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How ‘It’s a Sin’ Finds Joy Amid a Harrowing Period of British History

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It's a Sin Omari Douglas

Published on Thrillist on March 8, 2021

The mastery of Channel 4’s It’s a Sin, which follows a group of friends navigating the early AIDS epidemic in 1980s London, is in its understanding that even the darkest periods in history are imbued with ambition and joy. That’s not to say that Russell T. Davies’ (Queer as Folk, Years and Years) newest drama series, now available to US audiences on HBO Max, diminishes the inescapable grief that plagued entire generations of queer people, but rather that in order to comprehend the full weight of the AIDS crisis, viewers would need to be privy to the thrilling moments that made life so precious.

In the show’s opening scenes, we’re introduced to three gay teens who each flee the nest to make a life for themselves in London. There, they find one another and soon move into a communal flat they dub the “Pink Palace,” which becomes something of a queer community hub where all are welcome. Over the course of five episodes and 10 years, residents of the Pink Palace find it increasingly difficult to ignore the fast-spreading virus that’s crept into their inner circle, oscillating between pop-filled nights to remember and abrupt visits to the hospital to hug another friend goodbye.

While every gay character on It’s a Sin finds something to live for in a decade when gay men’s lives were particularly fragile, it’s Roscoe Babatunde, played by television newcomer Omari Douglas, who most adamantly refuses to let the threat of HIV keep him from living the fearless and fabulous life he planned.

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“If you need to forward any mail, I’ll be staying at 23 Piss Off Avenue, London W-Fuck.” | CHANNEL 4

Roscoe’s story begins under the reign of his conservative Nigerian parents, who vehemently condemn his homosexuality and make plans to send him away to “heal.” With some seed money from his sister and not much of a choice, Roscoe packs a bag, says he’s leaving, and stamps off in the rain to the tune of “Feels Like I’m in Love” by Kelly Marie. The pivotal moment sets the stage for Roscoe’s no-fucks-given attitude that empowers him to push through the difficult years to come.

“He’s fiercely proud and fiercely out, and has the confidence and bravery to express that in this really bold and innovative way,” says Douglas over a Zoom call, noting that Roscoe’s character arc isn’t about finding himself—he already knows exactly who he is—but rather one of finding a balance between being himself and fulfilling his duties as a friend, brother, and son.

Toward the end of Episode 1, Roscoe lays his full personality on the table when he unapologetically arrives late to a job interview at the local queer bar, where he’s asked what he wants to do when he’s older. “You wait,” he replies. “Give me five, six years, I’ll be stinkin’ rich. Every single teacher I’ve had, I want to drive past them in my big shiny car, like, ‘Fuck you.'”

“Roscoe is ambitious and he wants to achieve things and he wants to hit the high life,” confirms Douglas. “He’s going to go out and get it by whatever means necessary, and he does.”

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“So, tell me. Mrs. Thatcher, does she drink tea or coffee?” | CHANNEL 4

When Roscoe has a run-in with a Member of Parliament, Arthur Garrison (Stephen Fry), he sees his ticket to obtaining status and begins sleeping with him in secret. He grows closer to the MP over time, bailing on the bar job he’s had for several years now and diving headfirst into a private world of wealth and power that even his friends aren’t privy to.

“Roscoe knows that some of what he’s doing is maybe a little bit questionable and he’s not going to share it with the group,” says Douglas, acknowledging that Roscoe is fully aware he doesn’t belong in Garrison’s world. Still, Roscoe needed to let himself get burned before returning to reality—and the core friends who truly care for him.

Thus is the mystery of Roscoe: How can someone who brings such vibrance to every room he enters manage to keep an invisible guard between himself and his friends? And where does his aggressive independence come from? Douglas sees Roscoe’s bravado as his shield, his independence a side-effect of his parents’ intolerance. “To be pushed out of your home by the people who bore you is the greatest kind of rejection, so he’s quite selective,” says Douglas. “You would be selective about the people that you let into your life.”

Roscoe has several friends, ones that he genuinely cherishes, but few understand the extent to which his strained family relationships still weigh on him. The person who got to know Roscoe the most intimately was Gregory (David Carlyle), affectionately known as Gloria, who becomes one of the show’s many casualties of AIDS.

“He trusted Gloria, and he disappeared,” says Douglas, leaving Roscoe even more hurt and shut off to his pain. As it often goes with people who are suffering, it became easier to maintain his strong front than to vulnerably open himself up and risk more judgment or, worse, abandonment.

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“How’s mom? How’s things?” | CHANNEL 4

On the surface, Roscoe’s story never quite comes full circle, but Davies drops just enough breadcrumbs to suggest that, even if it takes time, Roscoe might one day have a relationship with his parents again.

First, there’s Roscoe’s subtle support of his mother from afar. “I think Roscoe still understands his duty as a son and he still wants to repair that,” Douglas says, describing why Roscoe would anonymously leave an envelope of cash at his mother’s door after learning through the grapevine that she was struggling. “It’s his mom, you know, and no one wants to lose that.”

Then, there’s the dramatic, cliff-hanging scene in the final episode when he runs into his father in the AIDS ward of a hospital and is asked for forgiveness. We never hear if Roscoe is willing to give his father a second chance, but according to Douglas, his dad’s apology is certainly a bridge toward mending the relationship—as long as one condition is met.

“Roscoe knew who he was from the beginning and [his parents] wouldn’t let him [be] that, so he’s not going to compromise for the sake of welcoming them back into his life,” says Douglas, explaining that while Roscoe would be open to the idea of reconciliation, he would rather have no contact with his parents than be forced to tone down any part of himself for them.

Its a sin cast laughing
“La.” | CHANNEL 4

Roscoe Babatunde is just one piece of Davies’ narrative—one that’s perhaps not given as much weight as other characters—but the themes of Roscoe’s journey lend themselves to the greater picture of It’s a Sin. Much like the 1987 Pet Shop Boys song of the same name, it’s a story of spirited youth just trying to live, despite being told at every turn that their pursuit of happiness is shameful. And along the way, it becomes the story of not only battling an oppressive moral high ground, but battling a deadly illness that only validates the shame instilled in them as children.

“It’s kind of a retrospective on [Davies’] experiences,” says Douglas, describing how It’s a Sin captures the happy moments of being a queer 20-something in the ’80s, in addition to the hard moments. “Back in the ’80s when all of these [seminal works about AIDS] were coming out, I don’t think there was time to sit in the joy.”

Now that time has passed and progress has been made, Davies was able to adopt a tone for It’s a Sin that might have been irreverent at the time. The show features fun pop anthems from the era, steamy sex scenes, and moments of pure ecstasy—whether on the dancefloor or in the company of good friends—that humanize the characters. It’s hard for anyone to watch It’s a Sin and not see at least an element of themselves reflected in Ritchie, or Colin, or Roscoe.

“I’m glad that we can enjoy that stuff because it needs to be seen. We need to see what these people lost,” says Douglas. “People lost youth and innocence and all the things that they should’ve been able to enjoy.”

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26 Essential Queer Movies and TV Shows You Should Stream Right Now

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Published on Thrillist on June 25, 2020

Some of the best stories are queer. Inherently deeply complex and typically considerably more emotional than their cis-het counterparts, they go against everything the media raised us to believe about right and wrong. Since the early days of television, queer people have looked to movies and shows to find semblances of themselves on screen, and over the last few decades, Hollywood has taken great strides toward boosting LGBTQ+ representation and telling diverse stories. (That said, they could definitely take bigger steps.)

We’re living in an era with more queer content available than ever before, and so much of it deserves praise. Spanning nearly every genre, these are just 26 of the must-see LGBTQ+ movies, TV shows, and documentaries you can stream right now.

Listen to Kyler and activist, comedian, and general icon Margaret Cho talk about their favorite LGBTQ+ movies on Thrillist’s Best podcast.

