Are straight people OK? 17 Twitter users baffled by their behavior.
www.queerty.com/straight-people-ok-17-twitter-users-baffled-behavior-20220918?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=straight-people-ok-17-twitter-users-baffled-behavior
Tag Archives: OK
Don Jr.’s latest video rant has everyone wondering…is he OK?!
Don Jr.’s latest video rant has everyone wondering…is he OK?!
www.queerty.com/don-jr-s-latest-video-rant-everyone-wondering-ok-20220505
I’m attracted to “average” guys, but the thought of my body being “average” is unacceptable
I’m attracted to “average” guys, but the thought of my body being “average” is unacceptable
Let’s face it, when it comes to hookup apps, physical appearance matters. Nobody cares what arthouse cinema you’re into, or what book you’re reading, or what you do for a living. We’re judged immediately on our physical appearance. Our bodies are essentially our “currency.” They determine whether we connect with one another.
Like a lot of gay men, it took me a long time to be OK with my “currency,” er, body. I used to look in the mirror and all I could see were flaws. I was constantly judging my stomach. I would look at my hairline and compare it to where it once was. I’d look at my skin for any tiny blemish or imperfection. A wave of disgust, shame, and self-hatred would creep over me. Why couldn’t I look more like the guys I saw on Grindr?
I consider myself a handsome guy today, but it took me a while to realize that everyone curates themselves online to look as perfectly as they possibly can to maintain their “currency.” Therefore, you’re not alone if sometimes you come across of sea of flawless torsos and think, “I don’t look like that! I’m obviously not hot enough.” Just remember, the standards for what’s “hot” are totally slanted. If you’re constantly comparing yourself to only what you see in everyone’s very best version of themselves (sometimes from five or ten years ago), it’s easy to fall in that old trap of feeling “less than.”
(SPOILER: There are way more “average” guys out there than you’d think, but it’s hard to know that based on what people show–or don’t show!–on the apps.)
One interesting thing I’ve noticed in my psychotherapy practice is that many gay men don’t judge others nearly as harshly as they judge themselves. They may even be attracted to “average” guys, but the thought their bodies being “average” is totally unacceptable. Obviously, there’s a double standard happening here. We hold ourselves to some idea of unattainable perfection, while giving others a free pass and sometimes even admiring them for their imperfections.
So how can you learn to befriend the mirror again?
For starters, it’s essential to drop the idea of maintaining any kind of “perfection.” No one is perfect, and the concept itself is illusory because attractiveness is entirely subjective. What might be hot to one person is totally uninteresting to another. We all have pros and cons when it comes to our physical appearances. Focus on being grateful for your pros, and work those to your advantage.
Also, know that others do not see you as you see yourself. There are tons of guys out there with all kinds of various preferences, and full communities to support them–from bears to twinks, cubs, and otters. If you embrace what you have to offer, others will too. Practice sending yourself positive messages of acceptance.
Which leads me to my final point: Have you ever noticed that you find someone really attractive, even though he may not have your typical “model” looks, because he carries himself with a certain swagger? Having an aura of confidence is sexy, and can make someone you’d normally deem a 7 jump up to a 10.
If you practice loving and accepting yourself, your confidence will extend outward to how others see you as well. This isn’t always an easy road of course, and talking to a therapist can often be an important first step.
Jake Myers is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapy.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin opens up about the time he questioned whether he was gay
Coldplay’s Chris Martin opens up about the time he questioned whether he was gay
Grammy winner Chris Martin, of the band Coldplay, has opened up about questioning his own sexuality, and about the homophobic bullying, he endured in school.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, 42-year-old Martin recalls attending boarding school in his native UK, and feeling a bit homophobic himself.
“When I went to boarding school I walked a bit funny and I bounced a bit and I was also very homophobic because I was like, ‘If I’m gay, I’m completely f*cked for eternity’ and I was a kid discovering sexuality. ‘Maybe I’m gay, maybe I’m this, maybe I’m that, I can’t be this,’” Martin said.
The singer went on to detail his own experiences with bullying when classmates would call him “‘definitely gay’ in quite a full-on manner.” The harassment only added to his own confusion over his sexuality.
