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.

Student Suspended By Her School After Asking Her Girlfriend To Prom

A students was punished by her high school after she asked her girlfriend to prom during a school talent show.

After her girlfriend had performed in the talent show at Alabama’s Alexandria High School, Janizia Ross got up on stage and asked her to prom.

But despite her girlfriend saying yes to the prom-posal, Ross was given an in-school suspension, as was another female student who was acting as MC at the show and helped her.

Ashley Fadely, another student at the high school, told AL.com that school officials called the sweet act of public affection a “disruption.”

“I was there when it happened. It was right after her performance. No words were spoken by them. They just got happy, hugged and that was it. If it was a male and a female student, nothing would have been done.”

Writing on Facebook, Ashley said “Literally no amount of punishment was necessary.”

A recent graduate of the school, Nick Wyville, posted publicly on Facebook and wrote to the Superintendent of the Calhoun County Schools to bring attention to the situation.

https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.wyville/posts/1824468867577572

Nick, who is now a sophomore at Harvard College, said that straight couples had previously asked each other to prom – and even to marry each other – with no consequences.

“I write to you to urge the principal of Alexandria High School to drop all charges against the two young girls and to the hosts of the talent show, and any others involved. Federal law and the United State Constitution bars the harassment of LGBT students in public high school.

If the case is made that this was a public display of affection in front of an audience, then there is precedent that contradicts that very action.

When the talent show first unveiled itself, a male proposed to a female, and they faced no consequences. I, along with many others, can stand witness to that.”

Alexandria High Principal Anthony Mack Holley and the Calhoun County Schools Superintendent did not immediately respond to email requests for comment Wednesday evening.

Several current and former students posted on social media about the incident. Fadely said some students have started a movement to boycott prom if the two girls are not allowed to go together.

Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams Opens Up About Getting A New Girlfriend On The Show

Black Lightning’s lesbian superhero just got a new girlfriend – and the actress playing her could not be more excited.

CW’s new show, Black Lightning – which is available on Netflix) – just gifted it’s awesome lesbian superhero a new girlfriend – and the actress playing her could not be more excited.

Played by Nafessa Williams, Anissa Pierce is an out and proud lesbian superhero known as Thunder, who is practically invincible.

In the first few episodes, Anissa came to terms with her newfound abilities – a process which Williams has compared to coming out as a lesbian.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress said her character, who is also a medical student and a teacher at her father’s school, was in a period of “discovery”.

“She begins to struggle with it because she’s learning these things about herself and she’s finding out about how these powers work and where they came from. But it’s one of those things [where she wonders:] am I a freak? Do I share it? Is anyone going to believe me? My parents are overprotective, how are they going to accept it?”

“It’s almost in the mental space you’re at if you’re coming out as a gay or a lesbian to your parents,” she continued. “It’s a parallel like that as well. It’s a secret that she holds onto for a while because she really doesn’t know who to talk to about it and how people are going to react to that.”

After revealing her powers in episode two with her destruction of a sink, the programme chose last week to casually reveal Anissa’s sexuality by showing her in bed with her girlfriend Chenoa.

They kissed, they talked, they argued and they generally acted like a normal couple.

But Anissa’s love life is about to get a whole lot more complicated, it seems.

Grace Choi, played by Pretty Little Liars actress Chantal Thuy, will be introduced as Anissa’s girlfriend at some point in the series.

In the comics, half-Amazonian, Asian-American Grace is bisexual, and there seems to be no reason to doubt she will be in the show as well.

Williams said Anissa and Grace “have a lot in common. If you’re familiar with the comics, they were a group called  The Outsiders.”

And the actress said that Grace would help her character.

“She’s a peace of mind for Anissa. It’s pretty cool to be able to tap into that.”

A black lesbian superhero is a groundbreaking role to play, but Williams dismissed suggestions that it was in any way a strain on her.

“I won’t say that I feel any pressure. I believe love is love.

Taiwan Court Rejects This Couple’s Request To Register Their Marriage

On Thursday, the Taipei High Administrative Court rejected a lesbian couple looking to register their union.

In 2017, a court ruling gave the government two years to approve a marriage equality law, but sadly no legislations has passed yet.

The couple, Jennifer Lu and Chen Ling, are the third same-sex couple to be turned down by the court since October 2017.

They were part of a group of 30 couples who went to the Zhongzheng District office in 2014 to register as married. After the group was turned away, the women were among three couples who filed suit. (The other two cases were dismissed last year.)

In a statement, the court said household registration offices currently don’t have any legal standing to register same-sex marriages.

Last May, the Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling requiring the Legislative Yuan to pass marriage equality legislation within 16 months.

Activists are urging the government to move swiftly to comply.

Activist Chi Chia-wei told the court.

“Society recognizes gay people have the same needs. They are normal people wanting to build normal relations and the law should include them.”

The country of 23.5 million will likely be the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

President Tsai Ing-wen came out in support of marriage equality in 2016, stating, “Every person should be able to look for love freely, and freely seek their own happiness.”

Teen Beaten By Classmates Who Thought She Was A Lesbian

A 15-year-old in India has reportedly been beaten and abused in twisted ways because her attackers suspected she was a lesbian.

