Marvel just put out a major casting call for transgender actor to play superhero
Sera
Exciting news from Hollywood: Marvel Studios has put out a casting call for a transgender actor to play an undisclosed superhero role.
News of the casting call drew immediate attention from several high-profile transgender stars. Angelica Ross has expressed her repeated wishes to appear in an MCU movie. Sunday, Ross tweeted, “Ummmm Marvel? They keep asking if I’m joining the family. You want to tell ‘em?”
Details on the role itself remain mum, although reports refer to the character as “Jessica,” and a woman in her 20s or 30s. Noted site Geeks Worldwide issued official speculation that the casting call was for the role of Sera, a warrior sorceress from Thor comics.
That would seem to align with the current MCU slate, which includes Thor: Love and Thunder, a fourth installment in the Thor franchise. Marvel already reported that the character Valkyrie (played by Tessa Thompson) would have a prominent role in the film as the first officially LGBTQ Marvel hero. The last time audiences saw Valkyrie, Thor made her King of Asgard.
Perhaps Sera will be her queen?
Thor: Love and Thunder will hit movie screens in 2021, and feature Oscar-winner Natalie Portman taking on the role of a female Thor.
‘Pose’ Returns to Form (And Its Primary Storylines) [RECAP]
After a few weeks of ambitious (though uneven) storytelling, Pose returned to its central characters and conflicts for a strong seventh installment of its second season.
I’ve spilled enough pixels bemoaning the creative choices of the last few episodes, so let’s focus on the positives: Once again, Pose is telling stories rarely glimpsed on television with a cast that could rival any prestige drama. Expertly written by Janet Mock and directed with extreme care by Jennie Livingston, the episode, “Blow,” made significant narrative gains.
Last night functioned as a something of a reset. The crushing popularity of Madonna’s “Vogue” seems to have waned, and, thus, so has the demand for ballroom culture in the mainstream. Ricky and Damon are depressed about the lack of gigs, and Lulu is still mourning the loss of Candy.
Instead of letting the three youngsters wallow in misery all summer, Blanca and Pray give them a task. They are going to wrap Frederica’s house in a giant condom as part of an ACT UP demonstration. It’s a perfect way to weave several stories together, and it grounds us in such a moment in time in terms of HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy.
Having this project and purpose energizes Damon, Ricky and Lulu. They decide to get a giant inflatable condom made for the task. The installation provides an opportunity for Ricky and Pray to bond a bit. Ricky admits he did cheat on Damon. (He didn’t sleep with other dancer, Chris, but he did let him go down on him.)
Even more important than the reveal is the conversation between Pray and Ricky. I struggle to think of examples wherein two gay black men discuss sexuality so naturally. Pray admonishes him for “bottom shaming,” and, although he was just recently tested, Pray wants him tested again.
It’s a small moment, but on any other show there would be one episode where the characters go for an HIV test. (Remember when Samantha Jones went for one and never again?) This is a huge part of these characters’ lives, and it should be an important part of the show, not the subject of “a very special episode.”
Ricky, Damon, Lulu — along with Blanca, Elektra, Pray and Judy — successfully get the condom on the house, humiliating Frederica and making an impactful statement in the process.
It also helps move along the conflict over Blanca’s salon. Frederica rushed their conflict to court and lost. (I wish we could have watched that courtroom scene rather than Pray’s hallucinations last week that barely reverberated in any meaningful way last night, BUT WHATEVER.) Frederica admits defeat, but is sure to threateningly warn Blanca about leaving late at night. The battle is over, but their war rages.
It’s not all victories, though. Pray takes Ricky to get tested, and Ricky learns he’s positive. There are hints that Ricky and Pray are developing a relationship of some kind, but is it mentor/mentee or something more?
The other major storyline focused on Angel’s blossoming modeling career and relationship with Lil Papi. They’re celebrating Angel booking a new campaign with Bebe. They hit a VIP club and do a little too much VIP cocaine. They also have sex, and, despite being high, it’s one of the most tender scenes the show has ever produced. It’s beautiful.
Unfortunately, Angel shows up hungover for the shoot.