Fortunately for Martin, his thinking has progressed beyond that of a bullied 15-year-old. Over time, he began to question his own homophobia and why being gay was so bad in the first place.
“I don’t know what happened, I was like, ‘Yeah, so what?’ and then it all just stopped overnight,” he recalls. “It was very interesting. Once I was like, ‘Yeah, so what if I’m gay.’”
As a result, he also began to question his religious beliefs.
“[It] made me question, ‘Hey, maybe some of this stuff that I’m learning about God and everything — I’m not sure if I subscribe to all of this particular religion,’” he says.
“So for a few years, that was a bit wobbly and then eventually I just was like, ‘OK, I think I have my own relationship with what I think God is and it’s not really any one religion for me.’”
Martin’s admissions come just ahead of the release of Coldplay’s latest album, Everyday Life.
Related: Andrew Garfield French Kisses Chris Martin While Emma Stone Watches
Sense8’s Brian J Smith Comes Out as Gay
Sense8’s Brian J Smith Comes Out as Gay
Actor Brian J. Smith, best known for playing Will Gorski in the Netflix series Sense8, has come out as gay. Smith, who also stars in the USA Network’s Treadstone and BBC One’s World On Fire, grew up in rural Texas and told Attitude magazine, “I could never be who I was. I was constantly having to check myself and make sure I wasn’t looking at someone too long or making someone feel uncomfortable.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Brian J. Smith (@smithespis) on
Said Smith: “At school I really couldn’t fit in anywhere. I wasn’t a jock or a nerd. Forget about any LGBTQ union or groups. There was absolutely nothing. I was completely alone. I heard all the names: pussy, faggot. … I had to be very, very careful about telling people the truth about myself. It still reverberates. A lot of my work is about that. The things that move me as an actor are those echoes that come up.”
Smith, 38, says he came out to his family eight years ago: “When I came out to my parents they were wonderful. They said they were just waiting for me to say something. They were a lot more advanced than I gave them credit for. I think that’s when I became OK with it, too. Just in terms of being, ‘Oh that’s the world, it’s not as dangerous as I thought it was’.”
Said Smith on Instagram Thursday: “I knew it was time. Hoping there’s other people out there like me (and not like me!) who can relate. Nothin but love! Now let’s go party.”
The post Sense8’s Brian J Smith Comes Out as Gay appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Lady Gaga cancels Vegas show at short notice due to illness
Lady Gaga cancels Vegas show at short notice due to illness
Lady Gaga was forced to cancel a concert last night due to poor health.
Just 20 minutes before she was due on stage at the Park Theater at the Park MGM Casino, the venue told waiting fans it was canceled. Many were reportedly left in tears at the news.
Gaga herself posted an image to her social media hooked up to an IV drip.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) November 7, 2019
The message accompanying the image said, “I’m so devastated I can’t perform tonight for so many people who traveled to come see me.
“I have a sinus infection and bronchitis and feel very sick and sad I never want to let you down.
“I’m just to weak and ill too perform tonight. I love you little monsters I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
Her tweet has had over 90k likes and thousands of comments, with most telling Gaga to take care of her health and wishing her well.
Some fans are worried she’s pushing herself too hard. Besides the concerts, she’s working on her sixth album and has recently been signed up for her first major movie role following the success of A Star Is Born.
Related: Lady Gaga’s next movie role announced and it’s peak Lady Gaga
Gaga, 33, has previously spoken about her other health issues. In 2017 she postponed some European tour dates and revealed she lived with the chronic pain condition, Fibromyalgia.
Gaga is currently fulfilling dates on her Enigma residency at the MGM Grand. She has two more performances left on the third leg of her residency (November 8-9), and then a fourth leg at the end of December. The fifth and final leg runs from April 30 to May 16, 2020.
The shows are divided into separate Enigma shows and Jazz & Piano shows, showcasing different sides to her artistic output. The Jazz shows featured stripped-down versions of her hits and American songbook classics.
The MGM Grand tweeted the news.
