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From LA To NYC: DragCon With Holly 2017

Published on September 14, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Five months ago, during his Keynote speech at the end of an incredible two days of RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles, RuPaul instructed us to pack up our lashes and tuck tape, as they would be flying to New York City for the first ever East Coast DragCon. After an overwhelming response resulted in an early date change, this past weekend it finally happened, and of course, I flew across the country to be there. After L.A. DragCon completely exceeded all my expectations, the idea of an East Coast Con was exciting, but felt a journey into the unknown. L.A.…

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Country Queers

Published on September 13, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

Ever heard the term “queer migration?” I hadn’t realized it was a trend until I found myself connecting with a gay friend the other day over losing LGBTQ+ communities to the pull of LA, New York, and Chicago. Apparently, it’s enough of a phenomenon that there’s a growing body of academic scholarship exploring the causes and effects of queer migration. One of the premises for this phenomenon is perpetuated in part by shows like The L Word, which perpetuate the myth that big cities are the only places where queer people can thrive. In the United States, we see cities…

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DracgCon NYC 2017

Published on September 11, 2017 in Entertainment/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

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Congratulations RuPaul’s DragCon on a successful Dragcon. We were thrilled to be a part of it. RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions (“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Million Dollar Listing”, “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,”) – winners of three Emmys at this weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys for RuPaul’s Drag Race, including a second consecutive Outstanding Host win for RuPaul – welcomed a sold out crowd of more than 35,000 attendees to the first ever RuPaul’s DragCon NYC on Sept. 9-10 at Manhattan’s Jacob K. Javits Center. Created by RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions, RuPaul’s DragCon is the world’s largest all-ages and family friendly…

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Biphobia: It Happens Here Too

Published on September 7, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/Weekly

We all know what homophobia, the dislike and non acceptance of the gay and lesbian communities, looks like; hate crimes, discrimination in work, marriage, health care, adoption, etc. But one secret of the LGBT community that is rarely discussed among heterosexuals and homosexuals alike is biphobia, the dislike and non acceptance of the bisexual community. Some define “bisexual” as the attraction to both men and women, while some simply label it as an attraction to multiple sexes or genders. Either way, it is no secret, or it should not be a secret, that biphobia has a strong place in the…

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Hurricane Harvey: Who’s Affected?

Published on September 5, 2017 in Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

All of us. That’s the answer. On Monday, in response to a Politico article linking Hurricane Harvey to climate change, conservative TV personality Ann Coulter tweeted the following: “I don’t believe Hurricane Harvey is God’s punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor. But that is more credible than ‘climate change.’” — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) Of course! How could we have thought that the worst rainstorm in U.S. history was caused by an unwillingness to take climate change seriously, when it’s clearly just God’s way of putting Houston in a time-out for electing a qualified official who happens to be gay?…

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History Making: Federal Bar Association

Published on August 23, 2017 in Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

Designed to advocate for the people and to represent the Federal legal profession, the FBA (Federal Bar Association) recently made history thanks to its Chicago-based section chairman, Chirag Badlani. This section of the association is dedicated to the LGBT community. Badlani explained that the FBA aims to strengthen law practice for those who are practicing in Federal courts. Over time, many suggestions came pouring in that there needed to be LGBT representation in the organization. The people spoke, and the FBA listened. Through this newfound representation, several events have been organized that were designed to promote visibility amongst the community…

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The Consumer You Can’t Ignore: Our $3.7 Trillion Spending Power

Published on August 22, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/Weekly

Moneytalks: Recent studies show that the global LGBTQ+ market is growing rapidly. In 2015, the yearly “spending power” of LGBT people globally was estimated at $3.7 trillion, according to LGBT Capital. Global LGBTQ+ tourism in particular has been on the uptick for years, with an annual worth upwards of $211 billion, according to WTM London in 2016. As context for these numbers, the spending power of black consumers in the United States is averaged at $1.3 billion, and the spending power of women in the United States lies somewhere between $5 and $15 billion, according to Nielsen Consumer. However, in…

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Giving Back: A History & Guide

Published on August 18, 2017 in Blog/Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

LGBT charities and non-profits, which can be the same organization, exist to provide advocacy, awareness, and a safe haven for those individuals in the LGBT community that need a place to turn to. LGBT charities in the United States have been around for many years now, but they got their real start in the 1920’s. In 1924, Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights, which was the first officially recognized gay rights organization in the United States. Twenty-six years later, the Mattachine Society was founded in 1950-51 by Harry Hay. This was the first major gay rights organization in…

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Disney Hit Shows Love For Same-Sex Families

Published on August 17, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Doc McStuffins, the ongoing Disney series focuses on character Dottie McStuffins who cares for her stuffed animals in her playroom doctor’s office. The show first aired in 2012 and has continued to stay relevant not only for its content, but also for its creator. Chris Nee, creator, has spoken out about how she wanted to make a show with accepting and open-minded characters. In doing so, this progressive series will expand the “norms” of what children are being exposed to on television. As a mother to a son with two moms, Nee believes that this is a major part of…

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A Short History on Trans Rights by Laverne Cox

Published on August 15, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Real Talk/Weekly

Best known by her role on Netflix’s Orange is The New Black, Laverne Cox has become a pioneer voice as a transwoman in the LGBT community. Cox has teamed up with the ACLU, producer of Transparent, Zackary Drucker, Molly Crabapple, and Kim Boekbinder to create a short film showcasing the journey of trans history. While gay rights have been touched upon a lot in the last few decades, the story behind transgender rights is not as well known. In a short 4 minutes, the video guides you through the progression of transgender inclusiveness. Starting from the first riot and ending…

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