Bessie (2015)

Bessie Smith helped define the Jazz Age as an openly bi blues singer who inspired generations of performers that followed. Nearly a century after the Empress of Blues’ rise to fame, Dee Rees’ made-for-TV biopic brought her journey to the screen. Queen Latifah plays the hell out of Smith, a fiery force backed by indisputable talent, and Mo’Nique (as mentor/frenemy Ma Rainey), Tika Sumpter (as lover Lucille), and Michael K. Williams (as husband/manager Jack) offer supporting performances that make the Emmy-winning film that much more deserving of attention. Bessie bares the barrier-breaking moments that elevated a tough, queer woman of color to stardom, and the tense situations that nearly brought her down.
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO, Hulu, Amazon Prime

The Birdcage (1996)

Longtime partners Armand and Albert Goldman (Robin Williams and Nathan Lane) have built a fabulous life for themselves in South Beach, Florida. Armand owns The Birdcage, a popular drag club, and Albert — more famously known as the drag queen Starina — is the club’s biggest talent. Things get tricky when Armand’s grown son, Val (Dan Futterman), hastily proposes to the daughter of a prominent Republican senator (Gene Hackman). The families plan a dinner in South Beach to get acquainted, but there’s a catch — Val wants Armand to hide Albert away and pretend to be straight for the night. What could go wrong? The Birdcage reimagines the 1978 French comedy La Cage aux Folles and features additional performances by Christine Baranski and Dianne Wiest to tell a hilariously cringey tale of two polar-opposite families digging deep to find shared values.
Where to watch: Hulu, YouTube, Vudu; rent on Amazon Prime

Bonding (2019- )

Newly out Pete (Brendan Scannell) dreams of taking New York City’s comedy scene by storm. Dreams and reality are very different, though; Pete’s never actually performed in front of an audience and his job as a waiter can’t foot the bills alone. When he reconnects with his old BFF Tiff (Zoe Levin), a grad student by day and dominatrix by night, he’s offered a solution to his money problems — working as her assistant/bodyguard during her evening rendezvous. At first Pete’s squeamish at the thought of BDSM, but over time he’s able to find his own sexual liberation and confidence by exploring the kink community. Tiff and Pete — otherwise known as Mistress May and Master Carter — are the dead-faced antiheroes and model archetypes of the struggling millennial New Yorker.
Where to watch: Netflix

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

Natasha Lyonne, honorary queer of Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll fame, cemented her place in lesbian canon more than two decades ago. Lyonne stars as Megan, a teen cheerleader with an athlete boyfriend who she doesn’t like kissing too much. When Megan’s parents suspect her of being lesbian — which comes as news to her — they ship her off to a no-nonsense conversion camp to set her straight. Under the leadership of disciplinarians Mary Brown (Cathy Moriarty) and “formerly gay” Mike (RuPaul), campers undergo a five-step program to “correct” their gender expression and “cure” their homosexuality. Throughout her stay, Megan grows dangerously close to rebellious camper Graham (Clea DuVall), challenging everything she thought she knew about love and sexuality. Years later, But I’m a Cheerleader holds up as the campy conversion therapy comedy that nobody asked for and everybody enjoyed.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel, Tubi, Vudu; rent on Amazon Prime

Carol (2015)

Todd Haynes’ story about lesbian love in the 1950s is a gorgeous film from start to finish, from the direction (every frame is as lush as a painting) to the awards-worthy performances (Rooney Mara as the gawky, vulnerable Therese and Cate Blanchett as the alluring, perfectly coiffed Carol). Carol is one of the most tender cinematic depictions ever of what it feels like to be in love — how the quality of light changes, how time slows, how every fleeting gesture takes on the deliberateness of sign language — and why two people would be willing to go against everything society expects of them in order to hold on to it. The film, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, garnered both of its lead actresses Oscar nominations, among a handful of other awards, and their chemistry will have you feeling as if you’re just as wrapped up in their tumultuous relationship, too.
Where to watch: Kanopy; rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu

Circus of Books (2020)

When it comes to work-life balance, Karen and Barry Mason know best. For decades, the unassuming Orthodox Jewish couple quietly ran a gay bookstore and porn shop in Southern California, taking a front-row seat to the AIDS crisis and finding a soft spot for a community that once seemed foreign — all while raising three children who had no idea about their day job. In Circus of Books, their now-grown daughter, Rachel (who has since been clued in on the family business), documents the real story of Karen and Barry’s relationship, their secret business, and how working in a queer industry would help them come to terms with their own son’s sexuality down the road.
Where to watch: Netflix

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

When Marsha P. Johnson, the transgender activist hailed as the “Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement,” was found dead in the Hudson River in 1992, authorities ruled it a suicide despite a number of suspicious details. Twenty-five years later, many people still believe she was murdered, and in The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, trans activist Victoria Cruz sets out to get some answers. Through her interviews with Johnson’s friends and family, plus archival footage of Johnson and fellow leaders like Sylvia Rivera, viewers are able to piece together the monumental life she lived — and make judgments about her untimely death. In an age where trans people of color still live in fear of being targeted, the documentary feels all-too apt and important.
Where to watch: Netflix

Disclosure (2020)

Most Americans say they don’t personally know a trans person. That means the media is largely responsible for shaping society’s understanding of the trans community, and for the most part, films and TV shows haven’t done an adequate job. Disclosure analyzes the history of trans representation in media and how those characters stack up to the lived experiences of actual trans people. Directed by Sam Feder, executive produced by Laverne Cox, and featuring in-depth interviews from trans filmmakers, actors, and activists like Candis Cayne, Chaz Bono, Mj Rodriguez, and Jamie Clayton, Disclosure shows that media may have come a long way with increasing trans representation, but there’s still plenty of work left to be done to demystify, deradicalize, and diversify trans portrayals. 
Where to watch: Netflix

Feel Good (2020)

Inspired by real experiences in comic Mae Martin’s life, Feel Good follows the turbulent relationship of Mae, an obsessive comedian who struggles with drug addiction, and George (Charlotte Ritchie), a charming school teacher who’s never dated a girl before. The British dramedy hits every emotion in a way that doesn’t always feel good, but does always feel human. George struggles with her friends’ microaggressions, Mae butts heads with her cruel mother (Lisa Kudrow), and the pressure of keeping George interested puts Mae’s sobriety to the test. Feel Good exposes the confusing jumble of euphoria and suffering that characterizes many queer relationships, using impeccable comedic timing and wit to soften the blow. 
Where to watch: Netflix

Holding the Man (2015)

Based on Timothy Conigrave’s 1995 memoir, Australian film Holding the Man pieces together the 15-year romance of Tim (Ryan Corr) and his longtime partner, John (Craig Scott), as they grow up together, navigate parental damnation, and confront their HIV diagnoses. Through the highs and lows of their relationship — distance, infidelity, arguments, and guilt — there’s always a tenderness beneath the surface of their interactions. Equal parts heartwarming and heartwrenching, Holding the Man strikes a sensitive chord and proves that some love is worth fighting for.
Where to watch: Netflix

How to Survive a Plague (2012)

A history of the AIDS epidemic through the mid-1990s is obviously one of the most gut-wrenching films of all time, but this Oscar-nominated documentary elicits as many tears of joy as tears of heartbreak because it chronicles a story of hope, determination, and ultimate victory. Comprised mostly of footage shot during the early years of the crisis, much of it by camerapeople who didn’t live to see the film, the quest of organizations ACT UP and TAG to find better treatment for HIV and AIDS is experienced up close and personal through director David France’s archival-vérité approach.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

I Am Jonas (2018)

When a traumatic experience yanks his first gay lover away, quiet teen Jonas gives up on happiness. Eighteen years later he’s still reeling from the loss, looking for comfort in club nights and casual encounters, until a chance meeting forces him to confront the past and find closure. I Am Jonas straddles two timelines, showcasing the charm of Nicolas Bauwens and Félix Maritaud as young and grown Jonas. Originally released in France, it’s a coming-of-age picture that tackles grief and self-forgiveness in a way that few films dare to attempt, and fewer manage to accomplish.
Where to watch: Netflix

La Casa de las Flores (2018-2020)

Does drama follow the de la Moras, or do the de la Moras breed drama? Either way, their lives are dramatic. The upper-class family owns a flower shop and a cabaret, both named La Casa de las Flores (The House of Flowers), and when they’re not busy fighting over how to run the businesses, they’re busy covering up scandals to keep the de la Mora name untarnished. La Casa de las Flores helped popularize the millennial telenovela genre by incorporating LGBTQ+ characters and progressive values into the typical soap opera style. The dark dramedy challenges traditional Mexican morality and shuts down queerphobic viewpoints in a satirical and digestible way, and soapy as it may be, it’s hard to stop watching.
Where to watch: Netflix

London Spy (2015)