With her deepest regrets, @ladygaga announces the cancelation of tonight’s performance at Park MGM because she is suffering from a sinus infection and bronchitis. She plans to return to the stage for her scheduled show on Friday, Nov. 8. pic.twitter.com/YNLRKzfUVg
— Park MGM (@parkmgm) November 7, 2019
“With her deepest regrets, @ladygaga announces the cancelation of tonight’s performance at Park MGM because she is suffering from a sinus infection and bronchitis. She plans to return to the stage for her scheduled show on Friday, Nov. 8.”
Some fans were “shattered” by the cancelation.
I can’t believe I flew out from NC , have been waiting over a year for this, walk up to the door and get turned away. Heart is shattered, so much money wasted, I can’t believe this.
— Jamie Lee Baker (@baker90210) November 7, 2019
Others commented that Gaga’s voice had not sounded as good as usual at a couple of shows in recent days and hoped she takes the time to get better.
On her last Jazz and piano show her her throat is not OK and her vocals is crack. She’s been overworking lately. Some artist ended their life because the can’t take the pressure and stress. And I’d rather see Gaga to priorities her health so she can still work longer.
— Patrick Java (@PatrickJava) November 7, 2019
Here’s wishing Gaga a very speedy recovery!
Delta Air Lines Again Caught Removing Gay Content from In-Flight Films, This Time ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Booksmart’
Delta Air Lines Again Caught Removing Gay Content from In-Flight Films, This Time ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Booksmart’
Back in 2016, Delta Air Lines came under fire for screening a version of the Oscar-nominated film Carol for passengers in its in-flight entertainment program which deleted kisses between Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. Now, Delta has done it again with the recent Elton John biopic Rocketman and the Olivia Wilde-directed film Booksmart.
Entertainment Weekly’s digital director Shana Krochmal was one of the passengers who pointed out the Rocketman censorship. The film left in an assault between John Reid and Elton but removed all intimacy between them.
Wrote Krochmal: “On @Delta today discovered that #Rocketman is stripped of almost every gay reference or scene that @eltonofficial fought to keep in the film’s mainstream release, including a simple chaste kiss. This is good context but it’s still frustrating. As @yayponies pointed out in a very justified rant, what does it say that the edit left in a scene of John Reid assaulting Elton but removed any evidence of intimacy between them or for that matter Elton and any man? What is that saying is OK?”
As @yayponies pointed out in a very justified rant, what does it say that the edit left in a scene of John Reid assaulting Elton but removed any evidence of intimacy between them or for that matter Elton and any man? What is that saying is OK?
— shana (@shananaomi) October 30, 2019
And – sorry, almost done here – given how many passengers watch whatever they want on tablets or phones often in full view of other travelers, this seems especially egregious.
— shana (@shananaomi) October 30, 2019
The Washington Post reports: “Near the end of the 2019 film ‘Booksmart,’ a tense bathroom kiss between Amy, the film’s timid, justice-minded lead, and Hope, her high school’s ‘basic hot girl,’ turns into more: Hidden from a house party outside, they engage in a hookup that’s been hailed as an unusually frank, on-screen portrayal of sex between two women. But Watch ‘Booksmart’ on a Delta Air Lines flight, and the R-rated high school comedy will skip right through that scene. Reportedly, the in-flight cut also passes over the words ‘vagina’ and ‘genitals,’ an exchange about a lesbian sex act, talk of a urinary tract infection, and a bit in which Amy and her friend watch porn in the back of a ride-share.’
Censoring the word lesbian is just batshit insane what is going on t.co/Rdq2wh68QO
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) October 28, 2019
Variety reports: “A spokesperson for Delta told Variety that the airline works with studios and a third-party editing company, which provides its own edit of the movie, as well as the unedited version. If anything in the unedited version of the movie does not meet Delta’s guidelines, then Delta runs the third party’s edit of the film, regardless of whether further aspects of the film that don’t violate Delta’s guidelines have also been removed. Delta declined to provide the airline’s standards and guidelines for in-flight movies, and the spokesperson said he was not aware what part of the unedited version of ‘Booksmart’ did not meet Delta’s guidelines.”
The company released a statement: “Delta’s content parameters do not in any way ask for the removal of homosexual content from the film. We value diversity and inclusion as core to our culture and our mission and will review our processes to ensure edited video content doesn’t conflict with these values.”
The post Delta Air Lines Again Caught Removing Gay Content from In-Flight Films, This Time ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Booksmart’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