Even more unfortunate? The photographer is the one who took her initial pro photos and tried to extort her.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger. Will Angel’s secret stay safe? How will Frederica get her revenge? What’s happening between Pray and Ricky? Share your theories in the comments!
California Enacts Law Protecting the Health and Safety of People Engaging in Consensual Sex Work
Today, HRC praises the enactment of SB 233 in California, which will protect people engaging in consensual sex work from being arrested when reporting violent crimes. The legislation also disallows the use of condoms as evidence of sex work.
“California has taken an important step in recognizing the dignity of people engaged in consensual sex work, who often face a disproportionate risk of being victims of violent crime,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign. “No person should be put at risk of abuse or fear violence simply for trying to survive. Importantly, this law will enhance public health and safety, especially for people of color, transgender people and those living at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. We’re grateful to Sen. Scott Weiner for his leadership in pushing for this important legislation.”
Eighty percent of street-based sex workers reported experiencing violence, according to one report. Nearly nine in ten transgender people engaging in sex work or suspected of engaging in sex work reported being harassed, attacked, sexually assaulted or mistreated in some other way by police, according to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey. Out of those who were working in the underground economy at the time they took the survey, nearly 41% were physically attacked in the previous year and over one-third were sexually assaulted in that same time.
In many instances, the criminalization of sex work can exacerbate the epidemic of violence targeting the transgender community, particularly transgender women of color. Since 2013, at least 144 transgender people have been killed. These tragic figures underscore the urgent need to decriminalize sex work, bringing workers out of the shadows and closer to critical services and protections.
50 Cent takes his transphobia up 20 notches with this one awful meme
Surprise! 50 Cent is back to his old tired transphobic ways.
The 44-year-old hip hop artist is once again trolling his former G-Unit affiliate Young Buck over Buck’s alleged relationship with a transwoman.
Last week, 50 Cent posted a photo on Instagram of a woman dressed in thigh-high black boots and urinating on the street, along with the caption: “Rare pic of Young bucks old lady LOL.”
The post was shared with 50 Cent’s nearly 24 million Instagram followers, where it received over 325K likes and almost 25K comments.
Last September, a woman by the name of Glamour Purfek claimed she had engaged in a sexual relationship with Young Buck. Buck denied the relationship, but that didn’t stop online trolls from relentlessly mocking him.
Among the trolls was 50 Cent, who posted a since-deleted video to Instagram of a young African man denying to news reporters that he had sex with another gay, along with the caption, “Young Buck explains gay allegations from Africa.”
Understandably, Young Buck didn’t appreciate this, and so a bitter rivalry between the two rappers ensued. Eventually, 50 Cent’s bullying got so out of hand that his fans started joining in.
Last month, a man approached Young Buck inside a grocery store and started harassing him on camera. When Buck asked him to stop filming, the man replied: “What’s up with you and 50? He said you f*ckin’ with tr*nnies. Is that true? Hold on, we about to scrap. Is that true?”
Fred Karger Launches ‘Truth Squad 2020’ Campaign to Ensure Public Knows He Was the First Gay Presidential Candidate
Fred Karger, the gayman and Mormon Church-battler who ran for president as a Republican back in 2012, is launching a ‘Truth Squad 2020’ campaign to “make sure the historic nature of [his] run isn’t erased.” The Hill reports.
Karger wants to ensure that the public knows he, and not Pete Buttigieg, was the first gayman to run for president.
Said Karger: “It seems like every day or two there is a new story and we reach out to the journalist via email, Twitter direct message or phone. If that doesn’t work, we go public seeking a fix … Over the next several months we will be highlighting much of what we did during our 2.5 years of full-time campaigning all over the country.”
Karger told The Hill that he’s a “proud supporter” of Mayor Pete and “doesn’t seek to take away from Buttigieg’s own bid for the presidency.”
Here’s the trailer for a documentary about Karger’s run in 2012.
Starting today, users in Vietnam can download Tinder Lite: the smallest (taking up 25x less space on your phone), fastest (25 percent speedier, btw) and most cost-effective (reducing data use by 20 percent) Tinder experience ever.
Even with these impressive changes under the hood, Tinder Lite is still the Tinder you’ve grown to love. You can discover new people around you, Like or Nope profiles and chat with matches who Like you, too.
