Innehållsförteckning för October - November 2017 från The Advocate

In August, the Disney Junior show Doc McStuffins featured a family with same-sex parents—a first for a Disney show aimed at preschoolers. In the episode “The Emergency Plan,” Doc—a young girl with magical powers to help toys—assists two doll moms in reuniting with each other and their two children when a toy dragon accidentally causes an earthquake. She then teaches them the importance of emergency preparedness. The moms, an interracial couple, are voiced by out actors Wanda Sykes and Portia de Rossi. In a subtle nod to the LGBT community, all the family members are named after iconic people in LGBT history. The moms are Thea and Edie, after the couple (right) at the heart of U.S. Supreme revoked a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. Their children…

In 2016, there were 27 reported murders of transgender women in this country. TeeTee Dangerfield, who was discovered shot and left for dead during the early hours of July 31, became the sixteenth trans murder victim so far this year. While the actual number of victims is likely higher—authorities and family members don’t always honor a victim’s gender identity—we do know that trans women of color account for a significant majority of those killed. Dangerfield, 32, was discovered in her car with multiple gunshot wounds. After being transported to a local hospital in the Atlanta, Ga. area, she died from her injuries. Police have no suspects and are unaware if she was targeted because of her gender identity. While local LGBT groups are usually the organizations that call attention to…

Duane Cramer has photographed some of the most famous people in the country. From politicians (the Clintons, Maxine Waters), Hollywood stars (Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek), Civil Rights activists (John Lewis, Rev. Jesse Jackson), LGBT icons (RuPaul, Patrik-Ian Polk), musicians (Adam Levine, Mary Wilson of The Supremes), and TV stars (Jussie Smollett of Empire, the Noah’s Arc cast). But he’s also turned his lens to everyday HIV activists, trans advocates, homeless people, and foster kids. Although he’s had a storied career as a photographer, Cramer—who eschews labels and boxes alike—has also been a model, poet, music video director, activist, spokesperson (with Project Runway designer Mondo Guerra for Merck’s Project I-Design), VP of Better World Advertising, and a member of various boards of directors. The 55-year-old—who escorted Vice President Al Gore…

Where society once only recognized homosexuality and heterosexuality, there’s a growing awareness of—and terms for—a much larger, ever-expanding galaxy of sexual orientations. The same can be said for genders: While many only recognized male and female, and masculinity and femininity, we are witnessing an explosion of terms and identities, often coined by those who find “LGBT” too narrow. Many of these other labels have been around for decades or longer, but are only gaining broader attention now. Here’s a short guide to our fabulous new world. Sexuality: Beyond gay, lesbian, or straight. Androsexual: Someone attracted to masculinity, whether in men, women, or others. Asexuality: An orientation characterized by an absence of sexual attraction or desire for partnered sex. Asexuality is different from celibacy. Some asexual people do have sex and/or…

Actress, writer, and singer M.C. Cait Brennan has been around the block. She’s had small parts in films like 1985’s gender-bending teen cult classic Just One of the Guys, PowerUp’s indie lesbian flick Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and Emmy-winning TV shows including Northern Exposure. Her own screenplays have been award-winners, including Dramatis Personae (which she described to Curve magazine as, “Pretty in Pink meets Hedwig and the Angry Inch, or The Way We Were with cock jokes.”) Last year, Brennan released her first album, Debutante, to critical acclaim. Although she jokingly dismissed herself at the time as a “47-year-old trans gal with Parkinson’s who makes basically thinly veiled glam-punk Taylor Swift songs,” the album made numerous best of the year lists, snagged Brennan a recording deal with Warner Bros’ Omnivore…

For three months, writer Maisha Yearwood (above) was held in Bakırköy Prison in Istanbul, Turkey, after being found with nine grams of hashish in her pocket. Guards ended up keeping the out lesbian in a 10-foot cell by herself, fearing she’d be “disruptive” to the other female prisoners. Now, Yearwood has written a brutally honest and poignant one-woman play, 9 Grams, about her experience, putting on full display the ugly truth of what it means to be a targeted black lesbian American traveling and living abroad. Yearwood’s heartfelt, and often humorous, narrative follows her journey from arrest to release, unveiling the layers of emotional strength it took to withstand racism, homophobia, and a less-than sympathetic girlfriend (who broke up with her after Yearwood was released); and the struggle of an…

