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.

Starbucks New Christmas Ad Features This Cute Queer Couple

It ain’t Christmas until Starbucks drops its festive cups.

And this year, they’ve launched an inclusive campaign to run alongside their drinking vessels.

While we’re used to seeing gender/race/sexual diversity in adverts these days, Starbucks has done something slightly different and given lesbians centre stage. ‘The cup is just the beginning,’ their ad begins, before cutting to various scenes of families – including a same-sex couple.

We see a heterosexual couple skiing, a dad lifting his child to put the star on their tree, and at the end of the 30-second “Give Good” clip, an animated interracial lesbian couple looks up at the sky together and draws closer over a steaming coffee mug.

They then hold hands and lean in, as if they’re about to kiss.

“The holidays mean something different to everyone,” the commercial begins, before featuring illustrations of people of many colors, ages, sizes, and sexualities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53EgSWqQOwE

Sadly, right-wing Twitter users, are already upset over the lesbian couple. Far-right posters have long-criticized the coffee chain for its secular take on the holiday season, blaming Starbucks for the “war on Christmas” supposedly happening across the U.S.

They’ve also faced boycotts by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments over their support of gay rights. In fact, Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz has said in the past that he doesn’t want opponents of same-sex marriage buying their coffee or becoming stockholders.

They also have a large Pride Alliance Partner Network group, which is one of the largest resources for LGBT employees in the USA.

Anna Friel Is Set To Star In The Second Series Of ‘The Girlfriend Experience’

Anna Friel is set to star in the second series of The Girlfriend Experience.

Based on the Steven Soderbergh feature film of the same name, The Girlfriend Experience explores the relationships of the most exclusive courtesans who provide their clients with far more than just sex.

In show’s second season, Friel will play Erica Myles, who will star in a parallel story to Anna Greenwald, played by Louisa Krause.

The pair are set to embark on a “complicated” sexual relationship as they become embroiled in the 2018 US elections.

Executive producer Soderbergh said:

Erica and Anna fall into a complicated sexual relationship, marked by an exploration of vulnerability, dominance and submission, which also draws in Erica’s manipulative ex-girlfriend.

The mix of personal instability and career pressure mount and lead Erica down a path, both professionally and personally, that she struggles to control.”

We will have to wait and see what paths the characters go down, but they won’t have to wait long.

Friels said about her character:

Erica was one of the greatest acting challenges of my life thus far, the speed, the haste, the coldness, yet complexity, and having to make her three dimensional.

And understanding American politics, which are beyond complicated.”

The third main character of the show is Bria Jones, played by Carmen Ejogo.

Apparently, All Charli XCX And Rita Ora Want To Do Is ‘Kiss Girls, Girls, Girls’

Charli XCX is following up her hit gay anthem Boys with a much-needed lesbian version – Girls

Just like Halsey and Lauren Jauregui’s proudly bisexual love song, Strangers, this new tune will involve its singer explicitly glorying in sapphic love.

Charli XCX has collaborated on the track with fellow singers Raye and Rita Ora.

In the first verse, Ora sings: ‘I ain’t one sided, I’m open-minded, I’m fifty-fifty and I’m never gonna hide it’

Meanwhile, in the chorus the pair sing: ‘Sometimes I just wanna kiss girls, girls girls, red wine, I just wanna kiss girls.’

In an interview with The Guardian, Ora discussed the lyrics to what could well be Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl for 2017.

In the interview, which claims Girls will be released as a single, Ora said the song is about “having that empowerment of sticking together, etcetera.”

She furthermore added: “The song represents freedom of speech of being able to love whoever you love, no matter what colour, race, sex, size, and being able to celebrate each other as females.”

She added that the song “represents freedom of speech of being able to love whoever you love, no matter what colour, race, sex, size, and being able to celebrate each other as females.”

The pair have previously duetted on the UK top 10 hit Doing It. They performed Girls in May with singer Raye at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSRrqw3d-Wg

 

Grey’s Anatomy Star Sara Ramirez Lands Major Queer Role In Madam Secretary

A year and a half after exiting ABC’s Shonda Rhimes-created Grey’s Anatomy, Sara Ramirez has booked her return to television. The actress and activist has joined the cast of CBS’ fourth-year drama Madam Secretary.

Ramirez announced on Twitter that she will be premiering a new character named Kat Sandoval on Madame Secretary this November.

https://twitter.com/SaraRamirez/status/922842713099329536

According to Entertainment Weekly, Ramirez’s new character is, “a brilliant political strategist, legendary in D.C. for her talent and for abruptly dropping out of politics until Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) manages to coax her back into the State Department.”

The role is Ramirez’s first post-Shondaland part and comes after she spent 10 years playing fan-favorite Dr. Callie Torres, who was part of a groundbreaking gay couple.

Ramirez is best known for starring as Dr. Callie Torres on Grey’s Anatomy for more than a decade, exiting in 2016 at the end of season 12 amid contract negotiations for the main cast members.

Hope for the actress to return to the long-running medical drama seemed to diminish after Ramirez called out ABC over an offensive joke about bisexual people during an episode of The Real O’Neals.

In addition to playing a bisexual character on Grey’s, Ramirez also identifies as bisexual.

We can’t wait to see what Kat Sandoval has in store for us.