A gay British crime drama starring the winsome Ben Whishaw? Tom Rob Smith knows how to please. Danny Holt (Whishaw) thinks he’s finally found the one, only for his new lover, Alex (Edward Holcroft), to wind up dead a short time later. Danny learns that the man he fell for was an illusion, an identity manufactured to mask his true life as an MI6 spy. Hurt, confused, emboldened, and still in love, Danny dives into the world of espionage in order to get some answers. London Spy adds a needed slow-burn thriller to the queer television arsenal — one that can be watched from tame start to hair-raising finish in under five hours.
Where to watch: Netflix

Moonlight (2016)

Chronicling the boyhood years, teenage stretch, and muted adult life of Chiron, a black gay man making it in Miami, this triptych altarpiece is at once hyper-specific and cosmically universal. Director Barry Jenkins roots each moment in the last; Chiron’s desire for a lost lover can’t burn in a diner booth over a bottle of wine without his beachside identity crisis years prior, blurred and violent, or encounters from deeper in his past, when glimpses of his mother’s drug addiction, or the mentoring acts of her crack supplier, felt like secrets delivered in code. Panging colors, sounds, and the delicate movements of its perfect cast like the notes of a symphony, Moonlight is the real deal, a Best Picture-winning movie that will only grow and complicate as you wrestle with it.
Where to watch: Netflix

Pariah (2011)

Writer-director Dee Rees’ first feature film grapples with identity and belonging through a soul-stirring coming-of-age story set in Brooklyn, New York. Gifted 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) starts embracing her sexuality with the help of her friend Laura (Pernell Walker) and at the contempt of her mother, Audrey (Kim Wayans). Between the film’s title, which means “outcast,” and an opening quote by Audre Lorde — “Wherever the bird with no feet flew, she found trees with no limbs” — Rees offers a window into Alike’s conflicted mind. She feels alone, and she wants that to change. Alike’s private warfare samples from Rees’ own personal experiences, and Oduye’s tender embodiment of Alike elevated Pariah to its award-winning status praised by both GLAAD and NAACP.
Where to watch: Sundance Now; rent on Amazon Prime

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire opens with the simple image of a hand drawing charcoal lines across a blank piece of paper. That’s how an artist begins her work: sketching out the outline and making preliminary judgments about what goes where. We soon learn the hand belongs to Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a French painter in the 18th century who falls in love with the young woman (Adèle Haenel) assigned to her as a subject. (In the early stages of the relationship, Marianne must keep her profession hidden on long walks with her object of obsession, giving the narrative an almost spy-movie like touch.) The fastidiousness of the early scenes helps establish the precise, exacting style of director Céline Sciamma, who tends to favor uncluttered compositions filled with lots of blank space, deliberate movements, and dramatic splashes of color. As the story builds to its inevitably tragic and bittersweet finale, the movie strikes a powerful emotional chord through an unflinching final scene. And yes, the flame-kissed title is very literal. 
Where to watch: Hulu

Pose (2018- )

With Paris Is Burning, the revolutionary 1990 documentary that peered into NYC’s drag ball culture, no longer on Netflix, Pose takes center stage as its worthwhile if not dramatized counterpart. Focusing on the queer ball communities as well as the upper-crust businessmen of New York in the 1980s, Pose was destined to be an important show from its debut, especially considering it features the largest regular cast of trans actors ever on TV. But the show from Ryan Murphy proved to be even more fabulous than anyone anticipated, thanks to nuanced storylines and incredible performances from talent like Janet Mock, Indya Moore, and Mj Rodriguez. It’s an ode to an overlooked community, keying in on the fictional House of Evangelista, but Pose is also a testament to resilience and one of the most joyful viewing experiences in recent TV memory. 
Where to watch: Netflix; rent on Amazon Prime

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017)

Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood turned heads when it dropped on Netflix this spring, painting a captivating but exaggerated portrait of Hollywood after WWII — and the shady encounters that happened behind closed doors. Some of Murphy’s characters are pure fiction, but Ernie West (Dylan McDermott), the hunky pimp who conducted business out of a gas station, was based on the real-life Scotty Bowers. Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood chronicles Bowers’ decades of sex work in an equally intriguing and much closer-to-the-truth manner. Interviews with people, like actor Stephen Fry, former film executive Peter Bart, and Bowers himself before his death, shed light on the high demand for gay escorts particularly in a time that required discretion.
Where to watch: Starz; rent on Amazon Prime

Sex Education (2019- )

This British Netflix original centers around Otis (Asa Butterfield), an awkward teen who finds himself an unwitting sex therapist to his peers, thanks to the knowledge gleaned from being the son of an actual sex therapist, Jean (Gillian Anderson). He and his crush form a side hustle at their school that turns out to have a lot more clients — and bumps in the road — than they expected. As the high school student body struggles to navigate the traumas of young love, a number of queer scenarios rise to the surface. Otis’ best friend, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), lights up the screen as an ebullient gay man on the quest for companionship and acceptance from his family, and an entire story arc on anal douching in Season 2 teaches viewers more about gay sex than any high school health course could ever dream. It’s funny, yet also takes its subject matter seriously, and plays like a sex-positive manifesto for teenagers everywhere. 
Where to watch: Netflix

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020)

Reimagining the ‘80s series She-Ra: Princess of Power with fewer gender stereotypes and more diverse characters, this adventure cartoon brings queer representation to a level that’s not often explored in family-friendly television. When teenage warrior Adora stumbles upon a magical sword, she gains the power to embody She-Ra, a princess tasked with defeating a malicious army intent on taking over the planet. Not only does the heroine herself rank on the Kinsey Scale, but several supporting characters help amplify the narrative that sexuality and gender are fluid, and there’s no right way to express yourself. Whether platonic, romantic, or familial, the relationships in She-Ra pack a ton of nuance, carefulness, and empathy.
Where to watch: Netflix

Special (2019- )

Ryan O’Connell writes, produces, and stars in Special, a short-form, semi-autobiographical series about a gay man with cerebral palsy ready to build a life for himself outside of his mother’s home. As he enters the workforce, considers dating, and finds a new place to live, Ryan gets a taste of independence, and all the challenges that come with. With support from his new friend Kim (Punam Patel), he makes it work, even if that means pushing his overprotective mom, Karen (Jessica Hecht), to the background. The concise first season leaves plenty of storyline to be written, but the little content online tells a bewitching tale of self-acceptance and bravery rarely seen on-screen.
Where to watch: Netflix

Steven Universe (2013-2019)

We’ve finally reached a time when multiple cartoons feature prominent LGBTQ+ themes, for which you can thank Steven Universe for wholly championing. The Cartoon Network series centers around Steven and the Crystal Gems, a group of guardians that fight off interstellar evil to protect the planet. The titular character and half-gem is the youngest in the group, surrounded by female protagonists and role models. A handful of the show’s characters are queer — gay, lesbian, pansexual, asexual, and nonbinary people are all represented through the rolodex of Gems and their fusions — and showrunner Rebecca Sugar confronts their sexualities and genders head-on, not through obscurities and metaphor. There’s a lesbian wedding, gender-neutral pronouns, and an intentional dismissal of gender stereotypes throughout. Steven Universe is technically geared toward young audiences, but plenty enjoyable for cartoon-lovers of all ages.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max

Tangerine (2015)

Tangerine’s natural hook: Sean Baker shot the 2015 film on an iPhone, before anyone was shooting movies on Apple products. But it’s the portraits Baker captured through that lens are what make his film meaningful. Baker began picturing the story of two trans sex workers on a Christmas Eve odyssey across America when he met star Mya Taylor at an LGBTQ center in West Hollywood, where he said “her aura” made him realize he had to speak to her. In pairing Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Baker found a story of friendship shaped by extreme circumstances brought on by marginalization, doing so without leaning into exploitation, even as the plot veers into raucous directions every bit as thrilling as big-budget action set-pieces. Merry Christmas, bitch, indeed.
Where to watch: Hulu

We’re Here (2020- )

Remember Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar? Take that plot, sign on actually queer talent, tweak it for reality TV, and you’ve got We’re Here. HBO’s new show follows three Drag Race alums (Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley) on their mission to nurture queer leaders throughout small-town America. In each episode, the queens spend a week in a different conservative community, where they adopt a few locals as their “drag children” and prepare them for a one-night-only drag show. At a glance, We’re Here is a queer-led makeover show a la Netflix’s Queer Eye — an established queen takes a shy townsperson and puts them in drag for the first time to help them find their confidence — but makeup, wigs, and learning to walk in heels are far from the point. The drag transformation is simply a means to an end, with the end being a newly empowered queer community in every town that they visit.
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO

Wig (2019)

Lady Bunny’s legendary drag festival, Wigstock, entertained the gay community every summer from 1984 till 2001, featuring top talent of the time and giving NYC queers a space to connect and express themselves. In 2018, Lady Bunny resurrected the iconic event to bridge the gap between her generation of drag and the modern drag community. Wig targets a younger audience in need of a history lesson; it reminisces on the “glory days” of drag — when Lady Bunny and RuPaul ruled the town and the Pyramid Club was the hottest place to be — and follows the journey to bring Wigstock back, including footage from the 2018 event itself, which was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and featured drag stars new and old. 
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO

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The Drag Stars of HBO’s ‘We’re Here’ Are Making Lasting Change in Small Towns

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Published on Thrillist on June 11, 2020

By now we know not to underestimate HBO. The network ushered in the golden age of television dramas, marketed a medieval fantasy to mainstream audiences, gave Seinfeld comics a platform to build upon their legacy, and revolutionized the way TV talks about sex and relationships more than once. In April, ahead of its new streaming service debut, HBO quietly premiered We’re Here, a tearjerking reality show that’s taken real strides toward increasing queer visibility in rural communities nationwide.

We’re Here follows three drag superstars on their mission to nurture queer leaders throughout small-town America. There’s Bob the Drag Queen, a New York City icon and winner of Drag Race Season 8; Eureka O’Hara, the “Elephant Queen,” who nearly took the crown in Drag Race Season 10; and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, the three-time Drag Race contestant who landed a role in A Star Is Born. In each episode, the queens spend a week in a different conservative community, traveling to places like Farmington, New Mexico, and Ruston, Louisiana, where they adopt a few locals as their “drag children” and prepare them for a one-night-only drag show. 

At a glance, We’re Here is a queer-led makeover show a la Netflix’s Queer Eye — an established queen takes a shy townsperson and puts them in drag for the first time to help them find their confidence — but makeup, wigs, and learning to walk in heels are far from the point. The drag transformation is simply a means to an end, with the end being a newly empowered queer community in every town that they visit.

Shangela and Eureka spoke to Thrillist about the impact that We’re Here has already made in its first season, which wrapped up on Thursday, June 4. “Interestingly enough, We’re Here is not a drag makeover show; We’re Here is a real-life series that happens to include a transformation,” Shangela clarified. “Drag’s not just about the performance. It’s being able to say, ‘I love myself so much, I have so much pride in who I am and what I’m able to deliver in this world, I’m going to put on this look and I’m going to strut because I don’t have to be ashamed. I don’t have to be shy. I don’t have to be closed off. I can live my life out loud and proud.'”

Every participant in the six-part season brings a different perspective and goal to the drag show stage. Some wanted to perform in drag to show acceptance for their family members; some got in drag to explore their own identities; and some LGBTQ+ allies performed to help break down stigmas for other straight folks in the community. The complicated relationship between religion and sexuality is addressed, race-related struggles are put in the spotlight, toxic gender roles are challenged, and every speck on the rainbow gets airtime.

Shangela gives her new drag children, Brandon and Mikayla, a wedding do-over in Twin Falls, Idaho. | Christopher Smith/HBO

For example, in episode 3, Bob, Eureka, and Shangela went to Branson, Missouri, the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” and home to many quietly queer performers because LGBTQ+ people don’t have adequate protection against discrimination in the state. They met three men each grappling with muddied views of masculinity and identity that their community had instilled in them. Charles, an openly gay dancer, found himself suppressing his sexuality because of the town’s intolerance; Chris, a straight man with a young daughter, fell into depression after bottling up his emotions like he was raised to believe he should; and Tanner, a young guy who previously came out of the closet, then withdrew his queer identity after turning to Christianity and feeling like the two lifestyles weren’t compatible.

Eureka believes there’s a moral code in today’s society that informs how people should look, feel, behave, and love at a young age. “There’s a lot of stereotypes, and at the same time there’s a lot of people who don’t fit that mold,” they said. “What’s so special about the show is that it’s giving voices to people who don’t normally get heard.” The queens aren’t just grooming drag children, they’re grooming community leaders who can continue breaking down gender stereotypes and providing queer safe spaces long after the HBO crew packs up. 

“It’s one thing going into these towns and then leaving,” Shangela said. “People see that with makeover shows — in and out, and then you hope that they feel better.” We know by now that upgrading someone’s wardrobe and giving them a fancy haircut doesn’t do much to make the world a better place; in some cases, it does more harm than good by sending a message that looking polished is the key to unlocking self-love. That’s not the case with We’re Here. The genuine impact the queens had on not only their drag children, but the town as a whole, is why HBO’s take on a “reality makeover show” feels bigger than its more narrow-sighted competitors — and why it’s already been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Real TV Award.

Eureka rehearses with Lynn, a double amputee and soon-to-be drag king, in Ruston, Louisiana. | Jake Giles Netter/HBO

“A lot of times small towns get a bad rap like, ‘Oh my god, you poor queer person living in a small town, I’m sure you can’t wait to grow up and move to the big city where you can be you,” said Shangela, who grew up in Paris, Texas, with a population of around 25,000. “But there are people who live in small towns who love living in their small town, and a lot of times, there just isn’t a space for queer people and queer allies to come out and be together and say ‘I support you.'”

Of course, this is a real, unscripted series, and not everyone in each town responded so openly. As the queens go around passing out flyers promoting the drag shows, they run into plenty of people who show no interest, and in Branson, a business owner called the cops to have the queens kicked off the property, forcing them to leave peacefully despite not breaking any laws. But none of those negative run-ins prevented the drag moms and their children from doing what they set out to do.

“In the first episode I remember telling Bob as she was setting up the stage area, I’m like, ‘Baby, you don’t have to leave all that standing room, this isn’t a regular drag show it’s not going to have tons of people standing and jumping and screaming,'” said Shangela. However, when showtime rolled around, there were so many people from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, lined up to watch that they couldn’t get everyone inside the historic distillery-turned-gay club. That’s when it became clear that We’re Here was going to do some real good.

Shangela and Jose test out a wig in Ruston, Louisiana. | Jake Giles Netter/HBO

Even through a screen, viewers can see that the connections formed are genuine, a byproduct of mutual openness that doesn’t disappear when the cameras do. “I didn’t expect to be that vulnerable, you know, in doing this show, and it’s just been really beautiful,” Shangela said. “Those are all my children now, and I feel like I had a little part in seeing them grow to that place they were at, that level of happiness, the freedom.” 

For a number of reasons (e.g., COVID-19, Drag Race Season 12, the launch of HBO Max, nationwide protests), We’re Here aired all six episodes mostly under the radar, but the people who watched are already demanding more. “It’s not the kind of show that you can pick apart. It’s not about drama, it’s not about shade, it’s really about love and telling stories that people get emotional to and can relate to,” Eureka said. Luckily, HBO’s already confirmed that they’re here to stay — at least for another season.

Categories
LGBTQ

How to Support the Queer Community in NYC During Pride

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Published on Thrillist on June 8, 2020

In 2020, Pride Month looks and feels different than perhaps ever before. As New York City continues to navigate life during COVID-19, adjustments have to be made in order to keep people safe — that means forgoing Pride parties, concerts, and what would’ve been the 50th anniversary of the Pride March, which organizers have now transformed into a virtual rally scheduled for Friday, June 26.

On the bright side, the cancelation of parades and IRL celebrations has given us a chance to focus our energy on the true spirit of Pride: fighting against injustice until every person can celebrate their unique identities without fear. And with the current movement for social justice and equality for Black Americans in the wake of George Floyd, this also means showing continued support to LGBTQ+ folks in the Black community.

The city might be a little less glittery than usual right now, but there are still plenty of ways to celebrate, show solidarity, and support the local queer community.

Raise your voice for BIPOC queers

We entered June with citywide protests and marches against police brutality, a stark contrast from last year’s triumphant WorldPride events. However, the Stonewall Riots of 1969 were led by Black trans women also fighting police brutality, and as queers who benefited from their bravery, it’s our duty to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement and fight for the people who gave us power to fight in the first place.