According to The News Minute, Reshma (not her real name) went to a covenant school in Karnataka, thousands of miles from her home in Manipur, and was staying in a hostel.

After a rumour spread around the hostel that she was gay, Reshma was allegedly subjected to horrific attacks – which, she said, were fully supported by the hostel authorities.

In one attack, the warden joined the girls in pinning Reshma down and pouring chili powder in her mouth, refusing to let her drink water.

“What if it was another girl and she was actually lesbian? They would have probably killed her.”

Eventually Reshma’s brother, Renjit (not his real name), came from Manipur to investigate.

He told News Minute.

“The warden told me that my sister had tried to sexually assault another girl, which is why the other students had thrashed her. She kept telling me how my sister’s mistake was a ’spiritual’ one. The warden told me that if my sister apologizes, then everything would settle down. But my sister said that she did not want to say sorry because she was the one who had suffered.”

The siblings eventually filed a complaint with India’s Child Rights Commission.

“She is hurt both physically and mentally. She is only a little girl. What did she do to deserve such treatment?”

Authorities are now investigating and believe the warden at Reshma’s hostel might have “intimidated other students.”

Homophobic and transphobic incidents are relatively common in India, where Section 377 still criminalises homosexuality.

The Supreme Court will revisit the law before October, it was announced this week.

‘Black Lightning’ Is Bringing To Life This AWESOME Lesbian Superhero

When The CW debuts Black Lightning on January 16, they’re not just debuting a show about an all-black family of superheroes.

They’re also debuting the first on-screen DC canonical lesbian superhero, who also happens to be a woman of colour.

Black Lightning features the title character as a father to two daughters: Thunder and Lightning. And it’s Thunder, played by 28-year-old Nafessa Williams, who is set to make history.

Thunder, whose real name in the show is Anissa Pierce, is the eldest daughter of the eponymous superhero, Black Lighting, aka Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams).

In the comics, she agrees to a deal with her mother and father. Graduate college; THEN you can become a superhero. While her younger sister, Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain), has powers more in line with Jefferson’s electrical abilities, Anissa is able to increase her body mass while completely reserving her volume.

And there’s even more for LGBT fans to get excited about. Just like in the comics, Thunder’s getting a love interest.

Played by Pretty Little Liars actress Chantal Thuy, the half-Amazonian, Asian-American Grace Choi will feature in the show as Anissa’s girlfriend.

In the comics, Grace is bisexual, and there seems to be no reason to doubt she will be in the show as well.

Another show currently on TV to feature a lesbian superhero is Marvel’s Runaways, in which one of the main characters – Karolina Dean – slowly realises her sexuality.

Last year, Thor: Ragnarok included Valkyrie, a bisexual superhero and woman of colour – though fans were ultimately disappointed with the fact that her sexuality wasn’t made clear on screen.

Marvel also launched a comic led by America Chavez, a queer Latina teenager with lesbian parents.

The comic, called America, prompted an outpouring of support from readers who were overjoyed to finally see an LGBT Latina superhero lead her own comic.

However, Marvel also moved to quash speculation that two warriors in the upcoming film Black Panther will be in a lesbian relationship, sparking outrage and accusations of erasure.

10 Sex Positions To Try That’ll Really Heat Things Up Your 2018

As we’ve raced into 2018 full force and we’re all still recovering from NYE celebrations, it’s high time to start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions. For some of you, that might mean focusing on healthy eating, and for others, that might mean coming up with some spicy new ways to get your freak on. If you’re in the market for a few new sex positions to try in 2018, then you have certainly come to the right place.


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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LGBT+ A-listers Pledge To Fight Against Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

To kick off 2018, women in Hollywood have announced a plan to fight back against sexual harassment and gender inequality in the entertainment industry and beyond.

The campaign was announced through a full-page ad in the New York Times which was a solidarity letter from all 300 women.

The open letter says that the Time’s Up campaign has been launched “for all victims and survivors to be able to access justice and support for the wrongdoing they have endured.”

The letter was inspired by the 700,000 female farmworkers who signed a solidarity letter in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

In this letter, the women state:

“We have similarly suppressed the violence and demeaning harassment for fear that we will be attacked and ruined in the process of speaking. We share your feelings of anger and shame. We harbour fear that no one will believe us, that we will look weak or that we will be dismissed; and we are terrified that we will be fired or never hired again in retaliation.”

Many of the film-stars have since started using their influence on social media as a way of spreading the word about the Time’s Up campaign.

The initiative, per The New York Times, does not have a set leader; instead, it is run largely by volunteers. However, various initiatives that fall under the group’s umbrella have already been announced.

In December, Kathleen Kennedy kicked off the Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace, a Hollywood-centric initiative led by Anita Hill.

Another initiative, 50/50 by 2020, has also been launched, with the goal of tasking networks, agencies, studios, unions, and others to create intersectional gender parity in their leadership by 2020.

There is also a separate commission focused on making sure the movement is fully intersectional and inclusive of women of color and the L.G.B.T.Q. community at large; Emmy winner Lena Waithe is part of that group, per the Times.