 

‘Thunder On The Left’ Premiere New Single ‘National Insecurity’

DIY Heavy Rock three-piece, Thunder On The Left, music has been described as a riff-based melting pot of alternative rock, hip-hop, and progressive rock.

Fronted be queer vocalist Carla, the group have been building a solid and loyal following the last couples of years, and this week, they dropped the title track and first single from their anticipated debut studio album, National Insecurity.

National Insecurity is the first track the band have dropped since their debut EP, The Art Of Letting Go, which was released almost two years ago.

Opening with the lyrics, ‘brush your teeth it’s time for bed, are you living are you dead?’, National Insecurity is an ominous and sinister depiction of a dystopian world that the band envisage we are heading towards thanks to society being conditioned to a hyper-dependancy on – and addiction to – technology.

The video sees the lead character (depicted by Carla) suffering from trauma in the opening scene when they suddenly realise they are completely disconnected from reality due to their compulsion and over-reliance on technology.

The scenes un-fold to reveal a character (yes, the guy with lights in his eyes) known as ‘Dystopia’; who is seen entering from the background of the living room and represents a looming stalker-like presence, symbolising the rapid take-over of the character’s sense of freedom from technology they are surrounded by.

The single cover (designed by band artist collaborator, Christopher Allen) features a further statement of a burning mobile phone, something that for Thunder On The Left epitomises the perfect form of rebellion, and the key to remaining mindful in this ever distracted society.

The band embrace this in their music further, having been seen to write on their hands at live shows the words ‘present’ on one hand, and ‘distracted’ on the other – something they feel represents the eternal modern day struggle in the ‘always online’ culture we live in.

Leading CEO Says Coming Out Made Her A Better Boss

As an openly bisexual CEO in financial services, Inga Beale is now seen as one of the world’s most powerful and prominent bosses.

In 2014, she become the first female CEO at insurer Lloyd’s of London and has also been one of the most high-profile executives to come out as part of the LGBT+ community.

Her own personal experience transformed the way she works and the employees around her—and fostered a working environment that it is fit for a new generation of workers.

I think it shows visibly in an individual when they can be much more confident in themselves, and that has a positive impact on others because they tend to engage more in all types of conversations and not try to hide or say the wrong things or fall into a trap about mentioning something about their personal life.”

In the past few years, Beale has made waves by transforming a conservative institution, as well as the wider industry, into a more inclusive and welcoming environment.

She was named to the UK Government’s 2017 New Year’s Honors list, for her contribution to the economy and her support of diversity. And, for another year in a row, she was named one of the top 10 LGBT+ executives in the world by OUTstanding.

Any person that comes out as a role model in a senior position can only do good things because it encourages other people to start talking. Certainly in the financial services industry, people are taking it seriously and we’ve got a lot of momentum in giving visibility in the LGBT+ community. We’ve got a gathering of very senior insurance, out LGBT+ leaders now—we’ve formed an informal group to discuss the topics.

We’ve got connections because we’re really senior. So if we see any conference going on or an event that doesn’t have a LGBT+ focus, or it’s stuck in the past somehow or not very inclusive, we’re actually able to influence that…This makes a difference for inclusion in the workplace.”

The more conversations had by others, including allies, Beale said, “it makes it safer to be out and drive overall inclusiveness, beyond sexuality.” 

It’s also about fostering a more-inclusive working environment for the next generation.

While it seems Beale has the right formula for creating greater inclusiveness, she also highlighted how the LGBT+ community needs to keep looking within itself: “They’re not necessarily inclusive themselves about the ‘Ts’ and the ‘Bs,’ it’s a difficult topic but at least the conversations are happening now and I think that’s a start.”

None of us are experts. When I think about myself, I’m labelled as bisexual but I don’t even understand how I ended up in this place, with this label. I just know who I am. I don’t feel qualified to have some scientific or psychological discussion about it. I’m just me and I know who I am.

I’m loving that trans people these days are actually being the focus of attention now. One of the students…is a trans woman and she said she’s liking that the attention is on her right now. And the more we have role models like that, the more it’s going to impact the whole conversation and make everyone feel more comfortable.”

Demi Lovato Confirms Her Sexuality In ‘Simply Complicated’ Documentary

Since its debut earlier this month, Demi Lovato’s YouTube documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated has generated over 7 million views across 195 countries.

In the documentary, Lovato is open about some intimate details and experiences of her life, including her history of addiction, bipolar disorder, and self harm. The singer has been clean for the last five years.

However, one aspect of the singer’s personal life that has suffered from severe scrutiny over the years is her sexuality.

Much of the speculation dates back to that steamy Cool For the Summer release. Certain lyrics — allusions to her being “curious,” and “tasting the cherry,” and being taken “down into paradise” — had many wondering if she was singing about sexual experiences with women rather than men.

At the time, Lovato played coy about her sexuality.  In a September 2015 interview with Alan Carr, she was asked about the lesbian insinuations of the song. Her reply was vague.

“I’m not confirming and I’m definitely not denying. All of my songs are based off of personal experiences. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with experimentation at all.”

A year later, the singer was asked about her sexuality again, this time in an issue of People.

It’s something I don’t think needs to have a label. As humans, it’s just about a connection with someone.”