There are many opportunities to support BIPOC queers and the Black community in NYC. Some are simple — like ordering dinner from a Black-owned restaurant or shopping at a local, Black-owned business — and some require more commitment — like redirecting some of your paycheck to a nonprofit or supporting important community efforts.

The Audre Lorde Project is a vital community organization that supports queer people of color in NYC and relies on grassroots support. FIERCE is another powerful nonprofit that’s raising up the next generation of activists through leadership programs geared toward LGBTQ+ youth of color. Alibi, one of the city’s few remaining Black-owned gay bars, is struggling financially, and a contribution to their GoFundMe will help the Harlem hotspot outlast the pandemic.

Elvert Barnes/Flickr

Support other vital LGBTQ+ organizations

The ongoing pandemic has posed a great challenge for organizations that help the LGBTQ+ community thrive. Queer populations are already at heightened risk of complications with COVID-19, and without New York City’s life-changing and life-saving nonprofits, the community would lose the support needed to stay healthy and connected.

The Center is continuing to help LGBTQ+ folks get medical attention, mental health support, legal aid, housing assistance, and other vital services. Help fund their operations by donating online. Other queer health centers that rely on donations, like Callen-Lorde and Housing Works Community Healthcare, are doing their best to offer services to patients in a way that minimizes the spread of COVID-19.

The Ali Forney Center, which keeps LGBTQ+ youth out of homelessness, has powered through the pandemic, something that wouldn’t be possible without community aid. The Transgender Law Center recently hosted a series of virtual community gatherings about the coronavirus crisis to help educate people and share important resources — the series ended, but they’re still accepting donations to carry on their mission. As an advocate for LGBTQ+ elders, SAGE is offering virtual programming in NYC for this high-risk group. Recommend their services to the older folks you know, and support their life-saving work with a financial gift.

Keep an eye on your favorite performers and queens

The entire nightlife industry has been put on hold in NYC, but that hasn’t stopped entertainers from finding ways to adapt. Social media is the COVID-era nightclub, where people are hosting drag competitions, concerts, comedy shows, and dance parties to give quarantined queers a virtual night out (and make some coin in the process).

Queer venues like Hardware, Playhouse, The Toolbox, and The Monster have continued programming online, with resident performers hopping on livestreams to host digital events. DJ Chauncey D brings beats to Stonewall‘s Zoom happy hours every Friday, and the Marie’s Crisis pianists continue to entertain on Facebook (and raise money for causes related to the Black Lives Matter movement).

As always, drag queens are doing the most. The Digital Pride Fest has fun virtual events all month long with some of the most notable queens, and if you follow your favorite performers on social media you’ll see what other programs they’re involved with right now. Beyond entertainment, many queens have been using their platforms to spread important messages. Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint, for example, addressed racism among Drag Race fans during a particularly timely conversation that all non-Black queers should take the time to absorb this month. 

Of course these aren’t the only people adjusting to nightlife’s new digital sphere — check in with all of the performers you love to see how they’re carrying on during the shutdown.

Fredericks & Mae

Shop online from queer-owned businesses

While you’re on the web, support queer brick-and-mortars that are relying heavily on Internet sales to get through the pandemic. Crown Heights gift shop and home goods store Fredericks & Mae has an extensive online collection, as does intersectional feminist witch shop Cult Party and women-friendly sex store Babeland. The BGSQD bookstore started a system to ship books to customers until they’re able to reopen. Queer Candle Co., an Artists & Fleas vendor that donates 10% of its profits to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, has continued to sell homemade soy wax candles online; and while Housing Works, the NYC organization aiming to tackle the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS, had to close its thrift shops and bookstore cafe, they’ve amped up their online inventory for people who can continue supporting their mission.

Digital-only shops will also need your support during the forthcoming recession. Gay Apparel sells gender-neutral tops that say “GAY” in a highly recognizable style. The Phluid Project, formerly located in NoHo, now runs an exclusively online operation focused on gender-free fashion. Project Runway alum Hester Sunshine makes her custom couture accessible at her online shop Sunshine by Hester. NYC portrait photographer Warren Giddarie sells sexy calendars, prints, and apparel on the Fluorescent Studio site. And of course, there are plenty of queer-owned Etsy shops to browse through in addition to the based-out-of-NYC businesses.

Get a to-go drink from the usual Pride destinations

You may not be able to grind on the Metropolitan dancefloor or post up on a stool in the back of Cubbyhole right now, but some of the best gay bars in NYC are now offering drinks on the go. Julius’ reopened its bar and grill just in time for Pride, Alibi is doing takeout “happy hours,” The Boiler Room has great walk-up offers, Suite Bar stays open later than most places right now, and perhaps for the first time, you can grab a drink from The Monster without worrying about a cover charge. 

While we wait for the club lights to turn back on, support the places that haven’t reopened yet. Fundraisers have been set up for Cubbyhole, Ginger’s, Stonewall, DBL, The Vault, Nowhere, The Rosemont, Macri Park, Mood Ring, and just about every other queer bar you love. Any time you decide to mix yourself a drink, consider “tipping” your favorite bartender on Venmo. If you don’t know any queer bartenders, hop on Their Tips, a database of LGBTQ+ service industry folks who could use some support.

Fonda Restaurant

Order takeout and delivery from queer eateries and cafes

While NYC’s restaurants have taken a huge hit as a result of social distancing, many have been able to stay open by pivoting to delivery and takeout only. One of the best ways to support eateries that are still trucking along in the midst of the pandemic is by ordering meals from them as often as your budget allows.

If you have a favorite LGBTQ-backed restaurant, check in and see which of their services are still available; if you don’t, here are some options: In gay-centric Hell’s Kitchen, Etcetera Etcetera boxes up its Italian fare six days a week, Kahve Coffee offers takeout, and Huascar & Co. Bakeshop satisfies sweet tooths with takeout and delivery services. Fonda’s renowned Mexican food & margs — found in Park Slope, East Village, and Chelsea — can be ordered for takeout or delivery through any of the major apps. And Meme’s Diner in Prospect Heights has shut down most of its operations, but opens on the weekends for bakery, pantry, and bar orders.

Buy gift certificates to your favorite queer spots

Purchasing gift certificates from the places whose doors are locked indefinitely helps the owners get some sort of income while they wait to reopen. Buy them for friends or get them for yourself — when they’re back in business, you’ll have a little treat to cash in.

Most restaurants have gift cards or certificates available for purchase on their websites, including on Thrillist Serves, but the practice extends beyond the food and drink industry. For example, gay-owned salon Hawthorne allows you to buy e-gift cards for a specific stylist, and radical bookstore Bluestockings sells gift certificates in addition to the products in its online store.

Flaming Saddles NYC

Stock up on merch

If you love something, why not wear your heart on your sleeve? Drag queens have merch, comedians have merch, Broadway shows have merch, bars and restaurants have merch — all your favorite performers, performances, and performance venues probably have merch, and now’s the best time to get it.

Some of the best LGBTQ+ bars in the city have online stores, including Flaming Saddles, Henrietta Hudson, and The Stonewall Inn. Broadway productions have been put on hold through the summer, but their digital gift shop carries on. Seek Treatment — the inherently queer podcast about boys, sex, f***ing, dating, and love — sells T-shirts with the hosts’ best catchphrases. And many local drag queens have their own merch lines that you can find through their social media pages or websites.

Try to enjoy yourself, boo

We’re living in tense times, but it’s still a month to celebrate your LGBTQ+ identity and connect with the community. Even if your June isn’t filled with Low Tea parties and open-air raves, you can find ways to safely gather and unwind with friends. Plan a socially distant picnic with the takeout food and drinks you picked up, or get a virtual party going with online drinking games. Show off your flawless Pride outfit at a protest, or on your weekly grocery store run. You’ve earned the opportunity to feel some pride, and that’s something nobody can take away.

Categories
food and drink

Be Queer Right Here at NYC’s Best LGBTQ Bars

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Published on Thrillist on March 6, 2020

Unlike so many others around the globe, New York City queers aren’t limited to two gauche options when planning a Gay Night Out. Here in the birthplace of Pride, we can hop from dive to nightclub to karaoke bar without ever stepping foot in a str**ght establishment. But with so many LGBTQ+ bars around town, each offering a wildly different experience, a simple night of drinking becomes an overwhelming, choose-your-own-adventure ordeal.

