What to Watch: Singing twinks, Ian McKellen’s spilled tea, Mr. Rogers & Mark Ruffalo on a crusade

What to Watch: Singing twinks, Ian McKellen’s spilled tea, Mr. Rogers & Mark Ruffalo on a crusade

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Stepping out on a movie date this weekend? Netflix and chillin? Whatever your entertainment needs, we got your back (and hopefully your mind) with Queerty’s weekly “Culture Club” column with some of the highlights of new releases, streaming shows, classics worth revisiting, and what to drink while you watch.

The Step-Out: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Director Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me) continues her winning streak with this new film that features Oscar-winner Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers. Less a biopic of Fred Rogers than a story of his inspirational legacy, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood focuses on a reporter named Lloyd (Matthew Rhys) who gets hired to write a profile on Rogers. The simple assignment turns into a life-changing experience as Rogers’ sincerity erodes Lloyd’s cynicism, and forces him to face his complicated feelings for his wife (Susan Kelechi Watson) and alcoholic father (Chris Cooper). Hanks and Rhys give touching, effective performances, though Cooper steals the movie with a performance so powerful he might just land himself another Oscar. In short, don’t miss it.

In theatres November 22.

The Buzz: Dark Waters

Queer director Todd Haynes returns with this true story environmental thriller in the vein of The Insider and Erin Brockovich. Mark Ruffalo gives one of his best performances as Rob Bilott, a lawyer who stumbles onto a pattern of sickness and death linked to the chemical company DuPont. Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins also star, though the movie belongs to Ruffalo’s paranoid everyman, and to Haynes himself, who displays a hereto unseen talent for suspense, tension and commercial storytelling. Dark Waters might just be one of the best films of the year, so make sure to check it out.

Opens in select theatres November 22. A wider release will follow November 27.

The Stream: Dolly Parton’s America

In addition to her delightful new Netflix offering, Heartstrings, Ms. Parton has launched her own podcast discussing her life, career, artistry and views on living in—you guessed it—America. This week’s episode, entitled “The One and Only For Me, Jolene” documents Parton’s relationship with the queer community, how and why she became a queer icon, and how she feels about her LGBTQ fans. It’s a must for Dolly fans, and a fascinating look at how her acceptance has made inroads for queer people in some surprising places.

Streams on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes. New episodes release every Tuesday.

The Read: Ian McKellen – A Biography

It’s about damn time. Writer Gary O’Connor finally does what somebody should have done years ago: penned a biography of Ian McKellen. Needless to say, McKellen is both one of the greatest actors in the world and a pioneer for LGBTQ rights, having come out back in the 1980s. O’Connor traces McKellen’s rise as a Shakespearean actor, his transition to film and his explosion as a megastar, as well as some sensitive episodes from Sir Ian’s personal life. McKellen fascinates us on the screen. O’Connor’s biography makes us realize that McKellen’s life is just as interesting.

In bookstores November 26.

The Spin: Twinkids – Lizard House

Queer electropop duo Twinkids (so is that Twin KIDS or Twink IDS? We like the latter.) drop their new EP this week, Lizard House, featuring some delightful synthesized dance tracks with a homoerotic slant. Our favorite: the first single “Pscyho,” a neo-new wave jam about a break-up. It strikes a good balance between a chill-out tune and a poppy driving song. That, along with a certain sensuality to the melody, makes it catchy, sexy fun.

Streams on Soundcloud November 22.

The Jam: Jakk Fynn – Fire

Speaking of queer artists, trans-Latinx artist Jakk Fynn drops his latest single this week, a mediation and indictment on the restrictions of societal gender norms. The video for “Fire” depicts an Orwellian dystopia where people are labeled and forced into different categories. The “fire,” therefore, is the undeniable urge to accept inner impulses to explore sex and gender outside of societal constraints. Call it political pop music; a tune that deserves a listen.

Streams on YouTube.

The Sip: Dark and Stormy

In honor of Dark Waters, this week we’re recommending a potent and delicious rum drink which will make you nice and relaxed, as well as aroused in just the right way.