However, now she’s decided to acknowledge her love for both men and women on her own terms.

In the documentary, she explains:

I am on a dating app with both guys and girls. I am open to human connection, so whether that’s through a male or a female, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Last month, when asked about her sexuality, the singer took to Twitter to clear the air, tweeting: “Just because I’m refuse to label myself for the sake of a headline doesn’t mean I’m not going to stand up for what I believe in.”

The inquiry came on the heels of Lovato spotted holding hands with DJ Lauren Abedini at Disneyland. 

She later told Pride Source magazine, 

Watch the full interview video below;

Hayley Kiyoko Stars in Her Own Queer Love Story In New Music Video

In the video for her new single, Feelings, Hayley Kiyoko dances her way into the heart (or at least grabs the attention) of a woman she meets while out on the town one night with her friends.

Kiyoko, who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community, has regularly infused queer themes and subject matter in her music and videos since she burst onto the scene two years ago with the hit Girls Like Girls.

Last year she released a clip for the song One Bad Night featuring trans YouTube star Erin Armstrong.

Talking about the video, Kiyoko explained

Feelings is super special to me because I think a lot of people can relate to the emotions that are brought on by being completely hooked on someone. I wanted to write an anthem celebrating these feelings, as opposed to suppressing them like society often makes people do in today’s dating scene.”

We have feelings, we get involved, and sometimes we can’t control it. After all, we’re human. I am thrilled about this release and excited for everyone to get the first taste of what’s to come from my album next year, not to mention I had a blast shooting and directing this video, which was all done in one take – something I’ve never done before.”

Feelings is the first single from Kiyoko’s upcoming debut album.

For more information on Kiyoko, visit her official website.

LGBT Rights Activists Welcome NHS Questioning Of Patients Over Sexuality

This week, it was announced that UK doctors will now ask patients about their sexual orientation.

In England, NHS patients will be asked about their sexuality under new guidelines designed to ensure lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people aren’t discriminated against.

The new guidelines, which are expected to be implemented across England by 2019, recommend that doctors, nurses and other health professionals ask about sexual orientation during “every face to face contact with the patient, where no record of this data already exists.”

People who identity as LGB can face different health risks from people who identify as heterosexual.

According to the LGBT Foundation, it’s thought that LGB people are at significantly higher risk of mental health problems, suicidal thoughts and deliberate self-harm than heterosexual people.

Patients are free to decline to answer, and in these cases their sexuality will be listed as ‘Not Stated’.

An NHS spokesperson explained;

All health bodies and local authorities with responsibility for adult social care are required under the Equality Act to ensure that no patient is discriminated against. This information standard is designed to help NHS bodies be compliant with the law by collecting, only where relevant, personal details of patients such as race, sex and sexual orientation. They do not have to do it in every area, people do not have to answer the questions and it will have no impact on the care they receive.”

The new guidelines have been welcomed by LGBT charity Stonewall, who also urged NHS England to extend them to trans and non-binary patients.

We have been calling for sexual orientation to be considered as other protected characteristics for over a decade. This move will also help health services gather evidence on and understand the needs of LGB people. We’d also like to see NHS England introduce similar gender identity monitoring for trans and non-binary patients where appropriate. We look forward to working with NHS England on these issues in the future.”

‘The L Word’ Creator Ilene Chaiken Says The New Reboot Will Be More ‘Inclusive’ Than Original Show

Early this year, Showtime surprised us with news that The L Word was back for a new season.

Now, the shows creator Ilene Chaiken says the sequel to Showtime’s lesbian drama will be more inclusive than the original.

Speaking to TV Guide, Chaiken discussed what fans can expect in the new show.

It’s 10 years hence since we stopped doing The L Word, so the world will be different in all the ways that the world is different now. We’ve made progress, we’ve backslid in some ways, we’ve gotten older, some of us, and there are new young women whose stories we’re going to tell. But I will say that The L Word in 2018 will be more reflective, more inclusive than the original show we did.”

While Jennifer Beals, Kate Moenning and Leisha Hailey are expected to reprise their characters in the new show, Erin Daniels, who played Dana Fairbanks, has yet to announce whether she’ll appear in the reboot.

Chaiken said that she’s hoping Daniels will join the cast.

I hope we’ll be seeing Erin Daniels on the show. I love Erin Daniels, and maybe there’s some way – who knows. I’ve never let go of Dana and neither has the audience – maybe we will [see her].”

Coronation Street’s New Lesbian Story Line Revealed In Explosive Trailer

Ever since Faye Brookes teased that there was a surprise romance on Coronation Street for her character Kate Connor – which would seemingly involve someone already established in the soap – speculation has been rife as to who it could be.

Now a new autumn trailer for the UK’s long running soap, reveals a love-stricken Rana Nazir confronting Kate about her feelings for her.

The teaser of what’s to come shows Rana pleading to her crush: “Do you feel the same about me as I do about you?”

As a shocked Kate is flustered and says that they can’t be together, will she see her mate in a new light and potentially develop feelings back? Or will she shut this down before it goes any further?

The tension between Kate and Rana has been growing for weeks – especially when Kate started dating newcomer Imogen.

Rana doesn’t handle it very well, with Kate accusing her of being homophobic, but the truth is now out there, so what will we happen now?

