Author Archives: KitschMix.com Staff

KitschMix.com Staff

About KitschMix.com Staff

KitschMix was founded with a clear objective – to give women within the LGBT community better representation and to cover stories with that matter to them. Be it articles on lifestyle, dating and coming out; to celebrity news, interviews, film reviews, TV recaps; or politics, religion and community news from around the world.

Rose and Rosie have reveal the first time they met, had sex and their first fight

In an original PinkNews series, First Times, Lesbian and bisexual YouTube couple Rose and Rosie reveal their first times–including when they met, first time they kissed and experienced homophobia and biphobia.

The pair have been filming their relationship since its early stages, and fans have seen them get married.

Rosie explained

“It’s weird because we can’t really separate our relationship and YouTube because the moment we started dating, Rose started turning on the camera and broadcasting it online. So people do ask how’s it affected our relationship, but I don’t know because we haven’t not YouTubed our relationship.”

The couple shared the first time they met, their first kiss and first time experiencing biphobia and homophobia.

First look at Ruby Rose as Batwoman Revealed

The star has begun filming her first episodes as the character

The first image of Ruby Rose as Batwoman has been revealed as filming begins on her first appearance as the hero.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot3iS6n1zh/

The actress will be seen this December in crossover episodes of existing series The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl ahead of having her own TV series. She will then star in her own TV show focusing on the character’s adventures.

Speaking about her casting earlier this year, Rose told Jimmy Fallon:

“It’s a game-changer. I found out an hour before I did the premiere for The Meg and I was so nervous doing the red carpet so I basically skipped everybody because I kept spontaneously crying. I feel like the reason I got so emotional is that growing up, watching TV, I never saw someone on TV that I could identify with, let alone a superhero, you know?”

However, fans weren’t as impressed with her casting, criticising the decision to cast a non-Jewish actor to play a Jewish character. Some also suggested Rose shouldn’t portray the first openly gay lead character in a live-action superhero series because she “isn’t gay enough”.

Responding to the backlash, Rose said:

“Where on earth did ‘Ruby is not a lesbian therefore she can’t be batwoman’ come from? Has to be the funniest most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. I came out at 12? And have for the past 5 years had to deal with ‘she’s too gay’ how do y’all flip it like that? I didn’t change.”

 

London’s most diverse and inclusive fashion show returns this September

London’s most diverse and inclusive fashion show returns to the V&A Museum of Childhood, with 11 LGBTQ+ designers walking with 100 models of all genders, sexualities, races, expressions, abilities and identities.

Last year, the London Queer Fashion Show launched as one of London’s largest fashion event celebrating LGBTQ bodies and fashion. This year, the show returns on September 21st, to host 1000 people at the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood.

The LQFS stage is home to established and emerging fashion designers and is the show within season to spot new queer talent.

Designers in the 2018 show have just been announced as: Bull and Dagger, Plus Equals, Poca London, Vytoldas Miliauskas, Yodah Williams, Cause Perdue, Cochevelou, Danielle Clarke, Rickielee Drayford, Livia Rita and Not Applicable.

Over 100 models, empowering all gender identities, sexualities, races and bodies, will walk the catwalk, from celebrities like Rain Dove, to leaders and influencers from London’s community like Lady Phyll, organiser of UK Black Pride, Kenny Jones, Jay Jay Revlon and Marnie Scarlet. This is an event is for all expressions of identity to be recognised and acknowledged.

The show’s producer Robyn Exton says

“The hunger for representation that the queer community now demands is finally being met with our unique event. If main stream labels aren’t able to reflect our identities, then we will do it ourselves.”

Tickets were released with the powerful video ‘Walk On’, directed by Oliver Nias, a film that captures the heart of the event; the power of the people and identities that walk the catwalk.

Keira Knightley Defies Sexual Boundaries in New Queer Movie ‘Colette’

After winning the rights for Colette in January at Sundance, Bleecker Street has released the first look trailer.

Colette tells the real-life story of a woman whose creative genius was siphoned by a man who was given all the credit for her work — light and fun!

In the period piece, Keira Knightley plays the titular character who marries a successful Parisian writer who convinces her to ghostwrite for him. Colette pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a character named Claudine, and the novel skyrockets, becoming a cultural sensation.

The movie seems to focus on two major aspects of her life: her marriage and subsequent published novels, as well as her relationships with women.

In the trailer, we see the nominal character struggle with gender roles, creative control, and her own blossoming sexuality as she becomes “interested” in another man’s wife.

The sexual tension bubbles over in the three-minute trailer — and we can’t wait to see the whole movie.

Directed by Wash Westmoreland, the film also stars Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ray Panthaki and Aiysha Hart alongside Knightley.

Watch the trailer here.

Ruby Rose reveals her queer icons

After deleting her Twitter account following backlash over her casting as BatwomanRuby Rose has shared a video in which she opens up about her queer icons, including Angelina Jolie and Ellen DeGeneres.

In the clip, Rose says:

“So, growing up, there wasn’t as many gay, queer, lesbian icons are there are today. And I’m so glad there are so many more.”

She goes on to discuss the actress Angelina Jolie:

“When Angelina Jolie came out as bisexual. That was a great one, I was so stoked.”

Rose went on to discuss an incident where Jolie reportedly said she was “most likely to sleep with my female fans,” after she questioned by reporters when she won an award for being the “most beautiful” person alive.

“I just loved the way she said it, like it was nothing. And, of course it was something to me, and it was something to a lot of people. But for her it was just a throwaway comment.”

On Lennox she explain how her the singer was the “showed me what androgyny was and how to be unapologetic about the way you look, the way you act, and the way you’re just yourself.”

“The other thing I love about Annie Lennox is that she has not stopped fighting for LGBT rights and trying to find cures for AIDS, and different foundations and she’s very involved in the community.”

Of DeGeneres she gushed,

“Ellen is amazing. Watching her over the many years that I’ve been a huge fan and then getting to be on her show was one of the highlights of my life.”

Speaking of LGBTQ rights, Rose said,

“I wouldn’t want to stand here and say that [LGBT+] kids being born now or being born five, 10 years ago, are not going to encounter a struggle. I don’t think that [discrimination] is going to be erased entirely in the next five years, 10 years or 20 years. I think we’re on the right path and I think it’s amazing and I feel blessed because I haven’t been through what the people before me went through, and I know the people after me will say the same thing. It’s just going to keep being a work in progress.”

Rose also mentioned other queer icons that have inspired her including David Bowie, Boy George, and Madonna.

Watch the full video below:

After news broke that she had been cast as Batwoman, the announcement was met with criticism with some social media users complaining about the choice.

Of her critics and her decision to quit Twitter, Rose said

“I wish we would all support each other and our journeys. When women and when minorities join forces we are unstoppable.. when we tear each other down it’s much more hurtful than from any group. But hey I love a challenge x.”

She continued:

“I just wish women and the LGBT community supported each other more. (…) My wish was we were all a little kinder and more supportive of each other. Sending everyone my love and gratitude, it’s been a rollercoaster of a year, this month especially.

I am looking forward to getting more than 4 hours of sleep and to break from Twitter to focus all my energy on my next 2 projects.

If you need me, I’ll be on my Bat Phone.”

New Qantas ad features sweet same-sex wedding and Sydney Mardi Gras

A new ad by airline Qantas features a same-sex wedding, Hugh Jackman and scenes from the Sydney Mardi Gras parade.