Talking to the Times, Waithe explained.

“No one wants to look back and say they stood at the sidelines.”

Meanwhile, Waithe has been vigorously to help get more people involved with the Time’s Up initiative.

https://twitter.com/LenaWaithe/status/947898185858498560

Other Time’s Up members include the actresses Ashley Judd, Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Emma Stone, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon; the showrunner Jill Soloway; Donna Langley, chairwoman of Universal Pictures; the lawyers Nina L. Shaw and Tina Tchen, who served as Michelle Obama’s chief of staff; and Maria Eitel, an expert in corporate responsibility who is co-chairwoman of the Nike Foundation.

Samira Wiley Releases Stunning Picture Of Her Wedding

Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli tied the knot in March last year.

However, to celebrate the passing of the New Year, Wiley shared a beautiful and candid shot of their wedding, which took place in Palm Springs, California.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BddxqHZny4q

The wedding was intimate with the couple’s closest family and friends there. Wiley’s parents, who are co-pastors of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Washington D.C, officiated the ceremony.

The couple were together for three years by the time Morelli proposed.

Lesbian Couple Battle Bulgaria’s Legal System For Recognition Of Their Same-Sex Marriage

Lilia Babulkova and her wife, DK, have become the first queer couple to fight a legal battle for the recognition of their same-sex marriage in Bulgaria.

The couple were married in the UK in 2017, they filed a request to their local government, Sofia Municipality, to change their marital status on their identification cards.

They were soon informed that they will be unable to do so as the Bulgarian Constitution prohibits same-sex marriages.

Now in a bid to have their marriage recognised in their home country, Bubulkova and DK are suing the Municipality.

Babulkova told journalist Miroljuba Benatova on NovaTV.

“We do not want to provoke anyone, nor do we like it, we just want to have our place that is not swept under the carpet.”

The couple’s lawyer Denitsa Lyubenova, who is part of Bulgarian group Youth LGBT Action, hopes to persuade the court by referring to the Code of Private International Law (KMCP), which governs the marriage took place between Bulgarian citizens in a foreign country.

“If these requirements are met, such jurisdiction is established and the marriage in question must be recognized in Bulgaria.”

Under EU law, Lyubenova hopes that the couple can have their marriage recognised on the basis of that legislation dictates that no-one can be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

“In no case can the Member States restrict the rights of their citizens, despite the limitations in national legislation relating to the right to marry same-sex couples.”

Ellen Page Marries Partner Emma Portner

Hurrah, Ellen Page has tied the knot with dance instructor partner Emma Portner over the New Year.

The actress shared the news on Instagram with a series of photographs, including one with their hands touching as they display their wedding rings.

The post was captioned: “Can’t believe I get to call this extraordinary woman my wife.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdgB9Iahwdk

Portner, who is a dancer, also shared the pictures, along with another photo of her kissing Page’s hand while they are hugging.

The two have been posting pictures on social media of themselves together since the spring.

Page told the world that she was a lesbian at a Human Rights Campaign event on Valentine’s Day in February 2014 in a rousing speech which earned her a standing ovation.

The actress subsequently admitted that her decision to be honest about who she is has had immensely positive effect on her life.

Speaking to Diva magazine in September 2017, Page said:

“Everything is different. From one day to the next [after coming out], I felt a happiness and an inner peace which I hadn’t known for years. My life now is overwhelming and I’m glad to be in a position where I can support my community and also help show that you can still play all kinds of roles after you are out.

Things are changing fast and the more people who come out will ultimately help put an end to the idea that coming out destroys your career. We have to make that happen.”

Page admitted she was getting ‘increasingly unhappy’ before coming out and the fact she was hiding who she was had started to impact her work.

The X-Men star also revealed coming out has given her career a boost in the right direction.

She explained:

“Before I had to hide my sexuality and that was making me increasingly unhappy, uncomfortable and anxious. I’m excited and enthusiastic about my work again. It feels the same way it did when I was 15 and beginning my career. It’s such a different feeling to be open about who you are and simply live that way and not have to put on masks and hide your identity. I feel an inner peace now which I hadn’t felt in a very long time.”

Page also admitted she reached a point in her life where her ‘desire’ to come out meant more to her than the any negative impact her sexuality could have had on her Hollywood career.

She said:

“I reached a point where my desire to come out was so great that even if everyone in Hollywood had told me that I’ll never work again, it wouldn’t have made any difference. I didn’t want to hide anymore.”

In late 2017, Ellen recounted a traumatic experience where film producer Brett Ratner outed her as a lesbian on the set of X-Men: The Last Stand when she was only 18 years old.

In a lengthy Facebook post in November, she wrote:

“He looked at a woman standing next to me, ten years my senior, pointed to me and said, “You should f**k her to make her realize she’s gay”. I was a young adult who had not yet come out to myself. I knew I was gay, but did not know, so to speak. I felt violated when this happened. He ‘outed’ me with no regard for my well-being, an act we all recognize as homophobic.”

Page called Ratner’s comments ‘homophobic,’ and she says the feelings of shame lingered.

“This public, aggressive outing left me with long standing feelings of shame, one of the most destructive results of homophobia.”

Page kicked off her acting career by starring in a number of television shows in her native Canada, including Pit Pony and Trailer Park Boys.

Her first film role was in 2005 drama Hard Candy and her big screen breakthrough came when she appeared as the titular character in comedy Juno in 2007, winning her Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

She has gone on to star in  a number of blockbusters, including Inception and the X-Men franchise.

Ellen DeGeneres Fires Back At Eric Trump For ‘Deep State’ Tweet

Ellen DeGeneres made a rare foray into politics this week to take the president’s son down a notch.

During her show, DeGeneres took time out to responded to comments made by Eric Trump on Twitter.

“If you know me at all, you know I don’t pay attention to politics. But unfortunately, politics pay attention to me.”

The host was referring to her unexpected appearance in a recent tweet from Trump Jnr.

https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/948378088899072000

Trump used the fact that Twitter suggested he follow her, along with former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as evidence of the so-called “Deep State.”

Addressing Trump through her monologue, DeGeneres explained to her audience that the “Deep State” is supposed to be a secret group trying to “undermine” the president, she added, “which is ridiculous, because no one has undermined Donald Trump more than Donald Trump.”

“Eric, I just want to say I’m honored that you think I’m powerful enough to be part of a government conspiracy.”

However, she added that even if she wanted to be part of the mission, she is just too busy.

“I’ve got my gay agenda meetings on Mondays, on Wednesday Beyoncé and I host an Illuminati brunch, and then Portia and I on the weekends are desperately trying to have a baby.”

DeGeneres also had some more logical explanations for why Twitter suggested Eric Trump follow her, namely that both of his sisters, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, already follow her on the platform.

 

Sarah Paulson Talks Her Romance With Holland Taylor: “Maybe There’s Something Brave In It”

Many words have been used in regard to Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor’s romance. Now, the actress is sharing a few of her own.

Paulson – who is usually very private about her long-time relationship with the fellow actress, Taylor – has opened up a touch more about her safely guarded personal life – and why it is that way.

In a new interview with NET-A-PORTER’s The EDIT, Paulson revealed she heard the same opinions that the likes of Amber Heard and Ezra Miller have spoken about when it came to their dating choices – that it would hurt her career.

Talking to Town & Country, she explained

“I do not want to be defined by who I share my bed, my home, my soul with. My choices in life have been unconventional, and that’s my business.”

However, she does acknowledge what being public with her private life can do for others watching.

“I do want to live responsibly and truthfully without hiding. It’s complicated, because there is a lot of hate in this world, and a lot of good can come from quote-unquote normalizing something for people who don’t see it as normal. Our relationship represents a certain amount of hope and risk. Maybe there’s something brave in it. Maybe it encourages others to make brave choices.”

As the Golden Globe winner quickly learned, not everyone’s reaction to her relationship would match her’s.

She previously told The EDIT, that she heard the same opinions that the likes of Amber Heard and Ezra Miller have spoken about when it came to their dating choices – that it would hurt her career.

“My life choices are, um, unconventional. I’m with a much older person and people find that totally fascinating and odd, and, to me, it’s the least interesting thing about me. But I do feel a bit unconventional.

Early on, when people found out I was with Holland, some said: ‘I think you have to be careful, I’m afraid it’s going to affect your career negatively’. I was like, what? It never occurred to me at all.”

In fact, Paulson revealed that she even questioned whether she should publicly address her girlfriend during her Emmy’s speech, while accepting the award for her portrayal of Marcia Clarke in The People vs OJ Simpson.

“It occurred to me, should I not do that? And then I thought, why would I not? The fact I’m having this thought is wrong. But I had a moment of societal concern; wondering if, maybe, people who didn’t know that about me would be like, wait, what? But then, you know, I did it anyway.”

 

Lena Waithe’s New TV Show, ‘The Chi’, Makes It’s Debut

Just months after making TV history as the first black queer woman to win an Emmy for best comedy series writing, Lena Waithe is coming out with a new show, The Chi.

Produced with Common, a fellow Chicagoan, Waithe new series tells the story of normal people in her city’s South Side.

Talking to ET, she explained

“I’m really just trying to show people living. I want to show people who are young and black. I want to show what it’s like to have a dream, to have a job, what it’s like to have multiple partners in your life, you know, all those things, and it’s just as simple as that. You know, that’s the weird thing about it: This is normal life.”

The Chi premieres Sunday on Showtime, but the 57-minute pilot already has 828,000 views, thanks to some savvy marketing.

The push is paying off in Twitter praises too.

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

Produced entirely in its namesake city, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centring on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

 

This Lesbian Couple Just Won A Major Legal Battle After Being Told To ‘Pay More Than A Straight Couple’ To Have IVF Treatment

Laura Hineson and Rachel Morgan were told by their local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group they would have to spend £6,000 on six rounds of intrauterine insemination due to unexplained infertility.

However, under Barnsley CCG’s policy, a heterosexual couple with similarly unexplained infertility would not need to undergo the same procedure before being granted access to IVF treatment.

The couple enlisted law firm Leigh Day to look into claims of unlawful direct discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 on the grounds of their sexuality.

