lgbtq
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Don’t Play With Our Emotions: Black Panther and Queer Representation
It’s been a while since I was so excited for a movie that I saw it twice in its opening week. While waiting to prepurchase tickets for Black Panther, I developed an unhealthy obsession with Fandango, and my wallet wept when the Funko POP! figures were released. I was excited to go to Wakanda, y’all,…
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1 Twin Born to a Gay Couple Was Granted Citizenship. The Other Was Not—and the Reason Is Expectedly Trash
I wasn’t born in this country. In fact, I didn’t live in it until I was 9 years old, arriving in Northern Virginia on the cusp of the fifth grade, excited about American TV and the prospect of seeing my first snowfall. While I still spoke with a Filipino accent, my citizenship was never in…
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Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart Is a Loving Look at the Legacy of Lorraine Hansberry
I wanted to be able to come here and speak with you on this occasion because you are young, gifted and black. … I, for one, can think of no more dynamic combination that a person might be. … And that is why I say to you that, though it be a thrilling and marvelous…
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Finally, a Seat at the Table: Jay-Z’s ‘Family Feud’ Makes a Major Statement About Who Belongs in the Family
Because of Jay-Z, this New Year’s Eve, I found myself thinking about families and feuding. When he released 4:44 in June 2017, the reception was mixed, not because the music wasn’t good or poignant—no one who understands hip-hop can deny Jay’s lyricism or his ability to catch our attention with interesting melodies. But men and…
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Thoughts Can Do Harm: In Defense of ‘Policing’ Our Fantasies
I wanted to kill my boyfriend in ways that let me observe his suffering and return the power in our relationship to my hands. The thought crossed my mind in the heat of an argument. It is a dangerous, albeit relatable, thought for many people who have experienced romantic love. Although I will not commit…
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She’s Gotta Have Her: The Great Str8-Girl Debate
It was around 1994, and I was crushing hard on L. She was fine—like an Asian Apollonia, but just a bit thicker, with a dynamite smile and an easy laugh. She was also the sister of a guy I worked and hung out with, and I liked her immediately. Up to that point, my dating…
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Masculine of Center Stage: Progressive Politics Don’t Replace Progressive Thinking
When I was a kid, there was an older black woman in the house next to ours named Ms. J. who took care of her older, invalid sisters. I loved Ms. J. I was a rascally little kid who got into constant trouble and who was visibly crushing on the girl across the street. Today…
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Women Who Inspire: Meet the Legendary BFFs of Patrick Riley
When future President Barack Obama said, “It’s never hard for me to extol the wonders and beauty of black women,” veteran TV producer Patrick L. Riley was right there. Of course, Barack was looking at wife Michelle, the woman he loves. Meanwhile, Riley was gazing out at a room full of women he loves, including…
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Fear of the State, Fear of My Home: To Be Black and Queer in America
“I was called a faggot before I was ever called a nigger.” I’ve heard this statement from LGBTQ people hundreds of times across social media platforms, drawing various reactions from both hetero and homosexual communities alike. For many of us, this statement, albeit true, often lacks the full context and explanation of how both offensive…