More good news: you only need one Tinder account to use both the Tinder and Tinder Lite apps. Just choose which experience you prefer based on their network conditions. And if you’re a Tinder Plus/Gold subscriber, you’ll also be able to access your premium upgrades using Tinder Lite, too.
Tinder Lite can be downloaded from the Google Play Store in Vietnam here.
Additional information about Tinder Lite be found here. Stay tuned for more updates.
TODAY — HRC JOINS DNC AT LGBTQ COMMUNITY BREAKFAST AHEAD OF DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN DETROIT: Representatives from HRC, the DNC and the local Detroit LGBTQ community will discuss priority issues facing LGBTQ people, including fighting discrimination on the federal and state level, preventing HIV and working to end violence against the LGBTQ people — and specifically transwomen of color. More here.
REPORT FROM NYC MEDICAL EXAMINER — TRANSGENDER WOMAN HELD IN SOLITARY AT RIKERS ISLAND DIED DUE TO SEIZURES CAUSED BY EPILEPSY: Says Layleen Polcano’s lawyer in a written statement yesterday, her epilepsy “was well-known to DOC and she suffered multiple seizures on Rikers. On 5/30, a jail doctor approved her placement in punitive segregation, despite her epilepsy. That became her death warrant.” Read more at Gay City News and NY Daily News.
HRC RESPONDS TO TRUMP’S VISIT TO JAMESTOWN,VA.: “Two years after his ‘both sides’ comments about Charlottesville, President Trump and Virginia’s Republican legislative leadership couldn’t be more in sync — both in terms of policy and rhetoric,” said HRC National Press Secretary for Campaigns Lucas Acosta (@LucasRAcosta). “Since then, Trump has tried to divide Virginians with his continued attacks on LGBTQ people, people of color and working families.” More from WTVR.
While many Democrats boycotted the Trump event, Virginia Del. Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) says she chose to attend with Austyn Higgs, a transwoman of color and health care advocate from Richmond, to “have a presence to promote a narrative of inclusion and to counter the ‘vitriol and division’ going on at the national level,” reports the Prince William Times.
WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — GOLFER AND ACTIVIST TADD FUJIKAWA (@TADD_FUJIKAWA) RECEIVES HRC VISIBILITY AWARD: “I know that when I was struggling with my own sexuality and coming to terms with that, seeing other people sharing their truth, being authentic and sharing their story really, really helped me and gave me hope,” Fujikawa told HRC. “It made me feel that I wasn’t alone — and that’s the main reason why I came out. I wanted to do the same thing for others and pass it on.” More from HRC.
Athlete and activist @Tadd_Fujikawa became the first male professional golfer to come out as gay to help others by being visibile. @HRC was honored to present him with the HRC Visibility Award. t.co/rl82J2wFtL
WOMP WOMP! ANTI-LGBTQ VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS TRY, FAIL TO CENSURE ONE OF THEIR OWN FOR OFFICIATING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CEREMONY: The doomed motion had been introduced in the 5th Congressional District Republican Committee to express formal disapproval of Rep. Denver Riggleman’s (R-VA) act for “failing to uphold the Republican Party platform” on same-sex marriage. More from NBC.
LOOKING ACROSS FAITH, A PUSH FOR LGBTQ INCLUSION CONTINUES INSIDE THE CHURCH: More from Jackson, Mississippi’s WLBT.
HRC RESPONDS TO SEPARATION OF CHILDREN FROM PARENTS WITH HIV AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: Said David Stacy (@david_stacy), HRC Director of Government Affairs: “It is illegal under federal law to use HIV status as a bar to entry into the United States and should never be used as a reason to separate families. The cruelty of the Trump-Pence Administration knows no bounds.” More from Washington Blade.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
LESBIAN WOMAN DEPORTED TO UGANDA FACES DIFFICULTIES RETURNING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM: PN, whose full name cannot be disclosed, sought asylum in the U.K. on the basis of her sexual orientation, but was sent back to Uganda. Read more from Independent.
TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER ATTACK ON A TEENAGER LAST WEEK OUTSIDE A TEL AVIV LGBTQ YOUTH HOSTEL: More from The Times of Israel.