The ad starts off with Jackman talking about the ‘Spirit of Australia’ connecting people.

He says: ‘It connects us no matter where we were born, how we look or how we live.

‘Our spirit is about standing up for what’s right, standing up for a fair go and about standing up for those who can’t,’ he says.

The video then jumps into a song that sings ‘We’re going to stand up with pride’ and ‘Stand up!’

It cuts to various scenes, including a same-sex wedding where two women place rings on each other and then kiss.

Another scene is from the Sydney Mardi Gras, where a guy throws confetti in the air and a group of marchers wave glow sticks in unison.

Alan Joyce is the openly gay CEO of Qantas, said he believes being open about being gay ‘allows him to be himself at work and demonstrates to others that it hasn’t hindered his career.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBd1pbIiLTc

In an interview in 2016, the CEO said;

‘‘I can say categorically that we wouldn’t have gotten through the transformation and the tough times of this business as well as we did without having that diversity in the top leadership team.

At the end of the day, it makes you a better business.”

During Australia’s fight for same-sex marriage equality last year, Joyce donated $1 million to the ‘yes’ campaign.

Earlier this year, he also became the co-patron of national LGBTI workplace inclusion program, Pride in Diversity.

If Your Now Out At Work You Could Be Underperforming In Your Job, New Study Says

New study says LGBTQI employees who aren’t out at work suffer professionally.

According to a new report, LGBTI employees who aren’t out at work suffer professionally.

Produced by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and sponsored by Deloitte, the Out at Work report surveyed 1,600 LGBTI employees.

It found only 32% of these employees were out to all of their colleagues at work.

The report also found not being out at work compromises wellbeing and decreases productivity.

Workers who were not out to everyone at work were almost 50% less satisfied with their job compared to colleagues who were out to everyone.

They were also twice as likely to be ‘downhearted’ at work.

Diversity Council of Australia CEO Lisa Annese believes the results of the report prove being out, proud and open at work is essential.

“A large proportion of LGBTIQ+ employees are still not comfortable being themselves at work. And yet hiding who they are can be costly not only to their own wellbeing, but also to the organizations they work for.

This report comprehensively quantifies the business case for creating LGBTIQ+ inclusive workplaces in Australia.

I urge employers to take a good look at what they can do to take advantage of the benefits; not only for their LGBTIQ+ employees, but for their organization as a whole.”

The report also found LGBTI employees who are out to everyone at work are:

  • 50% more likely to innovate than workers who are not out to everyone.
  • 35% more likely to work highly effectively in their team.
  • 28% more likely to provide excellent customer/client service.

Lead researcher Dr Raymond Trau believes people should just whether or not to come out on a case by case basis.

He said:

“Many people realise coming out at work is complex but don’t always realise that it’s not a one-off event.

Even LGBTIQ+ workers who are very comfortable with their identity and have come out many times still need to think twice when they work in a job or occupation that is homophobic, transphobic or not LGBTIQ+ inclusive.

This explains why our findings still show that coming out remains a problem in the workplace.”

Queer Women Fandom ClexaCon Is Heading To London

ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom convention for queer women, is heading to London this fall.

ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women & allies, is going across the pond this Fall for the first time ever kicking off ClexaCon London. 

Building from the massive success of ClexaCon, which has taken place in Las Vegas, NV for the past two years, the European edition will bring together in London the best in queer television, movies, books, blogs and more.

The highly anticipated pop-up event will take place at the Novotel London West (Hammersmith International Ctre,1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR) November 3-4, 2018.

The London chapter, while a smaller, more intimate version of the main event held annually in Las Vegas that hosts 4,000+ LGBTQ women and allies, represents a key geographical expansion for the iconic Con.  

Focusing on a more curated experience for its European attendees, ClexaCon London is committed to raising awareness about the differences in creative spaces and support for LGBTQ women in the UK in comparison to the US to inspire more LGBTQ women to create more content.

LGBTQ+ representation matters now more than ever. While there seems to be an overwhelming move towards diversity with LGBTQ-centric narratives and characters popping up in movies these past few years, still major studios are remaining behind when it comes to fully embracing a culture of inclusion. 

In fact, GLAADS’s annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) recently noted a drop in the representation of LGBTQ people in films in the past year.

By allowing the LGBTQ+ community to tell their stories on the small and big screen, we not only allow viewers to have a more accurate view of society, but as well give LGBTQ+ individuals the chance to see themselves as integrated members of said society and showcase the universality of our lived experiences.

Sure, many Cons claim to be different, innovative and disruptive in some ways, but ClexaCon not only talks the talk but walks the walk, genuinely pushing the envelope forward for female LGBTQ+ representation in front of and behind the camera.

Ashley Arnold, Danielle Jablonski, and Holly Winebarger, the masterminds behind ClexaCon, are actively working to shift conventional thinking by continuing to advance the conversation about female representation in the film & TV world.

The events organisers said in a statement

“We hope attendees leave ClexaCon London feeling empowered. We want them to know this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices. Their voice matters. Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say.”

High on the agenda at the UK Con is the urgent need to listen to LGBTQ+ voices to create more diverse content and to put queer female stories front and center.

To that end, ClexaCon London will feature a packed agenda of panels, meet and greets, photographs, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ gamechangers, industry tastemakers, media influencers and actors.

Aside from fan panels (including UK Wynonna Earp Fan panel), the event will also offer content creation panels, acting panels as well as academic panels.

Discussing the future of diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in entertainment the panels will be covering a wide range of timely and trending topics from women’s voices to non-binary & gender conforming people representation, among others.

In addition, the organizers have added a London Tour on Friday, renting a bus and filling it with as many LGBTQ woman as possible.

Much like its US counterpart, ClexaCon London will gather under one roof the stars behind a slew of unique and original queer-centric narratives and LGBTQ-themed programs.

Ruby Rose As Batwoman Will Be First Openly Gay Superhero

Ruby Rose will play the first openly lesbian lead superhero in a new TV production of Batwoman.

The Australian actress will play the title lead in a new series on The CW Network in America.

The series will see Batwoman’s alter ego Kate Kane portrayed as a lesbian, and is expected to air in late 2019/early 2020.

Kane has been openly gay in the comics since 2006, in an effort by DC Comics to make its publications more diverse.

One of the show’s writers posted on Twitter that the show had “struck gold” with Ruby.

Celebrating the casting news, Rose responded to fans congratulating her.

https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/1026886262085496832

The series is part of a collection on The CW focusing on characters from the DC Comics universe.

They include Supergirl, Arrow and The Flash.

It’s believed Rose will make her debut as Batwoman in an upcoming season crossover of all three.

And it’s fair to say fans are excited to see what she can bring to the table.

Jennifer Beals Explains The Decision To Bring Back ‘The L Word’

Last month, Entertainment Weekly reunited The L Word cast for a stunning cover and catch-up interview. At the time all all expressed an interest in returning for another season.

Now, that sequel is look to be a reality.

The L Word’s co-creator, Ilene Chaiken will be an executive producer of the series with a new writer/EP with ties to the lesbian community  brought in to run the production and once again chronicle the friendships and love lives of modern gay women.

L Word

Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moenig, and Leisha Hailey are set to executive-produce as well as appear on the series. Other characters from the original series may also pop up and will be paired with a whole new cast of women.