Lena Waithe Wants To Create A Primetime Show Where Lead Is Black, Queer And Female

Earlier this month, Lena Waithe became the first black woman to win the Emmy for Comedy Writing.

Following that epic win, she says she now plans to make a primetime show that focuses on a black, queer woman.

Talking to The Daily Beast, she explained.

We do still have a way to go. I want to create a show where a black gay woman is the lead, where she is the protagonist, she is the person whom we are following.

That is still yet to be done. I have faith. I hope we can make it happen, we still don’t have that. We don’t have a show where a queer brown male person is the lead.”

Waithe went on to explain that black woman such as Laverne Cox are helping to pave the way to her dream.

I think Doubt with Laverne Cox was a huge leap forward. Unfortunately, it was short-lived but it was still a notch on our belt. I think we need more of that. The world is ready. They are. Let my episode be an example. They’re ready for it.”

Waithe added that she’s sure she will have to do some “heavy lifting” to create something “a network can get behind” but hopefully it’ll make way for more diverse shows that celebrate people of colour and queer culture.

She added that she has already “writing something” but wouldn’t give a clue as to what the character, plot or setting would be.

All that stuff I can’t say. I’ll just say things are looking good and people should stay tuned.”

What Is It Like To Grow Up Without The Rigid Gender Roles (Video)

In Vice’s newest documentary Raised Without Gender, host Amelia Abraham goes to Sweden – the world’s most forward thinking country when it comes to questioning gender – to find out what it’s like to grow up without the gender binary.

The documentary comes at a time when transgender issues are at the forefront of liberation debate across the world and more young people than ever before are defining as something other than simply “male” or “female.”

In Sweden, the gender neutral pronoun “hen” has been in the national dictionary since 2015 and is now commonly used by most Swedes, the Swedish government’s school plan has since 1998 forbidden enforcing gender stereotypes, and government funded gender neutral kindergartens with gender aware teachers has made it possible for families to raise their children without a set gender identity, something that often sparks controversy in the foreign press.

In the film, Abraham spends time with one of these gender non-conforming families, mapa (mom and dad) Del LaGrace Volcano who was born intersex (both male and female), the children Mika (5) and Nico (3) and their grandma Margareta.

She visits Mika and Nico’s gender aware kindergarten to find out what the teachers and the other kids make of Mika’s gender expression.

She also meets the founder of Sweden’s gender-neutral kindergartens, Lotta Rajalin, to learn how they go about deleting gender norms from education, as well as psychiatrist Dr Eberhard who is against Sweden’s attitude to gender in kindergartens.

This 13-Year-Old’s Film Imagines A World In Which Gender Roles Are Reversed

13-year-old Ella Fields wrote, directed and edited this short film that switches gender stereotypes as a means for commenting on their arbitrary assignments.

Talking to HuffPost, the ninth grader, who is also an Outspeak Partner, explained

I mainly just wanted to raise awareness of how stereotypes are meaningless. Girls can do anything boys can do, and boys can do anything we can, too.”

In Fields’ film, boys are the only ones who are supposed to wear dresses and girls are forbidden from participating in musical theatre, both things the female protagonist yearns to do.

Watch the shot film below

Did Miley Cyrus’ Ex-Girlfriend Stella Maxwell Inspire New Love Song?

Before rekindling her romance with Liam Hemsworth, the pansexual pop star Miley Cyrus was in a low-profile relationship with Kristen Stewart’s current girlfriend, Stella Maxwell.

Now, two years after their breakup, Cyrus is let out a subtle hint as to why the summer fling with the Victoria’s Secret model ended.

Over the last week, the singer has been teasing her new tracks from Younger Now, on social media, and in a 15-second clip released, the singer sings about a woman’s inability to fall for another girl while still in love with her ex-boyfriend

Many are now speculating the track was inspired by her romance with Maxwell.

Without hearing the full version, it’s hard to decrypt if She’s Not Him is about Maxwell – or if it’s suggesting the love interest’s gender factors into the equation.

 

Miley previously opened up about her new album to Billboard magazine and revealed that a lot of her music was inspired by Hemsworth.

Lyrics such as “It’s a brand new start, a dream come true, in Malibu,” in her first single Malibu are clearly a nod to her relationship with the Australian actor.

However, while fans are just getting their first taste of the songs, Cyrus says she is already over the album.

She told BBC Radio 1

I’m already working on the next one. I’m already two songs deep on the next one. I’m over this now. I want to figure out what I want to do next. Hopefully, I can take some time — chill with the dogs, hang with the pigs a little bit more, take some time off. But just keep writing.”

 

The London Queer Fashion Show Redefines Gender Rules

Last week, queer designers, fashion influencers and over 300 guests gathered at Hackney Showroom for London’s first ever Queer Fashion Show.

Introduced by transgender model and activist Munroe Bergdorf – who was recently fired by L’Oreal for her comments on race – the event saw seven of London’s most exciting LGBTQ+ designers showcasing their collections with clothing that expressed the most radical of identities.

Gone were the obvious separations some see in shows between the young brands and the established. All designers stood on equal ground and wowed the crowd.