In the spirit of gay rights, I bravely squeezed into my tightest pants, chapsticked my lips, and dragged my whiskey sour-drinking ass to as many self-identifying queer bars as one lightweight gay boy can. I wanted to make going out easier for you, dear queer, by ruling out the spots with watery well drinks, exorbitant cover charges, and predatory creeps. My research involved hunting for happy hours and testing each bathroom’s mirror selfie potential. I even learned how to write my phone number on a napkin without breaking eye contact, which isn’t relevant to my findings, but impressive nonetheless. Also impressive? Each one of the 18 best LGBTQ+ bars in NYC.

The Rosemont

Williamsburg
Late-night dancing on a quiet Brooklyn street
In a neighborhood once dominated by Metropolitan, The Rosemont sprouted as a trendier alternative for Brooklynites to get their freak on. The bar doesn’t fully come to life till late in the night, and its spacious back patio serves as the perfect cool-down area after dancing to your heart’s content. The Rosemont creates a welcome environment for all queer people — enough so that their occasional Peggy parties have become a favorite in the lesbian community.

Pieces

West Village
The unassuming Village haunt that knows a good time
The source of Pieces’ power is its winning personality. On the surface, it’s little more than a dive bar with tacky decorations and a makeshift stage, but stick around for a while and you’ll see why its masterful playlists, affable drag queens, and cheap drinks pull rank on the competition and draw crowds. It’s the place you take your posse to build up energy for the night ahead, and oftentimes, the night passes by before you ever make it to stop number two… but who’s complaining?

The Vault

East Williamsburg
Budding basement bar highlights Brooklyn’s thriving nightlife
The Vault is still a relative newcomer to Brooklyn’s club scene, occupying the bi-level space once home to Tilt BK. There’s a small bar on the ground floor — cool — but it’s the seductive basement floor that quickly threw The Vault on the map. The underground parties are known to get rowdy, often featuring alt drag performers, reputable DJs, and a dance floor full of welcoming LGBTQ+ people all looking for a new safe space to drop it low.

Playhouse

West Village
Manhattan’s latest club takes the party underground
The people behind Pieces and Hardware struck gold again with their newest nightlife concept, Playhouse. Just steps from other Village hotspots, the bar brings crowds below street level, where a technicolor dance floor and stage area already play host to some of the hottest events in the city. Whether they’re in it for the lights, music, drinks, or queens, one thing’s for certain: There aren’t any dull boys here.

Cubbyhole

West Village
Beloved lesbian dive knows no strangers
One of the city’s last surviving lesbian bars, Cubbyhole holds far more customers than square feet without losing its local feel. The ladies are friendly at this long-standing dive, and if you’re new to the scene, you’ll get to know everyone pretty damn quick. The beauty of Cubbyhole transcends its gaudy ceiling decor; it’s a multigenerational playground where strangers become friends, King Princess rules the jukebox, and straight men enter at their own risk.

Friend’s Tavern

Jackson Heights
An alternative to the whitewashed Village scene
When Eddie Valentin opened Friend’s in 1989, one objective was “…giving people in a very gay Latino community, which is Jackson Heights, a safe haven where they could go without being ridiculed or attacked…” he told Get Out! magazine last spring. That goal is still as critical as ever, as many of the city’s POC-focused bars have been forced to close their doors. Jackson Heights is home to a concentration of LGBTQ+ establishments, and a naughty night on Roosevelt Avenue should make every queer’s bucket list. Friend’s is the venue that started it all, and today the place frequently runs specials, brings in DJs, and hosts exotic male dancers.

Club Cumming

East Village
Shoebox event space gives queer comedy a platform
Alan Cumming’s brainchild expertly fosters community — in part because the cramped walls force people together, but more so because it offers a queer space for comedians, musicians, and fans of comedy and music to get to know one another through intimate shows and performances. On a lucky night, you might catch a glimpse of Alan passing through, but despite his celeb status, he’s far from the only reason to stop in for a drink.

Flaming Saddles Saloon

Hell’s Kitchen
Coyote Ugly for queer boys
Rural gays get their due at HK’s unapologetically Western saloon, where outfitted bartenders serve more than just drinks. Every so often, the dancing drink-makers clack their boots across the counter to the sounds of Dixie Chicks, Shania, Dolly, and the like. The bartop choreography is a former farm boy’s wet dream; catch the attention of a dancer and you might earn a free shot during the show. After Texas two-stepping your way through the night, who knows whose bed your boots will end up under.

Julius’

West Village
Yes, it’s still open
This decades-old favorite never stopped being fun. The cash-only dive that’s widely considered the oldest gay bar in NYC has been slinging drinks to a mostly male crowd since the 1860s, and in the 1960s, the clientele began skewing queer after a “Sip-In” led to the state Supreme Court declaring that “well-behaved homosexuals” could not be denied service. Today, the jukebox blares as gay forefathers and Gen Z twinks slam down Stellas and fried foods in perfect harmony.

ICON

Astoria
Queens’ queens can hang
Of course there’s no wrong way to gay, but if you’re still writing off the outer boroughs, you sure as hell aren’t right. ICON is Astoria’s modern gay sanctuary, worshiping great music and raw talent. Each week, the stage curtains open on some of drag’s fiercest icons — like Jan Sport, a Season 12 Ru Girl and host of Fabulous Fridays. When queens aren’t dominating the room, the bar’s no less righteous; any night of the week, you’ll be bathed in good vibes.

Ginger’s

Park Slope
The locals’ hideout that feels like home
This vaguely lesbian lair attracts more gender diversity than its Manhattan counterparts, primarily because it’s marketed as a space for all LGBTQ+ folks, not just the ladies. Nestled in South Brooklyn’s gayborhood, Ginger’s also draws fewer tourists and college students than, say, the bars near Christopher Park, making it locals’ preferred choice for low-key meet-ups. There’s pool, a jukebox, and in the warmer months, a back patio you can spend the whole evening on.

Suite

Manhattan Valley
Uptown pub where weeknight karaoke shines
Suite’s the kind of low-frills pub where one beer turns to two, which turns to three, which turns to you sidling up to the bar until closing time, at which point you’ll be dr**k and feeling the inexplicable need to slap down a $10 bill in exchange for one of their brown, branded v-neck tees before calling it a night. There’s a karaoke party every Sunday-Thursday night and drag shows on weekends, keeping the energy high seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Therapy

Hell’s Kitchen
One session will lift your spirits
Two types of gays dominate NYC: those who seek treatment from medical professionals, and those who seek treatment from more traditional sources of healing (i.e., dancing to forget). Neither is necessarily better than the other — or cheaper — but if you’re the latter, Therapy’s your spot. Its claims to fame are the 5x weekly drag shows and Sunday Service drag brunch, led by queens that you already know and love. Best of all, you can put your family at ease by letting them know you’re going to Therapy.

The Stonewall Inn

West Village
Landmark rendezvous where Pride was born
It’s no coincidence that this bar shares a name with the 1969 Stonewall Riots; The Stonewall Inn is where the gay liberation movement began over 50 years ago, securing its place as the most significant LGBTQ+ bar in the world. Now a National Historic Landmark, Stonewall continues bringing queer people together with regular drag shows, dance parties, karaoke nights, and Pride-themed events. It’s a tourist favorite, but you’d be foolish to let that deter you.

3 Dollar Bill

East Williamsburg
A massive, jack-of-all-trades venue 
Elbow room is precious in NYC, which explains how one of the city’s newer LGBTQ+ bars established itself as a nightlife destination so damn fast. Touted as the largest queer venue in Brooklyn, 3 Dollar Bill has a bar room, a performance area and dance floor, an outdoor space, and a full Mexican kitchen. It’s home to more than a few types of events, including circuit parties, flea markets, comedy shows, and TV watch parties.

Henrietta Hudson

West Village
Cubbyhole’s rebellious sister
Cubby is for cheap drinks and socializing; Henrietta Hudson is for disco balls and grinding. Since 1991, Henrietta’s lured ladies in with her colorful lights, dance cages, and near-deafening beats. On weekend nights, you’re likely to find celesbian DJs on the turntables, and if you’re looking to save a dime, you can start the night early enough to catch their daily happy hour deals. If you thought you were in for a tame night out, Henrietta will set you straight (figuratively speaking, of course).