Talking to EW, Beals explained why the moment is right for The L Word to return to television.

She also explained

Years ago, Kate and Leisha and I approached Ilene because we were shocked that nothing had taken its place. There was this renaissance, in a way, going on with marriage equality coming to the forefront. It was a different terrain and we thought you can start telling stories in a different way and there’s a whole new generation coming up that views sexuality in a different way. Ilene was in the middle of doing Empire and she was very excited about the idea but there are only so many hours in the day.

Then, the election happened. I remember I was in South Dakota watching the returns come in and I texted Ilene and I said, “We need to do something.” She said, “Let’s get together and talk about it.” So we were spitballing about what to do and I said our skillset is storytelling and I think we need to tell stories and certainly in an atmosphere of increasing hatred towards the LGBT community and frankly anyone who’s categorized as “other,” stories exploring the complexities of friendship and love are all that more crucial. Representation of everything. You can’t go backward. I would love to see the show continue to mine its original themes of friendship and love and community and additionally I’d like it to go a little further and challenge heteronormalcy.

At the reunion, Kate Moenig was adamant that season 6 be forgotten — which means Jenny Schecter lives – but Beals is not to sure.

You really got to hear the pitches of what they want to do. That person is taking on a huge load. They have the history of the show, the legacy of the show, and yet they have to make it better and they have to make it theirs. So to dictate too much at this point in time I think would be problematic. I want to hear what’s coming from them and what excites them and what stories they want to tell because that’s when it’s going to be good when you let somebody fully have their voice.

And on Bette and Tina’s future, well Beals was a little cagey

I don’t want to even say what I would like to see at this point because I think it’s more important for me to be open and listen to people’s ideas and not get stuck in my own desires. If somebody says I think she should be a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys. I’m gonna say, “Well I don’t think that’s such a great idea.” Can you imagine? That would be funny [Laughs].

Couple’s suicide notes reveal stigma they face in India’s queer community

Lesbian couple’s suicide notes reveal stigma they face in India

The suicide of a lesbian couple who jumped into a river and drowned highlights the hidden struggles of gay women in India, who are subjected to ‘corrective rape’ cures and family pressure to marry, activists said this week.

A police officer, who declined to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the women left suicide notes before killing themselves in the western state of Gujarat on Monday.

He refused to confirm whether one woman also threw her toddler into the river, as reported by local media, which quoted the notes as saying,

“We are leaving this world to live with each other. The world did not allow us to stay together”.

It is more common to hear about lesbians committing suicide than other members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, said gay rights campaigner Anjali Gopalan.

“They live a far worse life than gay men, a much tougher life, because there is largely more acceptance of male homosexuality,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Women’s sexuality is not discussed at all in India, making it much more challenging for them to come out.”

There is no official data on India’s LGBT population, but the government estimates some 2.5 million gay people, reflecting those who have declared their sexuality to the health ministry.

Lesbians face a life of double discrimination – first because of their gender in a male-dominated society where sexual violence, child marriage and female infanticide are common – and then because of their sexuality, activists say.

In a surprise ruling in 2013, India’s top court reinstated a ban on gay sex after a four-year period of decriminalisation, but it is set to reconsider the 2013 decision in July after a slew of petitions opposing the ban as unconstitutional.

Although the law is rarely enforced, it is used to intimidate, harass and blackmail gay people, activists say.

Outside cities, lesbians often face violence, brutality and even death, rights groups say.

“In rural areas, corrective rape is very prevalent and it is one of the main reasons why women do not come out,” Maya Urmi Aher, a transgender rights activist, said, pointing to pressure on women to marry and bear children.

Such rapes are seldom reported as they are often carried out by husbands, brothers and fathers in a bid to ‘cure’ women, she said.

“Law and order consider crimes like this a joke,” she said.

New PlayStation Game Trailer Features Lesbian Kiss in Rare Moment of LGBTQ Representation

Sony’s choice of opening trailer has the whole internet talking

E3 is a massive annual videogames conference where companies show off trailers for their upcoming games.

This year Sony – Playstation parents – decided to open their conference with a trailer for the hotly anticipated game The Last Of Us 2.

The trailer opens with protagonist Ellie, who is openly gay, sharing a kiss with another woman.

The showing of a gay kiss naturally stirred a lot of interest online, not just because it’s a video game – but its a big budget video game, with mainstream major backing.

The gaming world as poor history of including LGBTQ+ characters, let alone protagonists, so this another step in the right direction for inclsion.

Fans are, of course, hyped about it taking to twitter with there thoughts.

Uber Driver sacked after kicking lesbian couple out of taxi for kissing

The driver, who told the couple that kissing in an Uber was illegal, is criticised by regulators and the company itself.

The driver, who told the couple that kissing in an Uber was illegal, is criticised by regulators and the company itself.

A couple is speaking out about their ride in an Uber in which they say the driver kicked them out because they were kissing.

The couple – Alex lovine and Emma Pichl – were travelling from Brooklyn to Manhattan on Saturday when they exchanged what they described as a “peck” on the lips.They claimed the driver, Ahmad El Boutari, then booted them out of the car – sparking an argument in the street.

The couple, who have been together for two years, filmed the row on a mobile phone.

Iovine and her girlfriend are still upset after being thrown from that Uber car. “I think for both us it was just a shock, not really knowing what to say,” Pichl said.

Alex and Emma called the Uber to take them from Gowanus to the East Village. It was during the ride just over the Manhattan Bridge when the couple says the incident began.

“We had leaned over and peck kissed and then a couple of minutes later the driver abruptly pulled over,” Iovine said.

The driver is seen exclaiming in the video that what the couple did is illegal. “He started aggressively coming at us. That’s when we pulled out our phone,” Pichl said.

Alex started taking video. not knowing what was going to happen.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Ioving said. “That’s when we started going back and forth just being like ‘What? Why are we getting kicked out of the Uber?’ and he said. ‘That’s illegal’.”

The cell phone video also shows the driver claiming that what the couple did was disrespectful.

The driver, identified by the Taxi and Limousine Commission as Ahmad El Boutari, even objected to having his picture taken.

A spokesperson for the TLC said, “The blatantly discriminatory behavior described by the complainant is repugnant.”

“We’ve never been targeted with such prejudicial behavior” Iovine said.

An Uber spokesperson said, “Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination, and we have reached out to the rider regarding her experience.”

Both Uber and TLC are investigating the incident. Alex and Emma even got a $22 refund.

“I would be nervous I think to kiss Emma again in an Uber,” Iovine said.

“I think we are going to steer clear of Uber for a bit,” Pichl said.

Eyewitness News tried to reach out to the driver, but was unable to locate him.

‘Orange Is The New Black’ season 6: release date, trailer, cast, and everything we know so far

What’s next after THAT cliffhanger?

Summertime is meant for beaches, pool parties, tanning, vacations, flings, friends, and most importantly, taking a mental break.

However, for us, it means the return of Netflix’s hit show Orange is the New Black .

If you need your memory jogged, the final episode of season five – which played out over three days during a riot – saw 10 of Litchfield’s finest, including Alex, Piper and Nicky, in Frieda’s bunker that had just been broken into by the CERT officers, while the rest of Litchfield’s inmates were loaded into buses and heading to new prisons.