From unexpected pairings of latex and cotton in Akvile Jancauskaite’s collection; to the beautiful, twisted and dark fantasy created by Ingrid Kraftchenko.

Then there was Jack Goode’s combination of classic tailoring and clubkid sensibility; and Emily Witham’s use of pattern manipulation and showmanship.

Ben Copperwheat was also on hand to deliver a collection of colourful and vibrant pieces, alongside Halina Edwards whose work focused on intricate patchworking and material manipulation.

And finally, the tailored display by Thomas Thomas, who make vintage-inspired British suits for women.

Beyond the clothing, the energy at the event came from the models; the most eclectic, diverse representation of identities.

All races, all genders, sexualities, body types and ages were carrying the collections down the runway. Each time a model took the stage, the crowds responded to seeing an individual that represented their own identity & community with cries and shouts of support. This show was real, raw and representative.

CEO of London Queer Fashion Show, Robyn Exton, ended the event with a call out to attendees, asking those who want to stand together, who want to be represented, visible and present in the queer fashion community to step forward and join the LQFS movement.

Share brands, models and partners for the next event with them to continue building the most diverse fashion show in London.

London Queer Fashion Show will return in February 2018.

 

Ellen: Trump Is Not Welcome On My Show Because He’s Dangerous To Gay People

As we al know, Ellen DeGeneres regularly hosted President Obama and his wife Michelle on her show during their time in office.

She has even hosted figures from across party lines – including John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

But TV host has admitted there is one guest who will never be welcome on her show – the current President of the United States, Donald Trump.

This week, Megyn Kelly sat down with DeGeneres to discuss her new NBC News show.

Ellen asked Kelly if she would ever invite President Donald Trump on her show.

“Definitely,” Kelly responded. “I mean, I would not say no to the sitting president of the United States.”

“Really?” Ellen responded, a bit surprised.

“Absolutely not. Would you?” Kelly asked.

“Yeah,” DeGeneres said, without a second thought, to huge cheers and applause. “I would not have him on the show.”

DeGeneres continued;

He is who he is and he gets enough attention and he has his Twitter account and he has ways to get his message across. There’s nothing I’m going to say to him that’s going to change him and I don’t want to give him a platform, because it just validates him.

And for me to have someone on the show, I have to at least admire them in some way. And I can’t have someone that I feel is not only dangerous – for the country, and for me personally as a gay woman – but to the world. He’s dividing all of us. I just don’t want him on the show.”

Watch the segment below;

Watch Sarah Paulson Get Pranked Big Time By Ellen DeGeneres

Actress Sarah Paulson has delivered plenty of scares on American Horror Story, but when she visited Ellen DeGeneres, this week it was her turn to get frightened.

While chatting with DeGeneres, the actress talked about how series co-creator Ryan Murphy based some of the scary elements of Season 7, Cult, on Paulson’s real-life fears, one of those being clowns.

Oh, but Ellen was already prepared.

On the show, the host prank-scared Paulson not once, not twice, but three times, with a final scary clown popping out and sending the actress hiding under the coffee table.

Watch and enjoy below

https://www.facebook.com/ellentv/videos/10155969405167240/

Here Are The Queerest Moments From This Year’s Emmys

Among the biggest winners at the 2017 Emmy Awards: LGBTQ stories and storytellers.

We’ve put together the top rainbow moments of the 2017 Emmys just for you:

Lena Whaithe made her-story

This year’s Emmy Awards were full of historical moments, including Lena Waithe’s incredible and well-deserved win.

At the award show, the Master of None actress became the first black woman to win an award for comedy writing for the show’s Thanksgiving episode, which she cowrote with Aziz Ansari.

Black Mirror’s San Junipero proved queer stories do work

San Junipero broke with Black Mirror’s usually-bleak depiction of technology and the future, with a notably upbeat and heart-warming love story between two women.

The acclaimed episode, which was near-universally acclaimed, picked up an Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

Charlie Brooker, who wrote the episode himself, also picked up the award for Outstanding Writing for a TV Movie.

The episode starred Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis as lovers Kelly and Yorkie.

Kate McKinnon showed the world she’s a comedy goddess

Kate McKinnon was one of the early winners of the evening Sunday, beating a field that included some of her Saturday Night Live colleagues to take home the award for supporting actress in a comedy series.

The first openly lesbian cast member of the sketch comedy show, McKinnon made her mark this season with portrayals of Hillary Clinton, Jeff Sessions, Kellyanne Conway, Betsy DeVos and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

‘Gender traitor’ Alexis Bledel is recognized

Picking up her award at last week’s pre-show Emmy’s, Alexis Bledel won the outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her haunting performance as Ofglen, in the dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale.

It was her first Emmy win.

RuPaul played a living Emmy statue

During the telecast, host Stephen Colbert sat down for an interview with the Emmy statue herself, a golden-winged woman played by RuPaul, TV’s most famous drag queen.
RuPaul was a winner this year too, nabbing the award for host of a reality or reality-competition series for the second consecutive year at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend.

Samira Wiley looked way to cute with her wife, Lauren Morelli

Wiley and her wife, Orange is the New Black writer, Lauren Morelli stole everyone’s hearts with how cute they were on the red carpet and during the ceremony.

Wiley was nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale.

But she was pipped at the post by her co-star, Ann Dowd.

