the speakeasy

people of color

police violence

first person

Get Ready, Stay Ready: Allied Media Conference Reps the QTPOC Future

“The conference serves as a portal to collective dreaming and scheming where barriers become bridges to a more just future.”

Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza —

Jun 28, 2017

christianity

religion

first person

That One Time The Patriarchy Blessed Me

“I loved the Church, and I loved the gospel. I was the kind of Mormon who politely dismissed myself from classrooms when teachers showed R-rated movies. At my first and…

Dera —

Jun 27, 2017

ava duvernay

black lives matter

tv reviews

“Queen Sugar” Does Black Lives Matter Storytelling Right

Unlike Orange Is the New Black, Queen Sugar’s approach to Black Lives Matter storytelling works because it doesn’t resort to excessive violence or torture porn to make its point.

Carmen Phillips —

Jun 27, 2017

memoir

nonfiction

lgbt book reviews

A Lifetime of Aftermath: Roxane Gay’s “Hunger” Dares You Not to Look Away

In a time when the word “healing” feels thinner than ever, affixed as it is to too many pictures of skinny, silhouetted yogis on beaches, we need to reacquaint ourselves…

Aisha —

Jun 23, 2017

ava duvernay

queen sugar

tv reviews

“Queen Sugar” Is a Black Feminist Masterclass That’s Coming Back to Your TV TONIGHT

“It is, and I say this without any hyperbole or doubt, the closest I have EVER come on television to seeing a love that looks mine and looks like how…

Carmen Phillips —

Jun 20, 2017

latinx

orlando shooting

politics + activism

Queer Latinx and Black People Deserve More Than “Love and Kindness” After Orlando

“It’s important to honor and remember the 49 people who died one year ago today. We should remember their spirit and be moved to better support their communities in their…

Yvonne —

Jun 12, 2017

los angeles

pride 2017

lgbt pride

LA Pride Took to the Streets and Called for Action with the Resist March

This weekend, LA showed its pride by marching in resistance of oppression.

Reneice Charles —

Jun 12, 2017

islam

Lists/Top 10s

holigays

8 Ways for Non-Muslims to Support LGBTQ Muslims this Ramadan

We’re here, we’re queer, and you should start acting like it.

Mahdia Lynn —

Jun 8, 2017

a-camp

be steadwell

music

Be Steadwell’s New Music Video Will Put A Spell On You

“Black girl magic is ancient as fuck.”

Ari —

Jun 6, 2017

master of none

netflix

tv reviews

Master Of None’s Coming Out Episode Is One of the Realest Things You’ve Ever Seen on TV

The character-driven Thanksgiving is set almost entirely in a single location, and unlike most small-screen coming out stories, this one spans 22 years because Denise’s journey is a marathon; not…

Kai —

May 23, 2017

interview

oakland

politics + activism

Here’s How Queer and Trans People of Color Are Resisting Gentrification and Displacement

Lots of people are talking about gentrification, but who’s actually doing something about it? Queer and trans people of color, of course. In Oakland and Seattle, QTPOC are creating visionary…

Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza —

May 16, 2017

read a f-cking book

the speakeasy

lgbt book reviews

KOKUMO’s Galactic Bitch-Slap to the Literary Establishment

KOKUMO blasts through the bullshit rhetoric and tokenism that too-often engulf queer and trans communities in order to expose the raw struggle to survive at their heart.

Kai Cheng —

May 12, 2017