Unlike season five, details of the sixth season have been kept closely guarded by Netflix, until this teaser trailer dropped. Dramatic stuff.

In the sixth season of Orange is the New Black, the ladies of Litchfield are say goodbye to their home for the last five seasons after a riot left the detention centre in shambles.

Now Netflix’s leading ladies are headed to a maximum security jail, where the stakes will undoubtedly be much higher.

Orange Is the New Black season 6 spoilers: What can we expect?

Season five may not have had a major inmate death like Poussey in season four, but there were still the notable deaths of Piscatella (Brad William Henke) in the season finale, while fellow officer Humphrey (Michael Torpey) was also killed off, not from Daya (Dascha Polanco) shooting him in the leg, but from Kukudio (Emily Althaus) blowing oxygen bubbles into his IV.

We certainly know of 10 inmates that have to be back and they are the ones left in the converted bunker in Litchfield at the end of season five.

They are: Frieda (Dale Soules), Suzanne (Uzo Aduba), Cindy (Adrienne C Moore), Taystee (Danielle Brooks), Red (Kate Mulgrew), Piper (Taylor Schilling), Alex (Laura Prepon), Nicky, Gloria (Selenis Leyva) and Blanca (Laura Gomez).

The last we saw of Daya, she had turned herself in for shooting Humphreys, and Polanco is being coy about if she’s in season six. “Daya’s on her own; she just committed a crime [and] obviously that will be punished. You might not see her ever again,” she told USA Today.

Other returns likely include Flaca (Jackie Cruz) and Maritza (Diane Guerrero) who were split up on different buses, Maria (Jessica Pimentel) who helped to release the guards captured during the riot (after betraying Gloria) and Lorna (Yael Stone) who surrendered herself to the guards as she is pregnant.

Away from the inmates, we’ll see the likes of Caputo (Nick Sandow) and Linda (Beth Dover) return, the latter who is still a prisoner after failing to convince the guards of her true identity, while Hunter Emery has also confirmed his return as CO Rick Hopper.

In terms of new faces, Bull star Rebecca Knox has joined as new inmate Tina Swope described as a “tough little thing” by the star. “She knows what she wants and she will do whatever it takes to get it,” Knox told Seat42F.

If you weren’t impressed with season five, don’t worry, the show’s creator Jenji Kohan agrees as she described some of the season’s plots as “fan fiction”.

“We had lost a bunch of the original writers,” added co-producer Tara Herrmann. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was just a new dynamic – people were attached to the characters as viewers, not as creators.”

Danielle Brooks, who plays Taystee, has also been hyping up that season six is “different” following the events of season five’s finale. “There’s no up from there. There’s nowhere you can go that’s a positive,” she told Variety.

“So you’re definitely going to see all of the girls trying to figure out how to get out of this rabbit hole they’ve created. Who is loyal to whom? Who is standing alone? Who is motivated by their own personal will to get out of prison? Who lies and who tells the truth? All of that stuff will come out this season.”

But don’t expect a dramatic shake-up in season six as Kohan also confirmed it’ll still be an ensemble show. “It’s gluttony – I like a little piece of this, a little piece of that,” she explained.

New episodes will officially land on Netflix on July 27, 2018.

New Maltesers advert takes a lighthearted look at lesbian dating

Have you seen the new Maltesers UK advert? Their newest video takes a lighthearted look at #lesbian dating.

It might only be 30 seconds long, but the ad – which revolves around a light-hearted chat between friends about dating – features a main character who just happens to be a lesbian (and a vegetarian, ‘course).

Sarah opens the advert by looking balefully at her phone, before explaining to her three friends: “I think I’ve worked out why I’m finding this dating thing really tough.”

She picks up a Malteser and adds: “This is me: ‘Hi, I’m Sarah, please date me.’

“Almost like I’m being discriminated against or something.”

Silence abounds at the friends’ coffee table.

Then one asks: “Is it because you’re a lesbian?”

“No,” comes the laughing reply.

“Because you’re a vegetarian?”

“I’m an accountant,” she confesses.

“Oh my god, that’s disgusting,” comes the teasing response.

“That’s not natural.”

“Do your parents know?” asks another friend.

“Haven’t told them yet,” she says.

“Ooh, to be a fly on that wall,” another comments, making Sarah laugh.

Michele Oliver, Marketing VP at Mars Chocolate UK, explained that the ad was part of a broader drive to shine a light on underrepresented women.

“The adverts recreate real-life situations faced by women from different groups in society who you don’t often see or hear from. We’re telling their stories to help combat perceived stereotypes and celebrate our similarities, whilst at the same time hopefully making people smile! These adverts explore the topics in a fun, engaging and humorous way.”

 

The company also revealed that Stonewall helped to source some of the focus groups who contributed ideas to inspire the ad.

Samira Wiley Touts Ellen as the ‘Lord of the Lesbians’

Samira Wiley was on The Ellen Degeneres Show for the first time.

However, Wiley revealed that she’d had a previous encounter with the host.

“I met you, like, really briefly one time. I know you don’t remember it because you’re Ellen, but it meant a lot to me because you’re lord of the lesbians.”

When DeGeneres pressed her as to where they’d crossed paths, Wiley ― who recently celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with wife Lauren Morelli at Disneyland ― quipped,

“Probably at a lesbian event. I go to those sometimes. I see you at those.”

Later in the interview, Wiley touched on the cultural relevance of The Handmaid’s Tale, which returns for its second season this April.

Noting that the show’s iconic red costumes have been used in women’s rights demonstrations across the country, Wiley said,

“You see how much it permeates the culture that we’re living in right now. It’s everywhere.”

Watch the interview below:

Cynthia Nixon’s ‘Unqualified Lesbian’ Campaign Merch Is Iconic

Last month, actress Cynthia Nixon AKA Sex and the City’s Miranda gave the people of New York what they deserve, announcing that she would be running for governor.

A cause of celebration for all, with the exception of council speaker Christine Quinn, who said Nixon’s interest was a “flight of fancy” and branded her an “unqualified lesbian”.

Quinn told the New York Post last month, referencing her own unsuccessful mayoral bid.

“Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City. Now she wants an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. You have to be qualified and have experience. She isn’t qualified to be the governor.”

Nixon addressed the comments at her campaign launch by saying:

“I don’t have my certificate from the Department of Lesbian Affairs, but in my defence, there is a lot of paperwork involved.”

To support the campaign, pins and T-Shirts with the message ‘unqualified lesbian’ are now for sale on her site.

The former Sex and the City star is challenging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

Nixon has previously said her lack of political experience is actually a strength because “sometimes a little naiveté is exactly what is needed.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOo4C2CiRQ

Qualified and unqualified lesbians alike (and all others), if you want to show your support for Nixon – our rightful governor – you can buy pins (and hopefully more merch soon) here.

Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson comes out as bisexual

Broad City star Abbi Jacobson has opened up about her sexuality in a new interview with Vanity Fairtelling the magazine, “I kind of go both ways.”

“I date men and women. They have to be funny, doing something they love. I don’t know — I’ve never really been interviewed about this before.”

Jacobson confirmed that she is single, and joked about potential suitors approaching her now that she’s out. “Yeah, who knows?” she said. “The world is my oyster.”

While promoting her role in upcoming drama 6 Balloons, Jacobson also spilled some details about RuPaul’s Drag Race and the next season of Broad City.