The Cast of 9 to 5 Reunited at the Emmys to Blast Donald Trump

Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda reunited to present at the award ceremony, and used it as an opportunity to tear down Donald Trump

‘Polite’ Prejudice In Same-Sex Marriage Debate Is Still Prejudice, Says Labor Senate Leader

Last week, the Australian government voted on a bill that will ban vilification and intimidation against LGBTI people during the government’s same-sex marriage survey.

Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, gave a strong speech and pointed out that although “sometimes prejudice comes in very polite forms” it still causes hurt.

I’m often reminded of that in this debate. Sometimes prejudice comes in very polite forms. Sometimes a lack of acceptance and disrespect comes with a great deal of courtesy. But it lands nevertheless.”

https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFeedOzPol/videos/502622766740118/

Over the course of the equal marriage marriage debate, misleading TV advertisements, homophobic letter campaigns, and vile posters found around the country.

Wong insisted a flawed process cannot be fixed and directly addressed the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, saying he is not absolved from responsibility for hate speech during the survey period.

Voting is now underway on equal marriage in Australia, with the first ballots mailed out last week.

Turnbull opted to put the issue of same-sex marriage to the people in a contentious and controversial public vote.

The public vote, which is non-binding and advisory in nature, has no legal power – but the result will likely be taken into consideration by the country’s lawmakers.

Ballots will continue to be sent out to registered voters in the coming days and weeks.

The ballot paper will read: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”

Polling shows that the Yes campaign has a healthy lead in the vote.

The deadline for the return of ballots is November 7, giving a voting period of nearly two months.

The result of the ballot will be announced at the end of November.

Lena Whaithe Makes History At The Emmys

Lena Whaithe became the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing alongside Aziz Ansari for their Thanksgiving episode of Master of None — she’s also the first black woman to ever be nominated for the award.

Thanksgiving follows Ansari and Waithe’s characters over decades as she comes out to her family and they gradually accept her.

Waithe also managed to make a heartfelt speech dedicated to the LGBTI community.

My LGBTQIA family, I see each and every one of you. The things that make us different — those are our superpowers. Every day when you walk out the door throw on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world, because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it.

And for everybody out there that showed us so much love for this episode, thank you for embracing a little Indian boy from South Carolina and a queer black girl from the heart of Chicago. We appreciate it more than you could ever know.’

In the press room, Waithe told reporters that her wish is for this historic win to embolden those in positions of power to offer opportunities to a more diverse pool of writers.

I hope it will open up people’s eyes to give women of color a seat at the table so they can tell their stories.”

It echoed comments she made in August while talking about her Emmy nomination during a GLAAD panel.

Waithe said it speaks to the fact the industry is progressing — but added that there’s still a long way to go, and mentorship is a big part of that evolution.

We still have a lot of work to do and I’m fighting to make sure that happens. I’m definitely really involved in mentorship … because the only way it’s going to actually change is for us to not just sort of talk about it, but to look people in the eye who say, ‘I want to be a writer,’ and go, ‘Okay, great. Give me your script. Let me take a look at it. Here’s how you can make it better,’ because, again, it’s a matter of greatness. It’s, like, you have to be great to get in there. I’m still striving for greatness, but I think the biggest thing is to make sure that people of color have some guidance and some mentorship to help them get to that place. Otherwise, they don’t get in those rooms. Or they get in the rooms and they fail. That’s problematic. So I’m just sort of actively trying to help make sure people have opportunities.”

Kate McKinnon Continues To Dominate The Emmys With Second Big Win

For her outstanding work on Saturday Night Live playing Hilary Clinton during an election year, Kate McKinnon was recognised with her second Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series.

Being part of this season of Saturday Night Live is the most meaningful thing I will ever do. Congratulations to our incredible cast,”

During her acceptance speech, she also took a moment to specifically thank the former presidential candidate.

On a very personal note I want to thank Hilary Clinton for her grace.”

McKinnon – who is Saturday Night Live‘s first openly gay female cast member – back-to-back wins also makes Emmys history for S.N.L., which has actually seen very few of its regular players nominated (let alone win).

Black Mirror’s Lesbian Love Story ‘San Junipero’ Wins Two Emmy Awards

Netflix’s sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror took two awards at last night’s Emmys, with show creator Charlie Brooker winning both Outstanding Television Movie and an Outstanding Writing award for the episode San Junipero.

The winning episode, San Junipero, was a stark departure from the show’s usual blend of sci-fi and horror.

Starring Mackenzie Davis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the episode was hailed as a classic immediately for the way that it combines Black Mirror’s trademark futuristic vision with a beautifully told love story.

It tells the love story of two women Kelly and Yorkie (Mbatha and Davis), whose realities are not quite what they seem, but whose love is very real.

Brooker told the Emmys audience.

San Junipero was a story about love – and love will defeat hatred, love will win,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSgI3DEAFkk

Though Brooker originally conceived the story with a heterosexual couple, he thought twice about his own assumptions and decided to make his lovers women.

He told EW

I think it gives it an extra resonance, because they couldn’t have legally got married in [the real] 1987, so we’re gifting them that in this world, in this story of second chances. That adds a whole extra subtext about reliving your life and exploring things you didn’t have a chance to do.”

Mbatha-Raw adds

It’s about human beings and love and souls. And it’s not about [sexuality] being a problem. That wasn’t the focus of the story and I think that’s actually really refreshing.”

The upbeat tone also moves the show away from the “dead lesbians” TV trope, where a disproportionate number of lesbian characters are killed off tragically onscreen.

Brooker conceived the happy ending partially to subvert that trope – though technically both characters do die to achieve their idyll.

The Largest Showcase Of UK Queer Designers Is Coming London Fashion Week

This September, London will see its very first Queer Fashion Show.

The event is timed to coincide with the final day of London Fashion Week, and is seen as a way to challenge how the fashion industry has traditionally seen gender and the LGBTQ+ community.

LQFS CEO Robyn Exton (the founder of the HER app), explained

The London Queer Fashion Show is about creating a space for brands that are challenging and expressing how young and queer audiences are already seeing their identity. We’re tired of dealing with the restricting gender norms the fashion industry has been defined by for decades.

Our designers are asking the right, provocative questions; we’re really proud to work with them on creating this event and show London how diverse fashion can truly be.”

Over 50 brands applied to exhibit at the event, and the chosen six reflect some of London’s most exciting designers.

This includes Akvile Jancauskaite who designs ready-to-wear couture with lots of clean lines and 90s inspired block colours.

US-based Ben Copperwheat and his explosions of colour.

Emily Witham creates equally fanciful clothing, with a recent menswear collection based on the Alice in Wonderland universe.

Thomas Thomas is a studio founded by SJ Weston, whose website boasts of “androgynous tailoring”, which she hopes removes the need for anyone to spend hours customising quote-unquote ‘men’s’ clothing, as she did.

Ingrid Kraftchenko is probably the most explicitly political exhibitor, albeit with a playful touch.

Bespoke tailor and London College of Fashion graduate Jack Goode completes the line-up.

On the other side of the curtain, models like Rain Dove and transgender activist Sam Moir Smith will be walking the catwalk and showing off the garms.

The event will be followed by an after party, where Wiggy Workshop will be on hand, bringing with them their glittering collection of hairpieces.

Tickets for the event cost £25 (although fashion show-only or after party-only tickets can be purchased too) and doors open at 6pm.

London Queer Fashion Show comes to Hackney Showroom (Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT) on Wednesday 20 September.

Syd Releases Her ‘Always Never Home’ EP And Announces Tour

Syd Tha Kyd was once a long-time member of the now-defunct hip-hop collective Odd Future, which also featured out R&B artist Frank Ocean.

At the time, OF was seen as a powerhouse of artists and mischievous kids, but at that time many didn’t think Syd would end up venturing off and create her own brand of music.

But she did. She eventually moved onto working on music with her band The Internet and later on, would end up solidifying herself as a solo artist when she released her debut album Fin.

She now she follows it up, albeit very quickly, with her three song EP Always Never Home.

The project includes Bad Dream/No Looking Back as well as Moving Mountains and On The Road. The three songs maintain the same sultry R&B vibe that she provided on the first single and expands on it.

Syd announced shortly after the release, that she’d be taking the new EP on the road with her, both in the United States and Canada before planning some stops in Europe.

Anti-Gay Activists In Australia Claim Equal Marriage ‘Discriminates Against Lesbians’

The Australian Family Association demands that lesbians reject a proposed equal marriage law as it goes to a public vote.

Why?

Well, anti-LGBT lobby is trying to brand the same-sex marriage proposals a ‘transgender marriage’, in a bid to adopt US-style ‘wedge issue’ tactics.

On their newly-launched ‘Transgender Marriage’ website, the group asks: “What does transgender marriage mean for women and lesbians?”

They claim:

Two men identifying as women and in a relationship can be legally married and be recognised as being in a lesbian marriage for the purposes of accessing lesbian only organisations, events and lesbian exclusive spaces.

Is this the sort of ‘equality’ Australians want to impose on women and lesbians?”

Aside from the fact that they seem to think women and lesbians are two different categories of people, the group’s claims are also pure nonsense.

The proposal being voted on includes no issues affecting transgender rights whatsoever. Trans issues are regulated separately to marriage.

The ballot paper will read: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”

But the AFA insisted it would mean that “men socially identifying as women can access women’s shelters and gyms… play in women’s sports, like the AFL women’s competition and the Olympic women’s competition”.

LGBT campaigners have dismissed the claims as “blatant mistruths”.

Though the upcoming vote has nothing to do with transgender issues, the Coalition for Marriage recently launched a TV advert urging people to vote ‘No’ because “[a] school told my son he could wear a dress next year if he felt like it”.

The pro-LGBT Equality Campaign has put out its own ad calling out the scaremongering campaign.

Equality Campaign Executive Director Tiernan Brady said:

The next few weeks must be a campaign of respectful conversations, not angry debates, because this is about real people’s lives and their dignity.

Lesbian and gay people are our family members, friends, neighbours and workmates and we would ask all who take part in our national conversation to remember that.”

Ellen DeGeneres Recalls Her Decision To Come Out

It’s been 20 years since Ellen DeGeneres announced she was gay on national television.

However, in a recent interview with TIME magazine, the now hugely successful TV host, reflected on her coming out, and how a string of homophobic performers nearly ended her career.

