Perform At The Oscars

Its been announced that Tegan and Sara will be taking the stage at the Oscars. The duo has been added to the long list of performers, to sing hit song Everything Is Awesome, which is featured in The Lego Movie.

Although The Lego Movie may have been snubbed at the Oscars in the Best Animated Feature category, it did nab a Best Original Song nomination for the song, which was written by Shawn Patterson.

The awards show producers have now announced that the song will be performed live at the Academy Awards by The Lonely Island and Tegan & Sara, who performed the song for the end credits of the movie. The Lonely Island confirmed that they would be playing the song live via their Twitter.

MOST AWESOME? @TheAcademy has invited us to perform #EVERYTHINGISAWESOME with @thelonelyisland at the #OSCARS!!! pic.twitter.com/Ya1lsufjlE

— Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) February 6, 2015

The 87th annual Academy Awards will be held Sunday, February 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Quiz | Quick Question – How Well Do You Know Your Lesbian Music?

How well do you know your lesbian music? And remember, you lose all of your lesbian points if you Google!

World Pride Ends with Tegan and Sara and Firework Display

Nearly 12,000 people marched in the WorldPride parade in Toronto. With over 350 groups marching, flags from Uganda, Suriname and Jamaica were among those spotted in the crowd.

It’s very important to bring people all over the world together, people who in their country don’t have the opportunity to speak out, to have a voice. I think this platform gave people from around the world a voice in the fight (for) getting acceptance” and battling intolerance back home.”
Kenneth van Emden, Suriname

CityNews reporter Natalie Duddridge was in Yonge-Dundas Square where the WorldPride closing ceremony included a performance by Tegan and Sara.

Watch the footage.

Tegan and Sara Discuss How Their lives Got better After Coming Out

The “It Gets Better” project is an ongoing campaign to send support to LGBT youth worldwide, a large part of which comes in the form of videos from LGBT people sharing stories of how their lives have improved since they were teens.

In this instalment, duo Tegan And Sara discuss their childhood in conservative Calgary, Alberta.

The siblings recall their tomboy youth and middle school bullying as well as the initial discovery of their sexuality and the ups and downs of their coming out in an environment that wasn’t very welcoming.

Watch there Tegan And Sara’s video…

Debauched Dinah Party Caught on Camera

This April’s Dinah Weekend (2014) in Palm Springs was a huge hit. Over five fabulous days, 10,000 lesbians rampaged around the desert having a gay old time. We loved the live music, we loved the parties, we loved the bikini-clad debauchery by the poolside.

The US’s biggest lesbian event attracted everyone from Mary Lambert to Tegan and Sara, the stars of The L Word. A lot of the fun was caught on camera and we present to you the choicest shots from off the web…

The L Word at The Dinah 2014

Leisha Hailey, Kate Moennig and Laurel Holloman at Club Skirts The Dinah 2014 – Exclusive interviews and behind the scenes footage. Dinah Shore Weekend, 2014 in Palm Springs.

The Dinah 2014 Promo “The Lesbian Book Club”

The Lesbian Book Club with Doria Biddle, Guinevere Turner, Mariah Hanson, Erin Foley and Gloria Bigelow. Club Skirts Presents The Dinah 2014 – the largest lesbian event in the world.

image: thedinah.com

20 Iconic Bands Recreated in LEGO

From Tegan and Sara, to No Doubt, The Beatles, Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, Joy Division and Foo Fighters – Self-proclaimed knowledge, music, LEGO and die-cast car junkie, Adly Syairi Ramly presents a collection of 20 iconic bands that he’s taken the time to recreate with everyone’s favourite building blocks.