Jacobson said that Broad‘s fifth season was almost finished — the fourth season finished airing in December last year — and that they would be altering their approach to Donald Trump. During the fourth season, any mention of his name was bleeped like an expletive. Now?

“I think we are actually trying to avoid even mentioning him. It’s not even funny anymore.”

As for Drag Race, she and Broad City co-star Ilana Glazer will be appearing in season ten as part of a challenge, with Glazer and Jacobson judging the remaining queens’ performances. No spoilers on who could walk on their episode, however, as “it’s pretty much under lock and key over there,” she said.

“I know roughly when it airs because, as a judge, I know how many contestants are left. But I can’t say.”

Netflix’s lesbian comedy ‘Everything Sucks!’ has been cancelled

Netflix has announced that it will not be commissioning coming-of-age lesbian drama Everything Sucks! for a second series.

The series was set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon during the 90s. It starred Jahi Di’Allo Winston as Luke O’Neil and Peyton Kennedy as Kate Messner.

Luke develops feelings for Kate, but Kate ends developing a crush on Emaline Addario, played by Sydney Sweeney. However, Kate struggles to come to terms with her sexuality, as her father is the principal of the school that they all attend.

During its run, the show earned praise for its lesbian representation. However, some critics said that the show relied too much on tropes, and didn’t develop its supporting characters enough.

The series holds a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its critical consensus read: “A flawed series that ticks off all the nostalgia boxes, Everything Sucks! still manages to tug at the heartstrings.” The site reported that audience approval of the series was 89%.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, one of the executive producers of the show, Jeff Pinkner said: “We’re super proud of the show we made — and very proud that it found an audience of very passionate fans, for many of whom it became an important personal touchstone: either reflecting their current life, or an echo of their own teenage years. We are grateful to Netflix for the opportunity, but are very disheartened we won’t be continuing to tell these stories.”

Many fans were disappointed with the announcement, and took to Twitter to voice their annoyances.

In a promotional interview for the series, Petyon Kennedy said that there’s “barely any representation” of queer teens in high school.

“There’s barely any representation for girlfriends in high school,” said Peyton Kennedy, who plays Kate in the series, to Buzzfeed.

“There’s a bit of representation in older generations, but I think for the teens who are watching it who identify with these characters, they will be able to feel comfort and hopefully acceptance at the end of the show.”

Kate’s love interest Emeline (played by Sydney Sweeney), also voiced how the programme “embraces” love in its many forms.

“Kate knows what she wants and Emaline doesn’t,” Sweeney said. “For Emaline, love is just love. It doesn’t matter if it’s between a girl and a girl or a guy and a girl, so she just embraces that.”

However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of renewals, as Netflix recently announced that Queer Eye has been renewed for a second season.

On its renewal, vice president of content at Netflix, Bela Bajaria said: “These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television.”

WWE’s first openly-lesbian wrestler makes history at WrestleMania 34

WWE’s Sonya Deville made wrestling history this weekend at WrestleMania 34 as the first openly gay women to compete in the event.

Deville – real name Daria Berenato – opened up about her sexuality during the 2015 season of WWE’s reality TV competition series, Tough Enough.

Deville was one of the contestants vying for a contract with WWE on that show.

The reveal came when the show’s judges asked if she was in a relationship. Deville responded: “I don’t have a wife yet, but I have a girlfriend.”

After the episode aired, Deville told New Jersey’s 6ABC News, the matter-of-fact reveal wasn’t planned.

“I’ve gotten so much generosity and so much love so far. People from all kinds of LGBT organisations reaching out saying, ‘What you did was amazing, thank you for representing our families,’ and that kind of stuff,” said the former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

If I can help people in this process and be a voice to people who might be intimidated of coming out themselves or are scared to or think that it’s wrong and they see me doing it in front of pretty big people in the WWE world, hopefully it will give them the courage to do it.”

Deville didn’t last long very long on Tough Enough, but impressed WWE executives offered her a developmental contract regardless.

She began appearing regularly on the WWE Network show, WWE NXT, from May 2017, before joining WWE’s main roster in November with Mandy Rose. Together with veteran wrestler, Paige, they form the group Absolution.

Since joining the cast of WWE’s popular show Monday Night Raw, Deville has made history by competing in the first women’s Elimination Chamber match in February.

Earlier this week, Deville praised WWE for releasing a new T-shirt devoted to wrestler Finn Balor that features the rainbow flag. 20 percent of proceeds from the inclusive tee will go to LGBT+ organisation GLAAD.

“I proudly support this message! Being a part of the LGBT community myself  in the @WWE its such a great feeling to see @FinnBalor speaking out with such an amazing positive message! 🏳️‍🌈 #EQUALITY,” she wrote.

Lesbian, bisexual girls face higher odds of being suspended or expelled, say researchers

A study into the differing experiences among lesbian and bi pupils in the American school system has found an alarming disparity in the way it treats its LGBT+ and straight pupils.

According to the report, young lesbians and bisexual girls are 95% more likely to be disciplined at schools than their straight peers, according to a 15-year survey of some 5,000 American families.

But the report’s author, Princeton sociologist Joel Mittleman, says that only about a third of the risk can be explained by students’ misbehavior. He believes discrimination by faculty and administrators could be a real factor.

“The results suggest that sexual orientation itself may shape teens’ experiences in very different ways for girls versus boys,” Mittleman said in a statement. “My results are consistent, for example, with recent research showing that sexual minority girls are dramatically overrepresented in the juvenile justice system in a way that sexual minority boys are not.”

Overall teens attracted to the same sex have 29% higher odds of being taken out of school. But when broken down by gender, girls experienced 95% higher odds while gay/bi boys had zero increased risk of discipline. (The study did not examine other factors such as race, family life, or academic achievement.)

Another recent study, out of Tel Aviv University, found that people often stereotype bisexual women as “confused,” “disagreeable,” and “neurotic.” So we shouldn’t be surprised if school staff are primed to see queer girls as problems.

Even if, and perhaps especially, if they’re retaliating against a bully.

Sociologists say they’re only beginning to explore how sexual orientation impacts interactions with institutional authorities: Lesbians and bisexual women are also overrepresented in the American prison system—representing 42% of the female prison population, but only 4.4% of the female general population.

 

Jay-Z opens up to David Letterman about his mother’s sexuality

To kick off his interview with rap mogul Jay-Z, David Letterman held up his hand and asked the audience, “We have here married people with families?”

He added, “Families, I think it’s safe to say, are pretty much trouble-free.”

That intro – on the fourth episode of Letterman’s free-ranging interview show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman,” which dropped Friday on Netflix – foreshadowed the 50-minute conversation during which Jay-Z was strikingly candid about his own family. The rapper opened up about infidelity in his marriage to Beyoncé, his mother coming out as a lesbian and his absentee father.

On his mother, Gloria Carter, coming out as a lesbian

One touching song on Jay-Z’s 2017 album “4:44″ is “Smile,” which reveals that his mother Gloria Carter is gay, with the lines “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian.” Carter herself appears at the end of the song with a spoken word poem, saying: “Life is short, and it’s time to be free/Love who you love, because life isn’t guaranteed.”

The rapper told Letterman that he has long known that his mother is a lesbian, but it wasn’t until he was recording that album that the two spoke about it. That conversation was the first time he heard his mother say she loved a romantic partner.