  • 2 ounces dark rum
  • 5 ounces ginger beer
  • Lime wedge

Mix rum & ginger beer over ice in a tall glass. Stir. Add lime as garnish.

www.queerty.com/watch-singing-twinks-ian-mckellens-spilled-tea-mr-rodgers-mark-ruffalo-crusade-20191121?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

New Trump Advisor Believes Homosexuality is an ‘Abomination’, Won’t Appear on a Show with a Gay Host ‘and Pretend Like That’s Normal’ — WATCH

New Trump Advisor Believes Homosexuality is an ‘Abomination’, Won’t Appear on a Show with a Gay Host ‘and Pretend Like That’s Normal’ — WATCH

Media Matters reports that Donald Trump has a new surrogate named Clarence Mason Weaver who believes that homosexuality is “evil” and “an abomination.” Weaver believes that there is nothing wrong with being homophobic, and has warned people to “worry about homosexual training” in schools. He has said he would not appear on a program with a gay host, and would have a problem with gay co-workers.

Weaver, a right-wing commentator was recently named to an advisory board position in Trump’s campaign.

Here’s a video Weaver posted about a Best Buy ad he saw which featured a lesbian which made him tell his daughter “homosexuality is a abomination. Not just a sin. It’s abomination.”

Added Weaver: “How can you find common ground with evil and sin? … I can work with homosexuals. I’ve worked with a lot of homosexuals. Worked with a lot of them. Political and social things. But I’m not going to stand there and pretend like that’s not a sin. Like you would not — I would not pretend like I don’t sin. I would not pretend, I’m not going to try to fool God to make you feel comfortable. I appear on programs all the time with homosexuals. I will not appear on a program with a homosexual host and pretend like that’s normal.”

Weaver continued: “It can be very difficult for you to tell me as a woman, ‘Hey, this is Betty, my wife.’ You’re not going to get a ‘congratulations.” No. I may say, ‘How you doing?” If you ask me what I think about you being married to that woman, you’re going to get your feelings hurt. You’re going to get your feelings hurt. Christians stand up for God, and when you stand up for God, you’re going to upset the ungodly.”

Media Matters adds: “Weaver has frequently pushed misogynistic rhetoric, including saying that women aren’t equal to men and that they damaged society when they won the ”right’ to leave the home and go to work’; claiming that women who report sexual misconduct at work are the reason ‘why we don’t want to be around you in a business’; and stating that women should carry themselves as ‘handmaidens’ and ‘be submissive.’”

Media Matters wrote earlier this week: “The Trump campaign recently launched its ‘Black Voices for Trump’ coalition, with President Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Atlanta, GA. The campaign also announced the members of its advisory board, which includes numerous right-wing media personalities such as radio host Herman Cain, Fox Nation hosts Diamond and Silk, and Fox News contributors Deneen Borelli and Alveda King. The campaign lists the involvement of Clarence Mason Weaver (who usually goes by Mason Weaver in media appearances and also lists his name as Clarence A. Mason on his website), a right-wing author and purported motivational speaker.”

The post New Trump Advisor Believes Homosexuality is an ‘Abomination’, Won’t Appear on a Show with a Gay Host ‘and Pretend Like That’s Normal’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


New Trump Advisor Believes Homosexuality is an ‘Abomination’, Won’t Appear on a Show with a Gay Host ‘and Pretend Like That’s Normal’ — WATCH

Ensuring an Inclusive Organization That Serves the Transgender Community

Ensuring an Inclusive Organization That Serves the Transgender Community

When advocate Sayer Johnson co-founded the Metro Trans Umbrella Group in St. Louis in 2013, the organization came together out of “frustration and necessity.”

“We went from being an organization that serves predominantly white trans folks [who have] a certain amount of privilege to being a more inclusive organization,” said Johnson.

One of the matriarchs of the transgender community in St. Louis had passed away, and her community wasn’t able to raise enough money to bury her in the way she preferred. “We quickly realized that we had no social capital. We had no organizing power in the area,” said Johnson.

“There [were] just no systems in place for trans-expansive adults, and a group of four other transmasculine folks [and I] decided to use our privilege as white transmasculine humans and organize,” said Johnson.

Thus, the Metro Trans Umbrella Group was formed.

When the organization began, they were focused almost exclusively on support groups. Funds to support their work started coming in slowly, thanks to 101-style trainings that the group ran. It was when the Metro Trans Umbrella Group was able to move into a house about a year and a half ago that everything changed.