The couple’s lawyers had threatened to seek a judicial review if the CCG did not agree to change its policy.

In response, Barnsley CCG conducted a review of the couple’s case – and conceded that it had relied too heavily upon the policy rather than looking at the specific circumstances of Rachel and Laura’s case.

Rosa Curling, solicitor at law firm Leigh Day, said: “It was clear to us that Laura and Rachel had faced direct discrimination due to their sexuality.

We are pleased that the CCG finally recognised this and agreed to review their policy so that other same-sex couples will not face an unfair disadvantage over heterosexual couples in the same situation.”

The couple had attempted to conceive using artificial insemination at home between November 2014 and January 2016. When this proved unsuccessful they were referred to Sheffield Fertility Centre in May 2016.

They underwent three self-funded cycles of IUI treatments at the fertility centre.

This was unsuccessful so they made an Individual Funding Request (IFR), via their consultant, to the CCG to fund the IVF treatment.

This was rejected by the CCG which stated that the couple were required to undergo a further three cycles of self-funded insemination before being eligible for funding for IVF treatment.

Laura and Rachel said:

For us, this is about fighting for LGBT equality. We should have equal access to IVF treatment and a family, irrespective of the gender of the person we fall in love with.”

Australia’s First Same-Sex Wedding Will Happen This Weekend

Lauren Price and Amy Laker from Sydney will be the first same-sex couple to marry in Australia after receiving special permission to tie the knot this Saturday, three weeks before marriage equality takes effect in the rest of the country.

The pair have been waiting for more than two years to marry.

They were given an exemption from the notice period because Ms Price’s family, who live in the UK, would only be able to attend if the wedding took place this week.

The exemption was granted on financial grounds, citing the travel of close relatives.

We went in there and made our case, the officials left the room to make their decision. It was the longest ten minutes of our lives – our hands were so sweaty. When she came back in and said she had good news I just started crying.”

Before Australia’s equal marriage law was passed, the couple had already made plans to get married at the British Consulate under UK law.

After the postal vote, they decided to marry under Australian law instead.

We have been engaged for two years and we have been planning this for a long time, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment wedding. It is a small wedding, we have 65 guests coming – a lot of people are coming from interstate.”

The pair got engaged two years ago on top of the Eiffel Tower.

Rosa Diaz Comes Out As Bisexual, And Stephanie Beatriz Couldn’t Be Happier

Last week, the Fox sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine dropped some big information about one of its characters during its epic 99th episode.

Queer fan favourite and tough-as-nails detective Rosa Diaz revealed that she’s bisexual and dating a woman, an experience made even better by the fact that she’s played by out bisexual actor Stephanie Beatriz, who’s openly advocated for her character’s queerness.

In episode, the notoriously tight-lipped, and emotionally guarded, detective revealed something significant to the ever-inquisitive Charles (Joe Lo Truglio). After he asked her why he heard a woman’s voice on the phone refer to Rosa as “babe,” she tried to throw him off the scent before finally sharing that she is dating a woman and that she is indeed bisexual. She also quickly brushed him off when he tried to be enthusiastic and supportive, only to later apologise, explaining she didn’t think it was anybody’s business and that she didn’t want anything to change. And while it felt therapeutic for the woman who has only let slip little shards of insight into her life — she owns an ax, she studied ballet before being kicked out of school for “beating the crap out of ballerinas,” her idea of a perfect date is “cheap dinner, watch basketball, bone down” — to share this part of herself, she wanted them to return to not talking about this ever again. (Request denied by Charles.)

Talking to Bustle, Beatriz explained;

Coming out is different for everybody. And sometimes, it happens naturally and kind of organically and sometimes, it’s a f-king battle. The images that we’ve been fed, culturally, as a society, about coming out have a tendency to be a lot of extremes, and I think those extremes are real. But I also think that there’s a middle ground that a lot of people I know live in, which is some of their family members were cool with it and didn’t blink an eye, and some of their family don’t even want to discuss it with them again.”

Beatriz said because her character is already an established part of the show, the writers won’t be able to fall back on other tropes that befall bisexual characters, such as being “hypersexualized and sometimes duplicitous.”

We’ve watched [Rosa] open up to her co-workers, get a little bit closer to them, let them in on more stuff that’s happening with her … she’s literally let them into her apartment, you know? So, she’s grown a lot. And I think it was just time for her. There’s all this growth happening around her, and Rosa is seeing that growth happen in her coworkers and internally realizing that she, too, wants toward something that’s really strong and specific in a relationship.”

Rosa’s coming out attracted plenty of fanfare on Twitter. Viewers were overjoyed that a character they loved so much — and a woman of color, no less — was a part of the LGBTQIA community. Beatriz, who is “hugely flattered” by all the positive attention, says she’s proud of how the show chose to tell Rosa’s story, and the boundaries it breaks when it comes to representation.

It’s incredible to be a part of a show in which I get to play a character who is out and bisexual because growing up, I didn’t have that sort of representation. I certainly didn’t have it in a woman of color, much less a Latina, so I myself am thrilled to be a little blip on the LGBTQ radar for people to have a touchstone on a show that they enjoy.”

Most of the television — almost all of the television that we’re used to watching — is all one color. There’s nothing wrong necessarily with a show being all one color, but we need more kinds of people on television and film because there are more kinds of people in the world, and when you set a standard of this is what’s normal… someone who doesn’t have these attributes is watching TV going, ‘I don’t really know where I fit in.’”

Ruby Rose Accuses Prada of Using Her Face Without Her Permission

Ruby Rose has taken to Twitter to confront Prada for using her likeness on a handbag without her permission.

The Orange Is The New Black star claimed that the Italian brand had used a photograph of her on one of their Spring/Summer 2018 handbags.

Rose shared a video of the handbag via Twitter, which features a graphic of a woman with short hair, morphing into a picture of her.

https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/940425868828016640

Rose then went on to share the photo she was referring to, along with the caption, “I’m obviously just super common looking. No big deal.”

https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/940426248924282880

Rose went on to respond to fans on Twitter, stressing that she has no association with the bag or the label. She went on to joke that she was going to go and create a vegan version of the bag for fans.

While it’s a little strange that Prada has decided to use an illustration that looks so much like Ruby Rose in their design, you have to wonder: how many bags have been sold off the back of this mini-controversy?

New LGBTQ-Themed Children’s Book Aims To Foster Acceptance With Lesbian Fairytale

A Kickstarter campaign for an illustrated children’s book, which is aimed at 5 to 10 year olds, had generated nearly $30,000 this week.

What makes this story a fantastic one is that the book is follows the love story of two women.

The Maiden Voyage, will follow a fisherman’s daughter, Ru, who inherits a treasure map from her father and joins the crew of the adventurous Captain Freya. Captain Freya and Ru develop a strong bond on the high seas as they try to escape a gang of pirates, and that bond eventually turns into love.

Maiden Voyage is the follow-up to Promised Land, a children’s book released in February that centres around the love story of a farmer’s son and a prince.

In a statement sent to NBC News, co-author Jaimee Poipoi said

“It’s important for young people to feel included, that they have a place in the world and something they can relate to. If they can identify themselves within a story, that empowers them to be who they are.”

Poipoi said Maiden Voyage was a project he “just could not say no to.” He said he hopes it will lead to “more respectful discussions about what equality is and what it may look like.”

Maiden Voyage is expected to be released in June 2018, just in time for LGBTQ Pride Month.

 

Netflix Casts Ellen Page In New Comic Adaptation Of ‘The Umbrella Academy’

Ellen Page is set to star in Netflix’s upcoming superhero series The Umbrella Academy.

Page is the first to be cast for the adaptation of the Dark Horse Comics novel written by Gerard Way.

The Umbrella Academy follows the story of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. Its estranged members — Spaceboy, The Kraken, The Rumor, The Séance, Number Five, The Horror and The White Violin — will be forced to team up to solve the mystery of their adoptive father’s (Monocle) mysterious death. However, with their clashing personalities and divergent abilities, a teamwork would be a miracle.

The original comic series was critically acclaimed for it’s unique take on superheroes, one that does not showcase them as selfless saints.

According to Variety, Page will play the role of Vanya, the only one of Reginald Hargreeves’ adopted children who has no supernatural abilities. Meek and insecure, the family’s black sheep struggles to find her place in the world.

The 10-episode drama will premiere in 2018, with the pilot script adapted by Jeremy Slater.

‘Barbelle’ Is The Queer Canadian Web Series You Should Be Watching Right Now

Barbelle (on the YouTube channel KindaTV) is a female written, directed, and produced web series featuring a cast of queer characters.

It’s a great acid-tongued comedy set in the Canadian music world of now, which follows the story of a newly famous pop star duo whose meteoric rise to stardom has led to a blitzkrieg on their personal lives.

A kind of rowdy anti-romance love story it is officially described as “A lesbian Spiceworld in Toronto, and a love letter to the Canadian music scene.”

It stars Gwenlyn Cumyn and Karen Knox as Alice and Veronica, respectively, the queer duo and music hit-makers Barbelle.

Things kick off two years into the duo’s fame and hit songs. They announce to their record company that they’re breaking up.

That is, as a couple. They are, however, obliged to continue as a music duo.

It’s one nasty, zinger-filled breakup. Veronica accuses Alice of putting boring stuff on Instagram, ruining their hot brand. Alice accuses Veronica of going on the CBC radio show Q to praise a book she hadn’t even read.

Into this fraught scenario comes Lulu (Cynthia Hicks) a teen star brought in to help the former lovers write new songs.

Karen Knox, who is terrific as Veronica, has called Barbelle “a story that follows two queer pop musicians as they navigate the ups and downs of celebrity in the digital age.”

It’s that, but joyous and flinty in its wicked humour. A total pleasure to snack on.

Gemma Arterton And Adèle Exarchopoulos Romance In French Drama ‘Orpheline’

The film Orpheline – while puzzling at first — stars four actresses (who don’t look alike) playing the same character, Sandra, through multiple stages of her life (the eldest of which is played by Blue is the Warmest Color‘s Adèle Exarchopoulos).

It also stars Gemma Arterton who plays Tara, a convicted bank robber who is adjusting to life on the outside world after seven years behind bars.