“The only thing about that experience for me is her,” he said. “Imagine having to live your life as someone else, and you think you’re protecting your kids.”

He said the conversation was so emotional that he began crying. The next day, he sat down and wrote “Smile.”

“For her to sit in front of me and tell me, ‘I think I love someone.’ I mean, I really cried,” he said. “I cried because I was so happy for her, that she was free.”

10 Queer Female-Led Films To Look Out For In 2018

2018 is set to showcase some incredible films about queer women.

Here are a few of our top picks:

1. Disobedience

The first trailer has been released for Disobedience, a film about a lesbian affair in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Rachel Weisz, who is herself Jewish, plays Ronit Krushka, who returns to her North London community after the death of her father. In Golders Green, she is reunited with Rachel McAdams’ Esti, with whom she had an emotionally-charged relationship which led to her exile.

Now Esti is married to an Orthodox rabbi Dovid (American Hustle’s Alessandro Nivola). When Ronit questions their union, Esti replies: “I think he felt that marriage would cure me.”

Now the lovers are forced back into proximity, their forbidden affair quickly rekindles within the claustrophobic confines of the marital home and the conventions of their devout community.

The film is scheduled to be released in April 2018.

2. The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Directed by Desiree Akhavan and starring Chloë Grace Moretz, he Miseducation of Cameron Post is an adaptation of Emily M Danforth’s 2012 novel.

The movie is compassionate study of Christian teenagers struggling with religious disapproval and the injunction to “pray away the gay”.

It is Akhavan’s second feature as director, following her 2015 indie hit Appropriate Behaviour.

3. Lizzie

What’s more exciting than hearing Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny made a movie together? Hearing that their playing lesbian lovers.

The two star in the biopic Lizzie, which takes a closer look at Lizzie Borden, a teenage girl who was accused of murdering her father and her stepmother in 1892 only to be found not guilty in a trial that was basically the O.J. Simpson trial of its day.

The psychological thriller attempts to show a more complex side of Lizzie, played by Sevigny, that could explain why she may have committed such a heinous crime. To do this, the film delves into Lizzie’s relationship with Stewart’s character, Bridget Sullivan, who was the family’s housemaid and Lizzie’s alleged romantic partner. Bridget was also the person who claimed to have witnessed Lizzie murder Andrew Borden and his wife Abby with an ax.

Roadside attractions will release Lizzie sometime this summer.

4. Vita and Virginia

Vita & Virginia, directed and co-written by Chanya Button (Burn Burn Burn), centres on the true story of the love affair between the acclaimed author Virginia Woolf (played by Elizabeth Debicki) and socialite/writer Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton), and how the relationship inspired Woolf’s novel Orlando. Isabella Rossellini and Rupert Penry-Jones also star.

“Her relationship with Vita is the story of her connecting with her body, and her sexuality. and it’s a kind of alternative look at an artist-and-muse relationship. It’s the story of the creation of Orlando, but it’s also the story of Virginia using her profound genius to overcome an experience that we might presume, on the face of it, would overwhelm her. That’s what interests me, the opportunity to look at this really iconic writer in a very different way.”

5. My Days of Mercy

From Princess director Shaolm-Ezer and starring Ellen Page (JunoInceptionFreeheld) and Kate Mara (House Of CardsThe Martian), My Days Of Mercy is a love story between two women who differ in both their backgrounds and political perspectives.

My Days of Mercy premiered at TIFF in 2017 to mostly positive if incredibly confused reviews. It’s unclear when it’ll be in wider release.

6. Tell it to The Bees

Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger, both fresh off excellent period dramas (Alias Grace and My Cousin Rachel respectively), are set to co-star in queer period film Tell It to the Bees which director Annabel Jankel calls “an unholy mash-up of 1950s social and magical realism.”

The story, based on Fiona Shaw’s book of the same name, centers around Lydia Weekes (Grainger), a woman separated from her volatile husband raising her son Charlie (newcomer Gregor Selkirk) on her own. After Charlie gets in a school-yard scuffle, he becomes friends with Dr. Jean Markham (Paquin), who then grows close to his mother. The title refers to the hives in Weekes’ garden where she and Charlie tell their secrets, so yes, there will be bees.

The film reportedly blends social realism with magical realism to create the kind of queer melodrama we deserve. No word yet on its release date.

7. Porcupine Lake

Porcupine Lake is a unique coming-of-age story from one of Canada’s most resolutely independent filmmakers.

12-year old Bea (newcomer Charlotte Salisbury) is headed to Ontario’s cottage country with her mother (Delphine Roussel) to spend the summer with her snack shack owning father (Christopher Bolton). With her parents’ tenuous relationship on the verge of an outright divorce and only her dog Callum to call her friend, Bea pines for a less boring summer. She finds excitement in the form of Kate (Lucinda Armstrong Hall, who recently netted a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her performance), a girl of the same age who lives year-round in town with her chaotic family. The pair immediately hit it off despite Kate being a lot more worldly and aggressive and Bea remaining reserved and shy. The best friendship evolves into something a bit deeper and more experimental, but external influences could make Bea and Kate’s relationship into something more complicated than they could ever hope to understand at such a young age.

8. Becks

Inspired by the real life of singer/songwriter Alyssa Robbins, BECKS follows a musician (Hall) who moves back to her childhood home in St. Louis after a crushing breakup with her longtime girlfriend (Kiyoko). While performing for tips at a local tavern and struggling to reconnect with her ultra-Catholic mother (Lahti), she strikes up a unique friendship with the wife (Suvari) of an old nemesis. Becks begins to discover her musical voice as she performs deeply personal songs about her ex and the loss of their relationship.

Driven by an original score, the film’s musical numbers bring a unique new voice to the American musical movie.

Becks was released in February. It’s also available for rent or to buy on YouTube.

9. Saturday Church

Saturday Church tells the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a shy and effeminate boy, who finds himself coping with new responsibilities as “man of the house” after the death of his father. Living alongside his mother, younger brother, and conservative aunt, Ulysses is also struggling with questions about his gender identity. He finds an escape by creating a world of fantasy filled with dance and music. Ulysses’ journey takes a turn for the better when he encounters a vibrant transgender community, who take him to “Saturday Church,” a program for LGBTQ youth. Ulysses manages to keep his two worlds apart; appeasing his aunt and discovering his passion for the NYC ball scene, and voguing, until his double life is revealed. Ulysses must find the courage to be who he truly is, all while risking losing those he cares about most.

While Saturday Church may not have a queer cis woman as its main, it represents the full LGBTQ spectrum, including trans and queer kids of color, who are far less likely to find representation on screen. Awesome.

Saturday Church came out in early January and is now available for purchase on YouTube and Google play.

10. Colette

Colette casts Keira Knightley as the legendary French novelist Colette, whose literary gifts outshone those of all the male writers around her, including her celebrated husband, known commonly as ‘Willy’.

In the movie, Colette’s husband introduces her to the hedonistic world of artistic Paris where her creative appetite is sparked. He also permits Colette to write her novels only if she does so in his name. The phenomenal success of her novel “Claudine” series makes Willy a famous writer, and Colette and Willy the first modern celebrity couple. Although, the lack of recognition for her work begins to gnaw on Colette and their marriage starts to internally combust, resulting in Colette has an affair with gender nonconforming Marquise de Belbeuf.

