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Mayor Murray and the Fall of a Guardian
Today The Stranger published an editorial submission from Mayor Ed Murray. That sentence is, in itself, troubling without taking into account the fact that Murray’s guest editorial was a blathering, vile screed in which he stated what powerful, white men always say when they’re in danger: look at the alleged victim’s criminal record, they must be lying.
Indie Music and The Insufferable Triteness of Being
Obviously, I can’t stop straight, white, indie dudes from doing their thing. I’m sure they’re going to write their bullshit essays whether I read them or not. But what I can do is interrogate the implicit politics of these situations and encourage others to do the same.
“Gay Uncle” a Delightful Refresher in Queer Pop History
Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Judy Garland, Armistead Maupin – each has a portrait and a story in Robert’s one-man show, “The Gay Uncle Explains It All To You: The True Stories of a Middle-Aged Gay Man.”
Charli XCX Turns The Party
There’s a profound difficulty in locating any of Charli XCX’s music historically, or even within the continuum of her own output, because she’s never made the same thing twice. As a fan this is thrilling, but as a critic it’s deeply puzzling.
The Art of a Mayoral Run: Nikkita Oliver
Local artist, teacher, activist, community organizer and attorney Nikkita Oliver recently launched her run against Ed Murray for Seattle’s mayoral seat. Oliver, who’s gained recognition as both an eminent Seattle artist and a keen and passionate community organizer…
Mykki Blanco Gives You Hope
To this list of historical blowouts, I’d submit this date for inclusion: Monday, February 27, 2017. Monday night, in the belly of the newly renovated Neumos, Cakes da Killa, Mykki Blanco, and a host of local performers threw Seattle an enormous, kaleidoscopically diverse party. It was the kind of thing we need more now than ever.
Highs And Lows Of A History Making Oscars
Between Gary from Chicago and Warren Beatty’s Steve Harvey moment, the 2017 Academy Awards will be remembered forever. But more importantly, this year’s Oscars made history with the first ever LGBTQ film achieving the Academy’s highest honor: Best Picture!
Hazel English And The Power Of Ambiguity
Sunday night, Hazel English took the stage wearing a delicately checked blue and yellow sweater, acid wash jeans (relaxed fit), and pink vans. Fittingly for the Vera Project, the crowd was mixed in age and seemed subdued to the point of drowsiness. Most of us sat placidly along the walls through the two openers, but stood and drifted towards the middle of the stage as she and her band began playing.
Totally Unofficial Queer Guide to Emerald City Comicon 2017
Are you ready for Emerald City Comicon this year? Like usual, there’s a ton of panels and content to be found, and I’ve scoured it all to find the most relevant content for LGBTQ folks, both official and after-hours events.
The Adventures of Pup Turbo
The kink phenomenon of pup play, role-playing the persona of a puppy, shows no signs of slowing down in its popularity. I recently got to chat with Pup Turbo, Northwest Puppy for 2016 and current reigning International Puppy. He’s passionate about his kinks and sharing them with the community.
Kehlani the Comeback Kid
Cliché’s aside, everyone loves a comeback kid. In March of 2016, Kehlani, the R&B wunderkind behind a series of commercially and critically successful EPs posted an Instagram of an IV. In the caption, she alluded to attempting to take her own life and addressed swirling rumors about her relationships and alleged infidelities.
Michete’s New Tricks and Tantrum
This Fall, I got sushi with Michete and we talked about their music, Kanye West and our shared Spokane upbringings. At the time, they told me off the record that they were working on the lead single from their next album, Cool Tricks 3.
The Politically Apropos Future Politics of Austra
One of the most common (and most entirely dumb-ass) cultural refrains currently at large is the notion that great art emerges in times of social and political turmoil. “Yes, this administration will be awful,” the faceless hordes opine, “but the art will be great!”
Taking Game Designers To School: Queerness in Games
What makes a game queer? How do we make our games more inclusive, and extend out into the community? These questions and many more are explored among fans and at conventions, but in recent years, the study of queerness in games has extended into more academic pursuits.
Doing Spit Takes with Trixie Mattel
It’s been nearly two years since Trixie Mattel graced the TV stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and it’s time that she’s made the most of. Since her initial appearance, elimination, re-appearance, and re-elimination from RuPaul’s queen-making machine, she’s become a YouTube celebrity, both solo and in partnership with her best squirrel-friend Katya, toured with her own live stage show, and even made a guest appearance on the most recent season of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story.