We haven’t seen two princesses fall in love and marry each other the end of a Disney movie. We haven’t seen a rom-com about two-non binary people falling in love from an adorable meet-cute, only to end with them skipping down the isle. The stories of LGBTQ+ falling in love haven’t been told to us.
Right now, Woke, Slay, Bae, Yaaasss Queen and Lit are basically unavoidable. Yet the claim that these words are ‘internet slang’ is a bold faced lie- they come from Black and Queer culture. I’ll put it to you simply, flavoring your language with slang that is not native to you may come with more than a heavy does of side-eye, it could also be problematic, exploitative, and signal to the community that you’re borrowing from that you trivialize their personal experiences and tokenize their culture.
Cooper is many things -- a military veteran, a Buddhist, a transgender pioneer in the arts, an activist and a filmmaker. Originally from New York, I spoke to Cooper about how these multiple identities have shaped his life.
In the midst of such fervent gun culture, a growing student activist movement at the University of Texas, Austin, is fighting back. For over a year, members of Cocks Not Glocks have made international headlines with their unique method of advocacy: rocking dildos on their backpacks as they stroll around campus and attend their classes.
Does this politically tumultuous time lead to more hook-ups, more people clinging to love and belonging as necessary protections? Or are sex and romance taking a hit because of our stress levels, with more urgent political needs forcing sex to the back burner?
Sweedan risked his life and the life of his family by supporting the U.S. in Iraq. After losing his father because of this, he still decided to serve the U.S. again as an Army medic. And yet, here he was, being sympathetic to people who are often the least understanding of his plight.
I was one of the first to arrive at Alton Sterling’s funeral. Thousands were expected on that Friday, so Southern University, my alma mater, had hosted the funeral at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Walking towards the door, all the memories I had of wild undergraduate times—sneaking away from dorms past curfew, caught up in some silly drinking game—came flooding back. They gave me comfort, even at this sorrowful time.
After hours of church, it was finally time for a confession: I was here to find out why Pastor Kerney Thomas—former televangelist and larger-than-life black pastor of a small Louisiana congregation—was now an avid supporter of Donald Trump.
It’s not just Hollywood that makes it difficult for me to SWB (Sub While Black). Even the present-day black experience in America can get in the way of exploring different types of sexual “play.” Can you imagine what a black person might picture if her partner wants to roleplay as a cop?