Bleecker Street will release the film in September.

 

Gillian Anderson: ‘I Could Be Dating A Woman Next Year’

Gillian Anderson – who came out in 2012 – says she has no issue with her bisexuality

Anderson – who came out as bisexual in 2012 – is currently in a relationship with ‘The Crown’ creator Peter Morgan, but admitted she is only ”part long-term” in their romance.

Speaking to The Times magazine, she the actress said:

”I could be with a woman next year! Part of me looks long-term. As long as there’s always a back door.”

And speaking about her bisexuality, she insisted she doesn’t care what other people think.

”It’s just who I am. I have absolutely no issue with it whatsoever, and I don’t really care if other people have an issue with it. We’re all intersectional, and that is something that is only just beginning to become accepted or embraced. We’re all complicated beings. That is my truth and that is my experience.”

However, Anderson insisted she is currently very happy in her relationship with Peter and loves that they work in the same industry.

”I’m constantly grateful for the symbiosis because I haven’t had that experience before.”

Anderson recently confirmed she is quitting ‘The X-Files’.

The actress had previously hinted that the current 11th season of the sci-fi drama – in which she has starred as FBI agent Dana Scully since 1993 – would be her last in the role, and during a panel at the 2018 Winter TCA Tour last month, she confirmed her decision.

“It’s time for me to hang up Scully’s hat. It just is. I’m finished and that’s the end of that.”

Anderson also admitted she had originally only agreed to return for the six-episode revival of the show in 2017, but said she is ”hugely grateful” for the opportunity to have played the iconic character for over two decades.

“I arrived at the decision before we did the previous six, but I was really curious. I felt that the previous six was going to be it. It was dipping our toe back in again … and getting to play these wonderful characters again. I think as [series creator] Chris [Carter] has said himself that short stack of episodes felt like we were leaning how to walk again and that this season of 10 feels like the pace is up and we’re running. I wouldn’t necessarily have been happy if those six were how we said goodbye.

There’s lots of things that I want to do in my life and in my career and it’s been an extraordinary opportunity and extraordinary character and I am hugely grateful.”

The show’s 11th season began airing on January 3, and also stars David Duchovny as FBI agent Fox Mulder.

Watch: Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz Spark Forbidden Passion In ‘Disobedience’

Disobedience stars Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz as two women raised in an Orthodox Jewish community who share a forbidden romance.

The much-buzzed about Disobedience – which stunned the 2017 Toronto Film Festival with a six-minute sex scene between Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz – isn’t due out until April 27.

But today brings us the first look at the movie, courtesy of the debut trailer.

In the almost three-minute teaser, we get a snapshot of the orthodox Jewish lovers whose star-crossed romance is at the heart of the film.

The movie, follows an Orthodox Jewish woman, Ronit (Rachel Weisz), as she returns to her family home in the wake of a weighty transgression and her rabbi father’s unexpected death, Disobedience seemingly charts a complex path through the dark side of religion-backed prejudice — specifically when it comes to queer romance.

As she grieves alongside her relatives (many of them wary of her unexpected return) Ronit forms an immediate attraction to Esti (Rachel McAdams), the wife of her cousin Dovid (Alessandro Nivola). The pair’s magnetic draw to each other evolves from lustful glances to many a passionate rendezvous, which causes a rift in Esti’s marriage.

Lelio, whose transgender romance-thriller A Fantastic Woman is currently in the running for the best foreign language film Oscar, debuted Disobedience at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, where it earned glowing reviews from movie critics. The film is based on Naomi Alderman’s 2006 novel of the same name.

Disobedience enters limited release on April 27. Watch its first trailer above.

Ellen DeGeneres Moved To Tears By Wife Portia De Rossi’s Birthday Gift

Ellen DeGeneres has just celebrated her 60th birthday in a special episode of her hit television show and was moved to tears by a special gift from wife Portia de Rossi.

Talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, turned 60 last Friday, and received plenty of birthday wishes.

But it was a thoughtful present from wife Portia de Rossi that moved DeGeneres to tears.

In a surprise appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that aired Thursday, de Rossi presented her wife with the gift to end all gifts.

“It’s your 60th birthday, and this gift had to be really special and it had to represent who you are and what you really care about. So, I combined that with the fact that literally guys, for like the last two years, Ellen has said to me, ‘I feel like I’m not doing enough.’ Every day, almost. So, I put all that together and I got you this gift.”

De Rossi then played a recorded birthday message that highlighted DeGeneres’ hero, Dian Fossey, an American scientist who studied gorillas in Africa. Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda to observe and protect mountain gorillas.    

Though she was murdered in 1985, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund continues her work. And now, thanks to de Rossi, the fund will have an Ellen DeGeneres Campus.

“So, for your birthday, Ellen, I am bringing you and your hero Dian together by building the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Ellen, you will carry on Dian’s legacy by giving them a permanent home in Rwanda. Now, you will join Dian as a protector and champion of these amazing animals, the mountain gorillas,” de Rossi added. “Happy birthday.”

Is anyone else getting misty-eyed, or is that just us?

Coronation Street Actress Discusses Playing Soap’s First Lesbian Muslim Character

Coronation Street star Bhavna Limbachia has opened up about playing the soaps first queer Muslim character.

In recent months, viewers have seen Bhavna Limbachia’s Coronation Street character Rana Haweb marry chef Zeedan Nazir (played by Qasim Akhtar) despite secretly struggling with her sexuality and having an affair with lesbian Kate Connor, played by Faye Brookes.

In a recent interview, Limbachia said that her character needs to come-out as she “owes” it those in a similar position.

“There are so many people who don’t feel they are able to come out and hopefully this will encourage conversations in households within every community and let some people feel able to be honest about who they are.”

The actress also said that filming the emotional storyline had taken a toll on her, added:

“There were times when I was filming scenes, like 12 hours of sobbing. Then when the director said cut I literally had to run backstage and let out a really big cry, to the point where I was nearly sick because I couldn’t stop. You have to go there and it’s heartbreaking. Do you know what? I thought, ‘We’re two people in love, let’s just go for it’. And we did!”

Meanwhile, Brookes is hopeful that the characters will one day get married.

She DivaMagazine:

“I felt like what we were doing was groundbreaking. We broke that barrier, just for a split second. We did it for the sake of our characters and for anyone out there who is feeling the exact same way.

My chemistry with Bhavna is completely natural. It has to be that I’m OK to touch her and she doesn’t feel awkward if we have to hold a kiss or hold hands. We just bite the bullet. It’s a good job she’s so beautiful!”

We’re both very in touch with our feminine side. You don’t need to be gay or straight to feel that. It’s how you feel around that one person.

I want to represent, from a personal perspective, that love is love and everybody should be accepted for who they are, no matter what.”

The soap, which has been running since 1960, has featured a number of LGBT storylines over the years.

10 Valentine’s Day Sex Positions For An Unforgettably Romantic Night

Whether you two are in love, like, or lust, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to have sex that’s as dirty as it is tender.

Valentine’s Day comes with a ton of pressure and expectations, and the holiday only gets trickier when you’re broke AF and still dying to spoil your girlfriend.

If you’re doing V-Day on a budget this year, I’d say one of the greatest gifts you can give your partner is a mind-blowing night in the boudoir. It’s easier said than done, I know, but studying these 10 Valentine’s Day sex positions is a good place to start.