Now, Johnson and the organization he helped found are focused on making sure the St. Louis transgender community has its basic needs met. The house offers a food pantry, toiletries, a shower, a clothing closet, laundry and places to sleep for transgender and non-binary adults. Moving forward, Johnson and the organization will continue to focus on housing, as well as physical and mental health care.

Ensuring that basic needs are met is an essential starting point in making sure that transgender people can live their lives fully. Once those needs are in place, that’s when the support groups come into play. Having people in your life who care about you is also key.

“Then you can be in the best place where you have the chance to live the authentic life that you [are] supposed to live,” says Johnson.

It’s similar to the advice he would give to trans kids and young adults who are looking to get involved in advocacy.

“I think that having humans around you [who] love you and support your work is vital,” said Johnson. “Make sure that you really know your own compass and stick to that compass as close as you possibly can. When you know what you know and what you feel is right, do it, and any time you’re engaging in anything, make sure that you check in with that compass.”

www.hrc.org/blog/ensuring-an-inclusive-organization-that-serves-the-transgender-community?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Lil Nas X leads the field of nominees for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards

Lil Nas X leads the field of nominees for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards

Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus (Credit: Derrek Kupish)

Photo Credit: Derrek Kupish

Nominations were announced Wednesday for the 62nd Annual Grammy awards and out country hip-hop artist Lil Nas X dominated the honorees. Lil Nas X is up for a total of 6 nominations, including in 3 of the 4 major categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year for “7,” and Best New Artist. The star also received nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video for “Old Town Road,” as well as Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Panini.”

Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande – all LGBTQ-allies – also dominated in the major categories. 

Bi singer Lady Gaga also made a strong showing with a Song of the Year nomination for “Always Remember Us This Way” from the soundtrack for A Star Is Born. Gaga was also nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media for the soundtrack to A Star Is Born, and for Best Song Written For Visual Media for “I’ll Never Love Again,” bringing her total nomination count to 3.

Brandi CarlileOut songwriter Jesse Saint John, a co-writer on Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts,” was nominated in the Song of the Year category. Brandi Carlile was also nominated for Song of the Year for the second year in a row, for her work writing on Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now.” Last year, Carlile was nominated in the same category for writing her own song, “The Joke.” “Bring My Flowers Now” was also nominated for Best Country Song. And Carlile was also nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Common,” her collaboration with Maren Morris, bringing her total nomination count for this year also to 3.

Ally Taylor Swift was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance for “You Need to Calm Down” and for Song of the Year for ”Lover.” She was also nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, bringing her nomination count to 3, but with only one in a major category. This was considered a bit of a surprise for the superstar. 

Brittany Howard (Instagram)Brittany Howard, the frontwoman of Grammy darlings Alabama Shakes, scored two solo nominations this year, for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, for “History Repeats.” Rapper Tyler, the Creator, who just gave a candid new interview to GQ in which he discussed his sexuality more openly than ever, earned his third Grammy nomination, this time in the Best Rap Album category, for “Igor.” Many critics thought “Igor” might score an Album of the Year nod. 

The Internet’s out bi guitarist Steve Lacy got a nomination for his debut solo project “Apollo XXI” in the Best Urban Contemporary Album category. Che Apalache got their first nomination for Best Folk Album with “Rearrange My Heart.” Their frontman, Joe Troop, is an openly gay bluegrass fiddler.

Writer/filmmaker and queer icon John Waters was Grammy-nominated this year in the Best Spoken Word Album category, for the reading of his 2019 book, “Mr. Know-It-All.”

Composer Marc Shaiman was nominated for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for the soundtrack to Mary Poppins Returns. Linda Perry was nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media for co-writing “Girl In The Movies” along with Dolly Parton for the Netflix movie Dumplin’

Tracy YoungEllen DeGeneres is nominated for Best Comedy Album, where she’ll be going up against competition that includes Dave Chappelle. 

And finally, over in the electronic fields, out DJ/producer Tracy Young was nominated for Best Remixed Recording (a Remixer’s Award) for her remix of Madonna’s “I Rise.”

Head here for a complete list of 2020 Grammy nominees.

The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, January 26th, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will air on CBS. Alicia Keys will host for the second year in a row.

November 21, 2019

www.glaad.org/blog/lil-nas-x-leads-field-nominees-62nd-annual-grammy-awards