Albatross

Astoria
A cozy piece of history that’s become a neighborhood staple
Albatross doesn’t need renovations or craft beers to hold its place as Queens’ most delightful queer bar; their free board games and $8, 16-ounce “cock-tails” prove that sometimes cheaper is better. Albatross once catered specifically to lesbians, but later shifted its focus to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. Throughout the week, you’re likely to stumble upon karaoke, bingo, drag performances, and screenings of can’t-miss TV events, like major awards shows and Drag Race.

Macri Park

Williamsburg
Small space with big personality
When a bar crawl lands you in the ‘Burg, work Macri Park into the route. They’re not afraid to charge a cover, but for a few dollars’ admission, you’ll gain access to a friendly back patio and a drag-loving crowd that’s ready to stuff bills where the sun don’t shine. The energy at Macri slaps, and the limited space forces bonding among fellow boozers. This shouldn’t be your first stop — or your only stop — but it’s deserving of a stop on your journey to seeing stars.

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events

All the Best NYC Pride Month Events You Can Hit This June

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The countdown to the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30, has begun, with plenty of time to prepare for the main event. The combination of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first-ever stateside WorldPride, and an entire month teeming with all manner of LGBTQIA+ events promises to make this June the greatest Pride month NYC has ever seen. New Yorkers and folks from all over the world are amped to commemorate the Stonewall Inn’s historic place in the modern Gay Rights Movement, celebrate WorldPride’s aim to bridge communities across cultures, and have an all-around excellent time.

WorldPride alone added dozens of new events to 2019’s already packed Pride month calendar, and those are just the tip of the iceberg. Theaters, gay bars, historical societies, libraries, and city parks all have additional educational, entertaining, and decadent plans of their own. So get out the glitter and gear up for the celebration of a lifetime: Here’s every NYC Pride month parade, party, screening, talk, performance, exhibit, ball, festival, and concert you can hit this June.

Queens Pride

Sunday, June 2
Jackson Heights
NYC’s biggest borough will host the season’s first Pride festival. The parade steps off on 37th Avenue at noon, followed by a block party at 75th Street and 37th Road till 6pm. Don your best ‘fit, get colorful, and make some noise for a shot at one of the coveted Queenie Awards.
Cost: Free to attend; bring cash for snacks and sips

nyc pride ride
NYC PRIDERIDE

NYC Pride Ride

Sunday, June 2
Concludes in Hamilton Heights
Cycle with pride on a 30-, 60-, 80-, or 100-mile ride through New Jersey and New York to benefit OutCycling’s youth program. Finish the journey with a BBQ festival on the Hudson Greenway.
Cost: $90

Transgender 201

Tuesday, June 4
Long Island City
Educate yourself on the most prominent issues facing the transgender community, and learn what you can do to create a more positive and supportive environment for transgender people today.
Cost: Free

Hot Mess: Drag Competition – PRIDE EDITION

Wednesday, June 5
Bushwick
Twelve drag stars will face off in what’s sure to be one of New York City’s fiercest Pride Month battles. Who will win your support?
Cost: Free

Brooklyn Pride Day

Saturday, June 8
Park Slope/Prospect Park
Close out Brooklyn Pride Week with a festivity-packed day. It all starts at 10am with a 5K run around Prospect Park, and continues through the evening with stage entertainment, family activities, a concert in the park, and the Twilight Parade at 7:30pm.  
Cost: All events are free to attend; 5K participation costs $40

“Live Oak, With Moss”: Uncovering Walt Whitman’s Queer Private Life

Tuesday, June 11
Brooklyn Heights
Most people know Walt Whitman as the brain behind Leaves of Grass, but few have come across his unpublished poetry collection, Live Oak, with Moss, which fervently explores same-sex love. Learn about this little known work at the Brooklyn Historical Society’s moderated discussion.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Out to Climb

Wednesday, June 12
Long Island City
Brooklyn Boulders brings Pride to the rock wall with races, climbing instruction, and — check this out — a vertical drag show. It’s bringing in a DJ and providing drinks from Brooklyn Brewery to keep the one-of-a-kind Pride party going.
Cost: $15 event pass; $25 climbing + event pass; free for members

Criminal Queerness Festival

Thursday, June 13 – Saturday, July 6
West Village
The National Queer Theater is giving a censorship-free voice to four international playwrights whose stories of love, oppression, and injustice shed light on the paucity of civil rights progress made in other parts of the world. Each play runs five times at the IRT Theater.
Cost: $20 general admission; $17 youth tickets (ages 30 and below)

house of yes
House of Yes | KENNY RODRIGUEZ

Discotechnique: Rainbow Disco

Friday, June 14
Bushwick
Express yourself in the most colorful way you know how at House of Yes’s disco-themed Pride party. Sparkle under rainbow lights and let your inner pride spill out onto the dancefloor.
Cost: $20-30

OutCinema

Monday, June 17 – Wednesday, June 19
Chelsea
WorldPride and LGBTQ film presenter NewFest will screen three queer films and one short over three days at SVA Theatre. Each full-length film centers on some facet of LGBTQ culture in NYC, and every screening is followed by a Q&A with key players who brought the stories to life.
Cost: $30 per screening; $100 for a three-day VIP pass; NewFest member discounts available

“But I’m A Cheerleader” Drink or Dare with Videology

Wednesday, June 19
Bushwick
This simple but effective party concept from Videology marries a drinking game with a film screening to delightfully buzzed effect. See Natasha Lyonne in the late ‘90s queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader and get jolly in the process.
Cost: $15 general admission; $60 for a VIP ticket with a bottle of sparkling and table service

Family Movie Night: “Coco” (2017)

Friday, June 21
West Village
Bring the kids along for an age-appropriate film screening event on Pier 45, hosted by drag star Miss Richfield. This year’s flick is the Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar hit Coco.
Cost: Free to attend; VIP seating available for a pretty penny

The Library After Hours: Pride

Friday, June 21
Midtown
Dive into LGBTQ history at the NYPL’s after-hours Pride celebration. The night centers on the Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50 exhibit, and features plenty more entertainment from drag queens and special guests.
Cost: $15 for early admission at 7pm; pay-what-you-wish after 8pm (suggested donation $15)

CosPlay & Pride

Saturday, June 22
West Village
Beloved NYC drag queen Petra Fried hosts this year’s CosPlay event at Pier 40, with Drag Race alum Aja headlining the boat cruise’s talent. You’ve got almost the whole month to perfect your costume — don’t waste it!
Cost: Tickets start at $45

bronx pride march festival
1 Bronx Pride March | ED GARCIA CONDE/WELCOME2THEBRONX

1 Bronx World Pride Rally, March, and Festival

Sunday, June 23
The Bronx
The northern borough’s bash is expected to attract an estimated 20,000 revelers. The day begins with an 11am rally and march, followed by an afternoon festival with street vendors and performers.
Cost: Free to enter

Pride Luminaries Brunch

Sunday, June 23
Midtown
Enjoy an open bar and brunch buffet on Moxy Hotel’s rooftop in honor of businesspeople who have been instrumental in promoting workplace equality for LGBTQIA+ people this year. Presented in partnership with Thrillist, the Pride Luminaries Brunch will be a morning to remember.
Cost: Tickets start at $85

S & M Ball

Sunday, June 23
Bushwick
Enter the final week of Pride with a hard lean into whips and chains, leather and latex at this ball-style bash celebrating both BDSM and the queer and trans people of color who’ve brought ballroom culture to life in New York City. Newbies and allies are welcome to attend, but encouraged to show enthusiasm from the sidelines out of respect for the participants.
Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at the door

The Tea on Brooklyn’s Prismatic LGBTQ Nightlife

Monday, June 24
Brooklyn Heights
Learn about Brooklyn’s history of serving marginalized communities with clips from the documentary We Came to Sweat and a panel discussion from experts on the borough’s queer nightlife scene.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Human Rights Conference

Monday, June 24 – Tuesday, June 25
Tribeca
Hear important conversations about global human rights with a range of experts and activists. This two-day conference features performances and presentations that will touch on policy, art, and justice.
Cost: $30 one-day admission; $50 two-day admission; student/senior discounts available

gamechangers at sva theatre
GameChangers | NYC PRIDE

GameChangers

Tuesday, June 25
Chelsea
This panel discussion, Q&A, and networking opportunity focuses on LGBTQ+ movers and shakers in the entertainment industry. Star Trek legend George Takei and transgender actress Leyna Bloom lead the discussion at SVA Theatre.
Cost: $25+ general admission; $15 student admission