LGBTQ CELEBRITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON UK GOVERNMENT TO REFORM GENDER IDENTITY LAWS: Advocates sent a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson noting that the U.K. was “lagging behind” other countries “in terms of legal equality for trans and non-binary people.” More from BBC.
TRANSGENDER ASYLUM SEEKERS TO LOSE LEGAL PROTECTIONS POST-BREXIT: “The protection of trans rights, currently enshrined in E.U. laws and treaties, is set to be dismantled once Britain leaves the union,” writes Maddie Grounds from Immigration Advice Services (@iasimmigration) in an oped. More from Openly.
HORRIBLE — RUSSIA SEPARATES CHILDREN FROM SAME-SEX PARENTS UNDER ‘LGBTQ PROPAGANDA’ LAW: More from LGBTQ Nation.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Outsports reports on openly gay Australian rugby player Simon Dunn (@BySimonDunn) fighting back against anti-LGBTQ online comments; U.S. Soccer announces that Jill Ellis (@USWNT), who led the U.S. Women’s National Team to historic back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup titles, plans to step down as head coach.
For everything she has done and everything she has meant to this program we say, THANK YOU ❤️
Seth Meyers Taps the Winners, Losers, and Highlights of Last Night’s CNN Democratic Debate: WATCH
Seth Meyers took a closer look at last night’s CNN Democratic primary debate, the first of two nights in which ten candidates vying for the nomination faced off in Detroit. Meyers noted the winners and losers of the night, pulling out the best quips and comebacks.
But first he looked at yesterday’s session of Trump yelling over a helicopter, in which the president made some accidental confessions.
Quipped Meyers: “That would be an accurate Trump response to literally any question.”
Meyers noted another accidental confession that came just moments later.
“He was also asked by reporters about a bipartisan election security bill that Mitch McConnell is blocking,” said Meyers. “Trump tried to defend him, but I don’t think his comments were helpful.”
Said Trump: “Mitch McConnell is a man that knows less about Russia and Russia’s influence than even Donald Trump, and I know nothing.”
Continued Meyers: “I agree. I mean, this is a crazy day. And, again, an answer that could work for literally any question. After his presidency is over and they haul him in on obstruction of justice charges, he’s going to be telling the cops, it was all Mike Pence’s idea: ‘I know nothing.’”
Meyers then moved on to the debate, and the tag team of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and the “big questions” ahead of the debate: “Like who the hell are these guys? (shows clip of John Hickenlooper, John Delaney, and Steve Bullock); would Beto bust out his Spanish again?; would Tim Ryan get caught touring the debate stage again (with backward baseball cap) looking like a pledge from Sigma Chi?; and would Marianne Williamson explode into a thousand butterflies that spell out the word ‘love’?”
Meyers blasted the amount of time it took to get to an actual debate question – “you could have watched an entire episode of Veep.”
Next it was on to some of the best lines of the night. Bernie Sanders telling John Delaney “you’re wrong” and Elizabeth Warren scolding the rest of the field for using Republican talking points and saying the Democrats would be taking any piece of health care away from people.
Said Meyers: “Elizabeth Warren will turn this car around right now and nobody’s going to Disneyland!”
Bernie’s feistiness was also on display when he blasted John Delaney regarding “Medicare for All”, telling Delaney that he “wrote the damn bill.”
Tim Ryan better hope ‘Medicare for All’ passes, because he’s gonna need some healthcare for that burn. Bernie scared him so bad Ryan turned white as a sheet 40 years ago. Tin Ryan got owned so hard his hat flew back on to his head.”
Hickenlooper mocked Bernie by telling him to throw his hands up, which Bernie did, and Hickenlooper mocked again.
“I feel like that’s the first and only time John Hickenlooper has said, “throw your hands up. You don’t challenge Bernie to pull a Bernie.”
Meyers then highlighted the line of the night, Elizabeth Warren’s question: “I don’t know why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.”
“It’s like if Ronald Reagan had said, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, make this wall a little shorter.’”
Meyers also looked at Marianne Williamson’s much-applauded answer on the Flint water crisis: “Wait, was that good? Is Marianne Williamson like one of those elves you have to listen to a couple of times before you figure out what they’re trying to do?”
And here’s Stephen Colbert’s take on the evening, in two parts:
