Local

Fast Five Fix: July 11

Queer/trans Bollywood film takes Bangladesh by storm, Calvin Klein turned his ex straight, Canada wins in number of out gays per capita, and Frank Ocean’s new song is going to be your new fav

Published

14 years ago

July 11, 2012

Phil Reese

Its Slurpee day! Speaking of chilly reception, Towleroad says Rep. Barney Frank, who married this weekend, says that — while they’ve not said bad things to him — House Republicans failed to show to the wedding or publicly congratulate him. At least he’s not a Texas Democrat: Dallas Voice says that most of them are passing on the opportunity we reported on earlier this week to fight the anti-gay elephant in Congress’s room, the Defense of Marriage Act. Now here’s all the queer news that fit to regurgitate in bullet form:

Autostraddle tells us about the movie taking Bangladesh by storm: ‘Common Gender,’ a Bollywood film about a love story between a “hijra” and a Hindu boy.
Maybe fashion designer Calvin Klein is just so incredible in bed, that his ex-boyfriend Nick Gruber knew he could never be satisfied by another man again. Well, for whatever reason he may have, Queerty says that Gruber is back with girls (and a Girls Gone Wild girl at that). How sad, he purrty.
Google tells us more about that ‘Legalise Love’ conference and campaign, where they hope to eradicate anti-gay laws in the nations where they have offices so “all of our employees have the same inclusive experience outside of the office as they do at work.”
Is Canada more queer (per capita) than the U.S.? A new poll says yes: 5% in the general population and (read to the bottom, talk about a buried lead) 10% of those 18-34 say “Yes I Am” like Melissa Etheridge, says the National Post.
Queerty says both queeresque pop icon Lady Gaga and feisty gay porn king Michael Lucas are launching their own social networks. So yeah, that’s happening.

VIDEO | New Frank Ocean performance on Jimmy Fallon debuts new queer love song, first TV performance ever for the newly out rising R&B powerhouse on his first full solo project outside of Odd Future. And its gorgeous. I mean effing gorgeous. Its your new favorite song, no joke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyWRUzQoi6g

(h/t JoeMyGod)

“I could never make him love me. I could never make him love me.” Yes, I’m playing this on repeat all day.

Tonight, our friends at Outrage recommend ‘iCandy’ ladies night at MOVA, ‘Smart Ass Trivia’ at Nellie’s, ‘New Meat’ amateur stripper audition at Ziegfeld’s/Secrets or Cobalt karaoke if you need to get over your hump day.

Up Next

Romney stresses same-sex marriage opposition in NAACP speech

Don't Miss

Md. marriage advocates target black voters in new ad

FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Virginia

VIDEO: LGBTQ groups march in Va. inaugural parade

Abigail Spanberger took office on Saturday

Published

14 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Michael Key

Diversity Richmond and the Virginia Pride project of Diversity Richmond march in the 2026 Inauguration Parade on the grounds of the state capitol in Richmond, Va. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The inaugural ceremonies for Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger were held in Richmond, Va. on Saturday. Among the groups marching in the parade were Diversity Richmond and the Virginia Pride project of Diversity Richmond.

View on Threads

*The LGBTQ contingent in the inaugural parade in Richmond, Va. pass by the review stand on Jan. 17, 2026. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)*

Virginia

Va. Senate approves referendum to repeal marriage amendment

Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin introduced SJ3

Published

22 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Staff reports

(Bigstock photo)

The Virginia Senate on Friday by a 26-13 vote margin approved a resolution that seeks to repeal a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) introduced SJ3. The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Wednesday approved it by a 10-4 vote margin.

Same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in Virginia since 2014. Outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2024 signed a bill that codified marriage equality in state law.

A resolution that seeks to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in the General Assembly in 2021. The resolution passed again in 2025.

Two successive legislatures must approve the resolution before it can go to the ballot. Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates have said the resolution’s passage is among their 2026 legislative priorities.

“It’s time for Virginia’s Constitution to reflect the law of the land and the values of today,” said Ebbin after Friday’s vote. “This amendment, if approved by voters, would affirm the dignity of all committed couples and protects marriage equality for future generations.”

Maryland

Layoffs and confusion at Pride Center of Maryland after federal grants cut, reinstated

Trump administration move panicked addiction and mental health programs

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Merrick Moses, a violence prevention coordinator, works at the Pride Center of Maryland in Baltimore. (Photo by Ulysses Muñoz for the Baltimore Banner)

By ALISSA ZHU | After learning it had abruptly lost $2 million in federal funding, the Pride Center of Maryland moved to lay off a dozen employees, or about a third of its workforce, the Baltimore nonprofit’s leader said Thursday.

The group is one of thousands nationwide that reportedly received letters late Tuesday from the Trump administration. Their mental health and addiction grants had been terminated, effective immediately, the letters said.

By Wednesday night, federal officials moved to reverse the funding cuts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, estimated to total $2 billion, according to national media reports. But the Pride Center of Maryland’s CEO Cleo Manago said as of Thursday morning he had not heard anything from the federal government confirming those reports.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.