When Joshua Thomas discovered he was HIV-positive in 2009, he thought the most difficult part of his journey would be coming out to his family. “At that time,” Thomas recalls, “I wasn’t even out to them as being gay, and so I had that to deal with. Then I got diagnosed, and it wasn’t until a year and a half later that I finally told my mom. Since then, everyone’s been super supportive. I had nothing to worry about.” Close friends have also been a huge help. As he says, “They’ve been there through everything.” But despite being surrounded by love and support, Thomas began to experience serious side effects from his medication regimen. He started antiretrovirals nine months after being diagnosed, when his T cell count hovered around 250.…

Donald Trump is in the White House, and Americans badly need a check on power, making the media more important now than ever before. LGBT people continue to gain influence in the media , so picking the top 50 most influential LGBT members of the media is challenging. We’ve only done it once before, in 2014. First, we asked LGBT journalists who they’d pick. As we’ve done in the past, we left the meaning of “influential” open to interpretation. The responses seem to show that journalists value social media influence as much as everyone else does. Only those media figures who are publicly out are eligible for this list, and we’re glad to say that includes more people this time around. And as much as we appreciate our colleagues in…

THE WEEKEND BEFORE we went to press, a white supremacist in Charlottesville, Virginia, killed a woman with his car. Two cops died flying to the scene of Nazi protests, dozens of anti-hate and anti-racism activists were injured, and a nation is reeling—again. It feels more like the summer of 1968 than the fall of 2017. LGBT organizations, including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, The Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, were quick to condemn the violence in Charlottesville—even if Donald Trump was not. Transgender Law Center executive director Kris Hayashi admitted what many of us felt: “Chilled and heartbroken, though unfortunately not surprised, by the white supremacist violence taking place in Charlottesville. The hate driving these racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-LGBT acts…

“Stay Original!” proclaims the signature that ends every Kayvon Zand email, and there is no question about it: The modeling agent and former nightlife impresario is nothing if not distinctive. Zand first moved to New York as a teen, following a year of modeling in Europe, where he was dropped by multiple modeling agencies—ostensibly because of his flamboyant self-expression and use of makeup. In New York, he blurred traditional gender boundaries, painted his face, and wore outlandish costumes. Soon he rose to the status of nightlife icon, on par with the likes of Susanne Bartsch and Ladyfag. Zand became known for throwing extravagant parties like Dorian Gray and Sex Fifth Avenue. After decades devoted to the scene, Zand launched Zandwagon to provide more opportunities for local artists—and young queer models,…

READ A BOOK, NOT YOUR EMAIL Your cortisol levels will reduce, resulting in less stress, allowing you to relax. TRY TO BLOCK OUT CURTAINS Any kind of light tends to jolt our brains into waking up. MEDITATION Calmness is key, and an easy 5-min. daily meditation will help you stay centered. HEALTHY SLEEP GOALS! There’s nothing like an 8-hour respite to make you feel right again, but anywhere between 7 and 9 hours is good. TAKE BREAKS AT WORK Too much stress will trick your brain into hitting overdrive, even hours later. EAT LESS SUGAR That sweet tooth might be keeping you up at night, studies say. NO ELECTRONICS TV and phone screens emit lights that keep your brain awake. Set the DVR for Will & Grace and go to…

What started off as a minor experiment in his dorm room 10 years ago wound up catapulting YouTuber Tyler Oakley into superstardom, turning him from a regular college kid to a celebrity for a new generation. Since launching his YouTube channel while attending Michigan State University, Oakley has become one of the platform’s leading commentators on sexuality and pop culture, with nearly 8 million people subscribing to his channel. What initially inspired you to make videos? To keep in touch with my friends from high school. It was a way to speak directly to them and tell them stories and share my college experiences. What’s it like knowing tons of LGBT kids look up to you? There came a moment a few years into my YouTube career where I realized…

Wonder Woman dominated the box office and the pop culture zeitgeist this summer, but it’s Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (out Oct. 27)that should have LGBT fans excited. The film explores the love affair between Harvard psychologist—and Wonder Woman creator—William Moulton Marston (played by out actor Luke Evans), his wife, Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and the Tufts University student Olive (Bella Heathcote) with whom they enter into a polyamorous relationship. The movie also delves into BDSM, something prevalent in their private lives as well as in the original Wonder Woman comic books (scandalous for the time). If the subject matter and star weren’t enough of an LGBT draw, the film is helmed by a queer cavalcade:Transparent creator Jill Soloway, veteran producer Andrea Sperling (But I’m a Cheerleader), Clare Munn (who…

Reality star Karamo Brown thinks there should be more diversity when it comes to LGBT representation. “Point-blank,” he says, “there is not enough diversity in media.” He wants to see more of “everyone,” and believes the queer community can help make it happen by how they spend their money and which shows they choose to watch. In 2004, Brown made history as the first out gay black man on reality TV when he appeared on The Real World: Philadelphia. He instantly became a role model, simply for providing visibility to gay black men. “I was getting messages that I loved from people,” Brown recalls. “Saying, ‘Oh my gosh, you stopped me from killing myself!’” But, he admits, he didn’t know “how to respond [or] what to do.” In the end,…

in September 2016, 150 unsuspecting audience members filed into a basement at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, Calif. They handed over their phones and signed nondisclosure agreements—measures to protect the secrecy of a new production called Hot Food (or so they were told). Moments later, the curtain rose, and there they were: Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen, standing in Will’s apartment. By sheer coincidence, Will & Grace—NBC’s retired hit sitcom that centered on the friendship between two gay men, a bisexual woman, and an ally—had premiered 19 years prior, to the day. For the audience, however, the series premiere could have been yesterday. Original props from the show were in place—an astounded Eric McCormack later recounted finding note cards, brought to set in 1998 by Donny Osmond, stashed in…

Gay Pornography: Representations of Sexuality and Masculinity (I.B. Tauris), a new book by John Mercer of Britain’s Birmingham City University, suggests the iconography in gay porn, and the ideals that those images represent, are far more nuanced and diverse than they might originally appear. Rather than being one-dimensional, Mercer’s research shows that modern gay adult videos and imagery offer audiences a plurality of masculinities. A professor of gender and sexuality at the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research, Mercer is also coeditor of the Journal of Gender Studies, cofounder of Porn Studies, and an editorial board member for the journals Sexualities and Celebrity Studies. Since moving online, gay porn has experienced an explosion in terms of the amount of content, diversity of material, and the access that viewers have…

The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality (Harrington Park Press), coauthored by travel experts Jeff Guaracino and Ed Salvato, is a practical insider’s guide to the now booming global industry of LGBT-focused travel. If you’ve ever thought about starting your very own lesbian-friendly B&B (or any tourism or hospitality-related business geared toward LGBT folks), then The Handbook is a must-read. Experts in the industry agree: Thomas Roth of Community Marketing & Insights, which has been surveying the LGBT market on thier travel habits for decades, calls the guide “a well-organized manual for any reader, from the doe-eyed newbie to the long-time veteran, to help set and achieve realistic goals.” Bob Witeck, founder and president of Witeck Communications, agrees. “Our human impulse to travel is grounded in curiosity, adventure, and romance—whether…

Trailblazing trans actress Aleshia Brevard died earlier this year at 79. Well known as a Hollywood starlet in the 1960s, Brevard came out in 2001 with her memoir, The Woman I Was Not Born To Be: A Transsexual Journey. She was one of the first women to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the United States. Brevard’s landlord and good friend, Joyce Nordquist, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “She had so many fans… She was trying simply to live as a woman, even to the point of being married to men who never knew her background. I guess they will be surprised when they find out.” In her own words, Brevard always knew she wanted to be the “silver screen’s next bombshell,” even though she was born (in 1937), on a…

As a kid, I never dreamt of my wedding day. I wish I could recall snatches of an imagined wedding dress, or envision a kaleidoscope of rose petals tossed before my feet, viewed from behind my veil—a curtain of tulle making everything dreamlike and gauzy. But I saw none of that. While other girls in my elementary school played house and dreamed of far-off marriages, I pretended I was Cornelius from Planet of the Apes or Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. They were wise, compassionate, and capable, and most of all, loved by the women in their lives—Zira and Dorothy respectively. Growing up in the ‘70s, I had no images in real life or pop culture to define what it was I desired, so I made it up as…

LIFE CAN SEEM like an endless barrage of accolades and reprimands, and we hardly notice how each one propels us from one moment to the next. While the thrill of achievement is fleeting at best, the fallout from a mistake seems like an endless free fall. When it comes to HIV, those who live with the virus often feel as if it’s the ultimate mark against them, forever diminishing future deeds and successes. But this feeling—whether it stems from HIV or any other regrets—is a result of self-induced shame and guilt. To be frank, it is complete and total bullshit. Think about it. A life without mistakes or missteps is not a life at all, or at least not one that sounds very exciting. A life worth mentioning is filled…

Within our nation’s capital lies an invisible scene, where queer and trans youth of color who’ve been dumped by their families (and the system at large) are forced to rely on each other for their own protection. After years of being scrutinized and bullied, a group of young LGBT African-Americans in Washington, D.C. formed a gang called Check It. They’ve since built a reputation of unity—and ruthless vengeance against anyone who dares cross them. Their story is the subject of a new documentary, Check It, now available on all major video-on-demand platforms. A raw, inspiring, and sometimes disturbing depiction of a community we rarely see, the film allows us to fall in love with the ideas of resiliency, family, and above all, courage to become your better self. Executive produced…

When Daniel Newman first appeared on AMC’s The Walking Dead, viewers grew transfixed by his brooding gaze and dazzling red hair. His roles in The Vampire Diaries, Homeland, and Sex and the City made us believe he was another straight cisgender male rising star. Behind the scenes, Newman kept his bisexuality hidden. Growing up in a conservative Southern Georgia household, talking about his sexuality had never been an option. After making the move to Hollywood and instantly landing leading man roles in action movies and romantic comedies, he learned quickly that show business had similar rules. Modeling for Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton early in his career led to guest spots on teenage dramas like 7th Heaven, One Tree Hill, and Heroes, just to name a few. His…

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, by TVLine’s editor in chief, Michael Ausiello, is a raw, candid, and poignant memoir focusing on Ausiello’s 13-year relationship with his late husband Kit Cowan, who was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer and passed away in 2015. The deeply personal book follows the couple’s ups and downs—from their first date and on-going adventures, to Cowan’s harsh chemo treatments. The author’s love for his husband drips from the pages as he draws upon shared memories, including when they decided to go to city hall and get married three days before Cowan started chemo. Ausiello beautifully illustrates what it’s like watching the person you love most slowly succumb to a disease. Through often humorous and quick-witted deliveries, the author packs a punch on…

On July 6 at 8 a.m., Bob Greenblatt read the first script for season two of This Is Us. “It’s spectacular. It’s everything you hoped it would be,” the out chairman of NBC Entertainment raved of the acclaimed drama. Afterward, Greenblatt had a string of meetings with the publicity and marketing departments and the head of Creative Artists Agency, before going to the Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles to see Heisenberg, a play starring Mary-Louise Parker and Denis Arndt. In between, Greenblatt met with The Advocate in his office on the Universal Studios Lot. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, one can spot the Universal Studios amusement park in the distance, the head of an Ultrasaurus lifting into view from Jurassic Park: The Ride. The sunny office’s décor includes a…

HORROR BINGES Just in time for Halloween are two thrillers. Straight (but queer) actor James Franco stars in The Vault as a bank manager who unleashes the forces of evil on two badass female thieves. Meanwhile, the gay writer-director of Disturbia and Paranormal Activity, Christopher Landon (who graced our cover back in 1999), is back with Happy Death Day. The film releases October 13, and is a mystery/thriller starring La La Land’s Jessica Rothe (above) as a young woman reliving her own murder over and over (think Groundhog Day meets the one good season of Scream Queens). NEW RECRUITS WNBA All-Star Sue Bird (left) came out, telling reporters she’s dating soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Plus, both emo/hip hop star Lil Peep pop singer Aaron , of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, came…

In what appears to be a glimmer of hope in America’s current political climate, New York City has made a progressive and revolutionary step toward improving quality health care by introducing the LBGTQ Health Care Bill of Rights. The Advocate spoke with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, NYC’s gay deputy commissioner of Disease Control, for more insight on the Big Apple’s new inclusive health care measure, how it benefits New Yorkers, and whether or not this can be a stepping stone for other cities to follow suit. Does this bill recognize legal rights in New York City? Yes. The LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights includes rights and protections [allowing] anyone seeking health care in New York City, including LGBTQ people, to get the health care they need and deserve. Health care…