Arterton character also ends up as a potential love interest for Sandra.

Directed Arnaud des Pallières, Orpeheline won a positive response after debuting in the Special Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016.

Arterton, who accepted the role after winning wider acclaim for roles in Quantum of Solace and St. Trinian’s, previously expressed her regret at not being more discriminating in her choice of film roles in the past.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she admitted to appearing in some projects that, deep down, weren’t really to her taste – prompting her to consider independent film over mainstream blockbusters.

“Sometimes I’ve not put my foot down, I’ve been like: “Oh, thank you so much for the work! I’d better do it.” Rather than: “No, I don’t want to do that. No one makes films about women who want to run away.”

The actress described her taste in films as ‘quite subversive’, and said her agents had started to understand, now, she would rather star in something smaller, but glorious.

Australians Voted Decisively ‘Yes’ To Same-Sex Marriage In Historic Result

Australia has voted decisively in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.

The postal vote was held to see if there was support to change the law, and more than 60% of Aussies voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Supporters of gay marriage celebrated across Australia after the result was declared.

More than 12.7 million people took part in the eight-week poll, and now the countries Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull says his government would now aim to make it law by Christmas.

The historic vote follows in the footsteps of Ireland by endorsing same-sex marriage in a national vote.

However, the public vote is not legally binding, so both houses still need to pass legislation for it to become legal.

Monday is the first day that a same-sex marriage bill can be tabled in the House of Representatives, which is not sitting this week.

A bill must pass in both houses before it can be signed into law by the Governor-General.

Hardline anti-LGBT MPs within the governing Liberal-National Coalition say they will not be conceding – even if the public gives a strong backing for equality.

Two bills will be proposed to parliament – one by a coalition of same-sex marriage supporters proposing simply to introduce the other measure, and another by a right-wing Senator proposing same-sex marriage, but with various “religious freedoms”.

A recent poll by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation found that 72% of the lower House of Representatives would support changes to marriage laws and in the Senate, 69% would approve the changes.

Laura Bridgeman’s ‘The Butch Monologues’ Is Currently Touring The UK

Over the weekend, we were fortunate to catch The Butch Monologues – a powerful and often humorous collection of secret stories exploring sexuality, vulnerability and desire taken from interviews with butches, masculine women and transmen, living world-wide.

https://vimeo.com/140568404

The Butch Monologues is a collaboration that began back in 2012, between hotpencil press: an independent publishing house co-founded by the writer, Laura Bridgeman; Vital Xposure, a dynamic touring theatre company under the creative leadership of disabled artist, Julie McNamara; and The Drakes, a group of butches, transmen and gender rebels who joined together in the spirit of masculine solidarity.

A changing roster of performers from within The Drakes, some of who have stage experience and some of who do not, performs the stories.

The stories themselves arch from the typical butch/femme dynamic, to exploring what it means to be butch, the vulnerabilities felt, and the struggles for acceptance with in the LGBTQ community, family and the outside world.

The show is currently touring the UK, and for further information please visits the show websites.

Watch Sara Ramirez’s Powerful Speech About Bi Visibility

Actress and activist Sara Ramirez gave a powerful speech about bisexual and pansexual visibility while accepting the Trailblazer Award from the New York LGBT Center.

Ramirez – who appeared for over a decade as Dr. Callie Torres on the television drama Grey’s Anatomy – is set to make her first appearance on Madam Secretary next Sunday as political strategist Kat Sandoval.

 

Senator Says Australian Parliament Will Debate Same-Sex Marriage ‘Within Days’ If Yes Vote Wins

At 10am on Wednesday the Australian public will know the results of the same-sex marriage survey, but there is already growing assumption that the answer will be ‘yes’.

And according to Senator Dean Smith, the Australian Parliament will begin a debate on same-sex marriage “within days” of a Yes vote.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Australians will not tolerate delay.”

Millions of voters have been returning their ballots for weeks in the country’s non-binding postal vote on LGBT rights.

An incredible 78% of eligible Australians have cast their vote.

The vote has no legal basis, however, and will merely inform MPs when the issue is permitted to go before Parliament.

The deadline for returning ballots by post has now passed, meaning voters yet to have their say must return their survey in person.

Voters can deliver forms to drop-off centres run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the organisation running the national same-sex marriage survey.

Drop-off centres are open until 4.30pm across Australia, except Melbourne, which is closed for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

Polls predict that around 60% of the 12 million Australians who have voted have backed the Yes campaign.

The gap between the two campaigns has narrowed in recent weeks, with previous polls putting Yes on as much as 66%.

All public polls conducted since ballots were first issued have shown Yes in the lead, with LGBT activists expected to be victorious when the result is announced on 15 November.

Speaking to Sky News, Tiernan Brady of the Equality Campaign said he believed equality campaigners have “confidently won the argument.

I think the Australian people have seen through it… I think the public have made their mind up.”

However a victory in the national postal ballot might not mean any laws are changed in Australia.

The ballot is only advisory, leaving decisions on whether to change marriage law to Australia’s government.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supports same-sex marriage, but many in his right-wing government are opposed to the move.