DeGeneres told the magazine in a short video clip celebrating her contributions as a woman;

I was warned by my publicist at the time — everybody said, ‘We could destroy this whole show.’ But, you know, it’s my life.”

DeGeneres explained that she wasn’t trying to be political in any way when she decided to share the news.

I wasn’t trying to be an activist. When I did, it just made sense that the character would come out, and it was the greatest thing that happened because it sent me on a different trajectory, and here I am now and there’s no secrets. I’m not ashamed of anything.”

She also admitted that even before coming out, she had a hard time getting accepted in the male-dominated world of stand-up comedy.

DeGeneres also described a moment where she didn’t think she would ever return to comedy;

There was a night in particular that there were two guys on before me and their stuff was very homophobic – slamming women in every kind of way.

And no one knew that I was gay necessarily, it was just a very angry testosterone-filled crowd by the time I got on stage. The entire front row of guys got up and turned their chairs around and faced the audience.

That was a night that I thought I would never do comedy again. And I don’t know where those guys are now, but they didn’t get the Medal of Freedom.”

Last year, DeGeneres received the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in an emotional ceremony for her bravery and contributions to the community.

Ten Years On, Ellen Page Discusses Juno’s Lasting Influence

Back in 2007, the surprise hit of the year was Juno staring Ellen Page.

The movie was about a teenage girl falling pregnant unexpectedly. However, what appeared to be a simple teen rom-com about a high school pregnancy was actually a witty, well-observed character-study about people and relationships.

Ellen Page turned in an Oscar-nominated performance as the leading heroine, and the movie went on to take $231m (£175m) globally.

Not bad consider it was created on a $7m (£5.3m) budget.

Talking at Toronto Film Festival this week, Page commented on the movies legacy.

I felt [the film’s impact] in aspects when we were making it. At that time, a lead teenage girl in a movie even getting to dress like that felt a feat, when I was like ‘I’m wearing this flannel’.”

So I think in terms of that character itself, I felt it could potentially have an impact because it did feel like something new.”

The film sees Juno decide to give birth when she can’t go through with an abortion. She then puts the baby up for adoption.

You hope the film resonates, and even though Juno does approach it with a lot of optimism and generosity, she obviously has a difficult time and difficult emotional experience, which manages to break through all the defence mechanisms.”

It explores abortion, we have a scene in an abortion clinic, and there’s some conversation about that as well, so I hope it allowed to present all the choices and the impact of what that means.”

The actress is current at the Toronto Film Festival promoting her new film, zombie thriller The Cured, which co-stars Irish actor Sam Keeley.

Jane Lynch To Guest Star On ‘Will & Grace’

Jane Lynch has landed a guest-starring role on the Will & Grace revival.

Details of her their role has not been released but production is scheduled to begin this week.

Lynch recently won a Creative Arts Emmy for her role on the web series, Dropping the Soap.

She also hosts the celebrity-filled game show, Hollywood Game Night.

Other stars on board for the reboot include the familiar faces of Harry Connick Jr., Minnie Driver, Andrew Rannells and Bobby Cannavale. Tony Award winner Ben Platt will also guest star.

Will & Grace premieres on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Model Teddy Quinlivan Comes Out As Transgender

If you don’t know who Quinlivan is by name, that’s okay. But we’re sure you’ve seen her a lot over the past year.

She’s walked hundreds of shows, starred in editorials from Vogue to LOVE to InStyle (and dozens more), modeled in the lookbooks of top tier designers like Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs, and worked with just about every photographer, makeup artist, and hair stylist you can imagine.

This week, in a candid CNN interview, the model capped off a busy New York Fashion Week by coming out as transgender

Quinlivan told CNN’s Clive Martin that she began her transition at 16, but decided to open up about her gender identity for the first time publicly because of “the political climate in the world right now ― particularly in the United States.”

Quinlivan said she felt “a great sense of urgency” given a recent spate of anti-trans violence, as well as the various ways in which President Donald Trump’s administration has rolled back rights for transgender Americans.

We made an amazing progression under the Obama administration, and since the new administration took office there’s been a kind of backlash. There’s been violence against transgender people ― particularly transgender women of color ― since before I even knew what transgender was. I’m very fortunate to be in [a] position [that] I never really thought I would be. It’s really important to take advantage of a time like this.”

Quinlivan – who has presented as a cisgender female since her modelling career took off – is also aware that, despite the fashion industry’s increasing acceptance toward people who don’t fit the stereotypical model mold, she may now be referred to as a transgender model, instead of simply a model.

If being transgender is something that gets attached to my name throughout my career, then it’s for a worthy cause. But I look forward to the day when it doesn’t matter. The transgender community needs more visibility. And with more visibility will come more acceptance.”

This week, Quinlivan also posted a short film detailing her transition on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BY_EiXaA-4I/

So far, the response has been positive. Designer Marc Jacobs told CNN that he “respects, admires and supports” Quinlivan for coming out.

Now more than ever it is vital that we pledge our allegiance to the LGBT community and use our voices to encourage and inspire acceptance, equality, understanding and love.”

Quinlivan joins a small but visible lineup of openly transgender models in high-end fashion, including Hari Nef and Andreja Pejić.