So break out the bubble bath, stock up on chocolate syrup, and light enough candles to hold a freaking vigil.

Here are ten scorchingly hot sex moves to try with your partner this Valentine’s Day.


10. Joystick

Joystick

This position offers the excitement of a new routine (and even props!) without forcing you to buy anything special. You can use any chair you have, as long as it’s big enough to seat both of you comfortably. (You will be on top of one another, so it doesn’t have to be anything giant.)

The partner who will be giving the pleasure will be seated in the chair, with one foot in front of her (so that her knee is propped up – see picture for clarification). The other partner will climb on top of the upright leg and begin to rub herself against it. She can lift her lover’s leg in order to maneuver things better, or she can just let the bottom partner take control.

This isn’t the sort of routine that will make your everyday routine, but if you’re looking to experiment with tribadism this is a good power position to try.


9. Rocking Horse

Rocking Horse

This position involves a strap-on, but the especially acrobatic can try it with a double-sided toy as well. The partner who is receiving will lie on her back with her legs in the air. At this point, the giving partner (wearing a strap-on) will slide herself under the legs of her lover and penetrate her with the toy.

If the partner wearing the strap-on wants to get a little deeper, all she has to do is lean forward. You can also consider caressing each other’s bodies, as you will be facing each other. To experience a tighter fit with the toy, the receiving partner can try putting both of her legs on the same shoulder. No matter how you mix it up, this position is sure to please!


8. Major Inspiration

Major inspiration

Okay, I’ll admit… I’m a bit of a watcher. Particularly when it comes to oral sex. I can’t help myself – I love to see the face of a woman enjoying herself. This position is perfect for that, as the receiving partner will prop herself up with a few pillows so she’s got a good angle to observe from.

Even if you’re not into watching, this position is great because the arched position of the back leads to stronger, greater orgasms – it’s science!


7. The Spoon

Spoons

This has been a personal favorite of mine for a very long time, because it offers the warmth and closeness of cuddling with the undeniable pleasure of… Well, getting laid! While you’re spooning your girlfriend, the “big spoon” will simply reach around to the front and start fondling and caressing as she desires.

If you want to spice it up even further, you can get a toy involved in the action – once the “little spoon” is nice and wet, the “big spoon” can scoot back a touch and slide in her favorite toy. This might be easier if the “little spoon” pivots her hips a bit to put her bum into the air. For those who enjoy deep penetration, the pleasure you get from this particular position is incredible.


6. Above Below

 

This happens to be one of my personal favorites, and for good reason. It’s different enough to add excitement without being difficult – and it definitely has potential to turn into a super sexy experience.

One partner should be lying on her stomach. Optionally, she can position a pillow underneath her hips and rub herself against it as she becomes more aroused. The other partner will lay on top of her so that she can rub up against her partner’s bum – while she offers a helping hand to her lover underneath, of course!

Once you get the hang of this one, you should both be able to climax – maybe even simultaneously! But there are no rules here. The partner on bottom can be stimulated however you desire, and if you’re keen on penetration, it’s especially divine.


5. Skin Deep

Skin deep

This foreplay position is a great when you want to take your partner by surprise. (Please make sure that she is OK with surprise sex first!) The partner who will be seducing the other will come up behind her while she is standing and start caressing in order to warm things up. Of course, this doesn’t have to stay one-sided for very long! Once the receiving partner is thoroughly aroused, she may decide to reach her hand back and stimulate the giver as well.

If your partner is into the idea, you can even consider penetrating her from behind with a strap-on or other toy, although this may be significantly more difficult – experiment and see what works for you!


4. 99

99

For another super simple position that will get the juices flowing, 99 relies on the sexy feeling of your partner’s body pressed against yours while you’re making love. But instead of lying down or standing up, both partners will be on their knees.

You and your partner should be sitting back-to-front, so that you must both reach past the front partner’s hips. It doesn’t matter who is giving, who is receiving, or if you’re both doing both – this position is a great way to tease and tantalize.


3. Face to Face

Face to Face

This is a super sexy position for those among us who like to watch what our partner does to us (but don’t want to miss out on the fun of making her moan). Not only do you get to watch her turn you on, but you also get to watch the faces she makes as she touches you!

You’ll be sitting face to face with your partner, with your legs draped over one another to allow for a better angle. It works easiest if neither of you is “on top” of both legs – this way your vagina will be slightly lifted from the floor or bed (if you will be penetrating). With either a double-ended dildo, two separate dildos, or your hands, go to town – nothing is off limits as long as your partner enjoys it!

Pay special attention to her face during this position, because you might see signs of pleasure you haven’t noticed before. This is great for intimacy and with the right toy it can be a supercharged experience that’s sure to ignite the fire within.


2. Magic Touch

Magic Touch

This one is for the ladies who have major finger skills – since you’ll be stimulating you and your partner simultaneously! The non-giving partner should be lying on her back, with her legs slightly spread. The other partner will climb on top and straddle her vagina. She should be able to use her fingers to rub both clits at the same time.

It’s not for the faint of heart, but with a little practice it will be one of the sexiest forms of “masturbation” in your repertoire. Not only does your partner get to watch you touch yourself, but you’re also directly stimulating her as well – talk about hot!


1. Stand and Deliver

Stand and Deliver

This position doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or any real prerequisites (except that the partner who’s going to be receiving should be able to stand). It’s the ideal position for shower sex, sex against a wall, or maybe even a quickie in the kitchen!

The receiving partner will need to stand in front of the giving partner. She’ll be most comfortable if she’s up against a wall or some other solid surface, but those who are more versed in sex standing up can even do it in the middle of a room.

The giving partner will either sit or kneel in front of her lover and provide whatever type of pleasure she wants – oral, fingering, or a toy even (or any combination). It’s pretty basic, but it can add a fun new level to your intimacy.


There are literally hundreds (if not thousands!) of amazing sex positions out there, and we are always looking out for something new and exciting. If you have something to recommend to us – don’t hesitate to drop it in the comments!

We’ll be keeping our eyes out, too – here’s hoping 2016 brings a wealth of exciting new techniques for you and your lady to master together. Take care of yourselves, and each other!


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Megan Mullally Had No Idea Ellen DeGeneres’ Roommates Were Her Girlfriends

Apparently, Megan Mullally had no idea Ellen DeGeneres’ roommates were her girlfriends.

Will & Grace star Megan Mullally and Ellen DeGeneres have been friends for 30 long years.

While you might think three decades is enough time to learn everything there is to know about someone, these two proved that people are always filled with surprises.

Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Mullally revealed that she naively thought that DeGeneres just had “lots of lovely roommates”, and would often come to visit from her house the street over in Los Angeles.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, that’s nice, Ellen has this lovely roommate … they really seem like they get along great,’ And then, as the years went on, [she] had a lot of really lovely roommates, and I thought, ‘Ellen just gets along so well with people. People are just drawn to her like a magnet.’”

It appears that DeGeneres and her girlfriends would have a lot of laughs at the actor’s expense, who eventually cottoned on.

“I remember you’d be, like, cracking up,” she told DeGeneres, “and I’d be like, ‘Why are they laughing at me?’”

“Really, you didn’t realize I was gay?” DeGeneres asked Mullally.

“I did not, no,” the actress replied.

Watch the full segment below.