Rosie O’Donnell Claims She Knew Whitney Houston Was A Lesbian

Speaking to Andy Cohen this week, Rosie O’Donnell made claims Whitney Houston was part of a secret group of famous lesbians.

She also claims she knew Houston and her personal assistant Robyn Crawford were a couple.

I knew that they were together. I was friends with a lot of very athletic older lesbian women who were in the WNBA – all these basketball playing women.

I knew that, I knew it for a very long time. Everyone sort of knew it.

So I thought it was very surprising when Clive Davis came out and said he never discussed her being gay.

I don’t believe that for one minute.”

Rumours of Houston’s sexuality have circulated for decades, and in the recent docu-film Whitney: Can I Be Me  claimed the singer was bisexual, but not out to the public.

Watch a clip from the show below:

Ellen Page Is The Latest Actress To Speak Out Against Brett Ratner

Hollywood producer Brett Ratner has made headline news this month as six women (including Olivia Munn) have come forward to accuse him of sexual harassment and in some cases, assault. It has come to the point where Gal Gadot has refused to sign on for Wonder Woman’s sequel where she plays the starring role, if the producer isn’t fired from the project.

While multiple women have been coming forward to share their experiences of sexual harassment with the 48-year-old film producer, actress Ellen Page took to her Facebook account to share a different form of harassment that she suffered at the hands of Ratner, explaining how he publicly outed the actress as gay before she was ready when they worked together on X Men in 2006.

In the post, Page describing what she says happened when the cast and crew met before filming started.

She describes how the director pointed at her and told another woman she should sleep with her “to make her realise she’s gay”.

The actress explains that she had not come out to herself at the stage: “I knew I was gay, but did not know, so to speak.”

She says she felt “violated” and that no-one spoke out to defend her.

She describes it as a “public, aggressive outing” that left her feeling ashamed.

Her post also tells how she has been working since she was 10. She says she has met “respectful collaborators” during her career.

But she also talks about abusers who “want you to feel small, to make you insecure, to make you feel like you are indebted to them, or that your actions are to blame for their unwelcome advances”.

She describes another director fondling her leg when she was 16 and telling her to “make the move” on him.

I was sexually assaulted by a grip months later. I was asked by a director to sleep with a man in his late 20s and to tell them about it. I did not.”

She also criticises people in Hollywood who know that people are being harassed and “choose to look the other way”.

Now she says there must be “a long awaited reckoning”.

I want to see these men have to face what they have done. I want them to not have power anymore.

I want them to sit and think about who they are without their lawyers, their millions, their fancy cars, houses upon houses, their ‘playboy’ status and swagger.”

She calls for other people to speak out, saying:

You are breaking the silence. You are the revolution.”

Joachim Trier’s Lesbian New Horror Film ‘Thelma’ Could Win An Oscar For Norway

Lesbian films have a track record of being nominated for Oscars, but never winning.

But now a new Norwegian film Thelma – released this week – is looking like a potential candidate.

Directed by Joachim Trier, the movie tells the story of a college-aged girl who leaves her overprotective parents to go to university in Oslo.

As well as dealing with supernatural unexplained seizures, the film explores Thelma’s coming to terms with her attraction to women while trying to please her conservative Christian parents.

Thelma will be the first lesbian horror film to be nominated for an Oscar if Norway’s submission is successful.

It has already received praise from a number of critics, including Newsweek, which likened the film to the critically acclaimed It Follows.

The film has been described as a coming of age story, with The Verge going so far as to say it is a story about the “terror of growing up”.

Thelma’s conservative parents want to suppress her supernatural powers and fix her seizures, but when she feels attraction toward a fellow female student, her powers begin to grow stronger, with The Verge describing the film as having a “powerful sensuality”.

UN Slams Australia On Same-Sex Marriage Survey

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has blasted Australia’s inadequate protection of human rights, calling for immediate action on the nation’s same-sex marriage and asylum seeker policies.

In a damning report released this week, the 18-member committee recommended urgent legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia, regardless of next week’s voluntary postal survey results.

It also widely criticised Australia’s hard-line stance on refugees as a breach of human rights.

The Committee is concerned about the explicit ban on same-sex marriage in the Marriage Act 1961 that results in discriminatory treatment of same-sex couples, including in matters related to divorce of couples who married overseas.”

While noting that the State party is currently taking a voluntary, non-binding postal survey on the legalisation of same-sex marriage, the Committee is of the view that resort to public opinion polls to facilitate upholding rights under the Covenant in general, and equality and non-discrimination of minority groups in particular, is not an acceptable decision-making method.

Such an approach risks further marginalising and stigmatising members of minority groups.”

The UNCHR states Australia should revise its laws “irrespective of the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey” to ensure “all its laws and policies afford equal protection to LGBTI persons, couples and families”.

Human Rights Law Centre director of legal advocacy Anna Brown echoed the findings, saying

“Australia is drawing international attention for all the wrong reasons. The UN has tonight confirmed what Australian politicians should already know – human rights should not be put to a majority vote. Australia needs to do its job and vote on a bill to deliver equality and dignity for LGBTI couples across the country.”