As LGBTQ2S+ members face increasing pressure in the southern USA, Texas lawmakers have pre-filed a bill that would classify any business that hosts drag shows as a “sexually oriented business” through amending an existing statute about such businesses. Venues with this classification are liable to misdemeanour charges on par with vehicle burglary if anyone under 18 enters the premises, are obligated to charge entrance fees of at least USD $5 per patron and are forbidden from having sex offenders owning or operating the establishment. Under the new bill, the state attorney general will also have the ability to sue any venue that hosts drag performances in violation of the bill—which could lead to its potential closure. Advocates have pointed out that this bill effectively bans trans people from performing in any capacity and in effect bans all drag by making it impossible to host anywhere. This comes on the heels of other Texas bills that would criminalize gender-affirming care for minors.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

Trigger warning: This article contains references to sexual violence.
Two weeks ago, Blonde, the newest biopic on Marilyn Monroe, was released on Netflix. A fictionalize take on Marilyn Monroe’s life, it has faced criticism over its insensitive portrayal of multiple sexual assaults, forced abortion, and lack of empathy for the real person. Further, the one-dimensional character of Monroe, focusing on her victimhood to the exclusion of her own thoughts and emotions was a sticking point. The fetishization of female pain, sensationalizing sexual violence, anti-abortion themes, and objectification of Monroe have also been criticized as being harmful to survivors of sexual violence, potentially having negative impact on young audience members, and being misogynistic.

This article is published in stylecaster.

Last week, the Miami-Dade school board voted against a proposal to recognize October as LGBTQ2S+ History Month. Proposed by Lucia Baez-Geller in an attempt to decrease the marginalization of LGBTQ2S+ people, dozens of parents and community members opposed the proposal on the grounds that it ran afoul of Florida’s parental rights law, also known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.” Only Lucia Baez-Geller in favor of the proposal, with some members of the board citing the parental rights law as the reason behind their vote. The latest vote comes as LGBTQ2S+ people in Florida face significant mental health challenges—which appear to have worsened in the face of anti-LGBTQ2S+ legislation.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

Members the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee, along with hundreds of other people and organizations, published an open letter demanding a public meeting with Mayor John Tory over the appointment of Myron Demkiw as Toronto police chief. Demkiv was involved in a 2000 raid of the Pussy Palace bathhouse, which was later judged to be a violation of the attendees’ charter rights. Mayor Tory offered a closed meeting with himself, Demkiw, plus Chanelle Gallant and JP Hornick of the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee, which was rejected by the latter two. Members of the queer community wish to talk to the police service board to discern how this appointment came to be and address fundamental issues with the process.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

After two historic decisions, Mexico has moved closer towards LTBTQ+ equality. In an overwhelming 69-2 vote, the Senate of the Republic voted on October 12 to ban all forms of conversion therapy targeting LGBTQ+ people. The bill is now in the hands of the Chamber of Deputies for final vote. This would outlaw conversion therapy across the country; twelve Mexican states currently outlaw the practice. Additionally, the Congress of the State of Mexico, voted 50-16 to recognize same-sex marriage, making it the 29th Mexican state to do so.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

This week, Slovenia became the first country in Eastern Europe to legalize both same-sex marriage and the adoption of minor children by same-sex couples. In a 48-29 vote, Slovenian lawmakers voted to pass an amendment guaranteeing marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples on October 4. This move follows a decision from the Constitutional Court of Slovenia in July, which found in a 6-3 ruling that prohibiting same-sex marriage and adoptions violated a constitutional prohibition against discrimination. In contrast, Hungary passed a law banning the promotion of “homosexuality or gender change” to minors in media, banned same-sex adoption, ended legal gender recognition for trans people, and redefined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Poland has also been treading similar waters, with over 100 cities and municipalities passing symbolic ordinances declaring themselves “LGBT-free” zones.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

For the first time ever, LGBTQ2S+ candidates are vying for seats in next week’s elections in all 50 states across the U.S. plus Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is hope among advocates that this will lead to other historic firsts, such as the first openly lesbian governor in the country. These increasing numbers follow the “rainbow wave” that started in 2018, but in spite of these record numbers, LGBTQ2S+ people still remain underrepresented across all levels of government. In November, voters will have a chance to elect more LGBTQ2S+ people to office than ever before.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.

Today, as openness to non-monogamy grows, a number of people—queer and straight, cis and trans alike—are questioning whether monogamy is the ideal relationship structure and many have shifted towards non-monogamous relationships. While these relationships can be a source of joy, they also com with unique challenges, some exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article we speak with Laurie Bissonette to find out how LGBTQ2S+ folks in open relationships can take care of their mental health during the pandemic and beyond.

This article is published in Xtra Magazine.