WorldPride Opening Ceremony

Wednesday, June 26
Prospect Heights
June may be nearing its end, but WorldPride is just ramping up. Pack into the Barclays Center for a benefit concert kickoff as Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Ciara, Billy Porter, and Chaka Khan use their talents to raise money for three monumental LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Cost: Tickets start at $45

Getting the History of HIV/AIDS Right

Wednesday, June 26
Brooklyn Heights
Separate fact from fiction as two professors unpack the complexities of HIV/AIDS and explore how identity, history, science, and stigma factor into our understanding of the virus today.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

nyc gay men's chorus
NYCGMC | MATTHEW RANEY

Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall50

Thursday, June 27
Midtown
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and LGBTQ choruses from across the country will commemorate Stonewall’s 50th anniversary at Carnegie Hall. Their new choral piece celebrates the Stonewall Uprising’s ripple effect with over 500 participating voices.
Cost: Tickets start at $22.50

Dirty Thursday: Born This Way

Thursday, June 27
Bushwick
A gay dance party devoted to none other than queer icon Lady Gaga? House of Yes, please.  
Cost: Free

Savor Pride

Friday, June 28
SoHo
Thrillist partnered with NYC Pride and meal-delivery non-profit God’s Love We Deliver for the return of this popular culinary experience and fundraiser. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by accomplished chefs and taste their creations on the GLWD terrace, all for a good cause.
Cost: Tickets start at $70

Stonewall 50th Commemoration Rally

Friday, June 28
West Village
Remember the Stonewall Uprising at a rally reminiscent of 1969’s. LGBTQIA+ rights have come a long way in the last five decades, but there’s still a long way to go. This call for change should rank high on your Pride month must-dos.
Cost: Free

ny lgbt pride run
LGBT Pride Run | NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS

Front Runners NY LGBT Pride Run

Saturday, June 29
Central Park
Start Pride Weekend with your best foot forward by running in (or watching) a 5-mile race through the park. The 38th annual event aims to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Pride charity run.
Cost: $37 per runner; discounts available for members, seniors, students, and youth

Teaze

Saturday, June 29
Lower East Side
Five NYC party collectives will band together for an ultra-queer night of fun. When the party’s over, you’ll have five new LGBTQ+ nightlife options to add to your agenda.
Cost: General admission is $30

PrideFest

Sunday, June 30
East Village
Join NYC Pride for an afternoon of music, activities, and all sorts of treats to go along with the neighboring Pride March.
Cost: Free to attend

NYC Pride March
NYC Pride March | JESS POMPONIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

NYC Pride March

Sunday, June 30
Manhattan
This is the Pride Month event, a tradition that began the year after the Stonewall Riots and has since grown to include millions of LGBTQ+ people and allies. Nab a spot on Fifth or Seventh avenues, celebrate all the progress that’s been made, and call for continued action.
Cost: Free

WorldPride Closing Ceremony

Sunday, June 30
Times Square
Squeeze in one more celebration before Pride Month wraps at WorldPride’s last hoorah, where Melissa Etheridge, Jake Shears, and fast-rising pop star MNEK will take the stage alongside a Broadway act and other talent.
Cost: Admission is free with registration

Categories
policy

The Aderholt Amendment: A Dangerous Step Backward

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Published on the Lilliput Families blog on August 22, 2018

On July 11, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) proposed a controversial amendment to the 2019 spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The measure, which got initial approval from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, would allow discriminatory child welfare agencies to receive federal funding.

Currently, federal law says that government-funded adoption agencies are not allowed to deny service to anyone for religious or moral reasons. The Robert Aderholt Amendment makes room for more faith-based discrimination in the child welfare system by letting organizations pick and choose who they serve without forfeiting government aid.

Opponents fear that this will undo the progress that the LGBTQ community has made toward securing the right to adopt, and encourage further discrimination against anyone who doesn’t fit a “traditional parent” mold.

Aderholt, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, pitched his amendment as something of an all-hands-on-deck approach to getting children out of foster care. “We need more support for these families and children in crisis,” he wrote in a press release, “not less.”

What the representative failed to note is that more agencies won’t necessarily lead to more homes for foster children. Rather than widening the pool of potential adoptive parents, the Aderholt Amendment would create more competition for non-discriminatory agencies. This could reduce the number of available homes by limiting the options for LGBTQ people, single people and unmarried couples.

The same groups that are subject to discrimination are the ones that give the child welfare system hope of solving the foster care crisis. A fact sheet on the American Civil Liberties Union website points out that married, opposite-sex couples cannot accommodate the entire population of children that lack homes. “There simply are not enough married mothers and fathers who are interested in adoption and foster care,” it reads. “Last year only 20,000 of the 100,000 foster children in need of adoption were adopted, including children adopted by single people as well as married couples.”

“Faith and Freedom” is listed on Aderholt’s government webpage as part of his political platform. He quotes a portion of the First Amendment that reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Aderholt claims that the government intrudes upon people who exercise religious freedom, but one could just as easily claim that when it comes to child welfare, the government has been playing it neutral. The law doesn’t prohibit faith-based adoption agencies from finding homes for children, it simply declines to spend taxpayer dollars on agencies that are unwilling to serve all taxpayers.

Though the Aderholt Amendment was approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, the spending bill that it’s tacked on to has yet to receive final approval in Congress. If the amendment is implemented, the Department of Health and Human Services would be required to start withholding 15 percent of child welfare funds from any state or local government that shows bias toward secular agencies.

Several politicians and advocacy groups have taken to social media to speak out against the narrow-sighted proposal, using the hashtag #LicenseToDiscriminate—a reference to the similar “license to discriminate” laws that a handful of states have already enacted.

To learn more about how you can prevent the Aderholt Amendment from becoming law, visit the Every Child Deserves a Family website at https://goo.gl/5NLJ1k.

Categories
policy

What Is a Resource Family?

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Published on the Lilliput Families blog on August 8, 2018

Following the approval of a state Assembly bill in 2015, California’s child welfare system began to embrace a host of new policies and terms in the foster care arena. Among the many changes brought about by AB 403, the Resource Family Approval program has stood out as a point of confusion for many. While talk of resource families and RFA requirements sounds daunting at first, the concept behind the new legislation is not so complex.

Foster parents and foster families still exist in California, but they go by a new name: “resource families.”

Put simply, a resource family is any individual, couple or family that has been approved to take children into their care. Whether someone is looking to adopt, foster or temporarily open their home to a child, they will first need to become a resource family by way of the RFA process.

In order to receive a resource family designation, each applicant must pass a home inspection, background check, and family evaluation. Resource families also receive mandatory training that prepares them to create safe and nurturing home environments.

Prior to AB 403, different types of caregivers received different levels of training and support. The RFA program provides a statewide standard of approval for all caregivers—short-term or long-term, relatives or non-relatives—to ensure that each is equally equipped to meet the needs of a child who has been displaced. Under the new system, people fostering children can become adoptive parents without undergoing an additional home study.

The push for a uniform approval process comes on the heels of a statewide effort to establish stability in the lives of foster youth. Lawmakers agreed that children deserve to grow up in a family setting, and the new legislation calls for less reliance on group home care and more effort toward placing youth with resource families. This will not only put foster youth on a more promising path to permanency, but get them adequate support to realize their full potential. In situations where children are not ready to live with a family, group care facilities may still be appropriate options for short-term treatment.

With an increase of children coming into foster care, the need for carefully trained families is at a high. Whereas old family approval processes could take several months, the RFA program aims to complete assessments within 90 days. Currently, one of the greatest challenges with the RFA program is assisting families through the approval process within the 90-day window, but as agencies adapt to new procedures, the vetting and training process is becoming more streamlined.

Lilliput Families has been at the forefront of the RFA program since its early conception. In 2016, Lilliput was one of five private agencies—known as “early implementers”—selected by the state to test the program prior to widespread implementation. Lilliput has also been a leading resource for relatives going through the RFA process. If you would like more information about becoming a resource family, reach out to one of Lilliput’s experts, Angie Nevin, at anevin@lilliput.org.