a&e features
Transitional truths
Two new projects bring trans stories into the mainstream
Against Me! lead singer Laura Jane Grace, on left, and Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox host two new trans-themed profile series. (LJG photo by Leslie Lyons; Cox photos by Melissa Hamburg)
Transgender visibility in pop culture is at an all-time high and now two of its most prominent players — Against Me! front woman Laura Jane Grace and actress Laverne Cox who plays Sophia on the Netflix smash “Orange is the New Black” — have each launched documentary projects in which everyday trans folks from all walks of life will share their stories.
Grace formed punk band Against Me! in Gainesville, Fla., in 1997. After a couple major-label, Billboard-charting albums, Grace — then known as Tom Gabel — announced via a starkly candid Rolling Stone interview in 2012 she was transitioning. The autobiographical album “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” came out in January and now Grace has hosted the 10-episode series “True Trans with Laura Jane Grace” for AOL. The first four episodes were released on National Coming Out Day (Oct. 10) and are available at on.aol.com/truetrans.
Cox made history this year for her work on “Orange.” She was the first trans actress to be nominated for an Emmy and the first trans person to make the cover of Time magazine. Her MTV/Logo documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word” debuts Friday at 7 p.m. The hour-long special, which features seven trans youth who range in age from 12-24, is part of MTV’s week-long “Look Different” campaign (trans.lookdifferent.org), which MTV, mtvU and Logo TV are using to shed light on race, gender and anti-LGBT bias.
Washington Blade spoke with Grace by phone before an Against Me! concert last week in Johnson City, Tenn., and with Cox during a mutli-outlet conference call on Oct. 7.
Grace says AOL approached her for the series in a “pretty open-ended” pitch. After tracking down a list of about 50 transgender folks she met mostly on social media after her own coming out, she and an AOL crew spent about three weeks hearing their stories. The episodes are broken down by topics such as transitioning or coming out and feature many people in each episode. Grace also shares experiences from her own life and some Against Me! live concert footage is used as well.
She says a variety of factors influenced her decision to be brutally honest in detailing her journey from the Rolling Stone interview to subsequent interviews to the AOL series.
“When you come out, you start to get this momentum, this feeling behind you,” the 33-year-old rocker says. “You feel empowered, you feel good because this thing that you’ve kept inside for so long, you’re finally talking about it and I definitely knew in my personal situation, for me, it would be very public and there were lots of people who had questions, so I went in with the attitude that if they had questions, I had a chance to educate them and I’d do my best. I hoped people wouldn’t be rude, but I went in with the attitude that there’s no such thing as a stupid question.”
She says having been honest in her songwriting was a help.
“Things I’ve already said on records and in songs, to me are way more personal than anything I could ever say in an interview. A song is part of my soul, so putting that out there is harder.”
Cox calls “The T Word” a “labor of love” and says she has tremendous respect for the seven young people she calls “amazing and courageous.”
“In this world, it’s still a big deal to come forward and say you’re transgender and open yourself to all kinds of discrimination, potential violence and stigma,” Cox, a Mobile, Ala., native, says. “For these young people to come forward on national television and tell their stories openly and truthfully, I think they should be applauded and I love every single one of them and I hope that this documentary can be a critical intervention in how we think of trans young people in this country and really humanize them.”
Cox says she’s been “blown away” by the resilience demonstrated by those who participated and says she’s interested in shifting the focus on the way trans stories have been told from focusing — as she pointed out in her famous interview with Katie Couric — on “transition and surgery and bodies” to “elevate people’s stories as much as possible and giving them a platform.”
While Cox’s project focuses on youth, the energy and vision of whom she says is galvanizing, Grace says she’s learned just as much from older trans people who transitioned many years before she did.
“Even if nobody ever sees this series, I know what it has meant to me to live it and to have these conversations,” she says. “One of the most reassuring things hearing from so many people, from older people or from those who’ve been transitioning much longer, I would have assumed they would have had it way more figured out, had more concrete, definite answers, so to hear them say, ‘Yeah, I still don’t know some things,’ or, ‘I’m still figuring it out,’ or even to hear them say they’re still in transition, that was so reassuring to me and gave me the feeling of, ‘Oh, OK. You don’t have to have it all figured out.’”
OUTTAKES:
Laura Jane Grace on:
• the career impact of transitioning: “Our last three albums have all sold exactly the same amount in X period of time … we’re all lifers; it’s not like we have this other thing to fall back on. … It’s not a race, it’s a marathon.”
• the potential of having her personal story upstage her music: “The press never wants to talk about the things that you as a musician would like to talk about, like, ‘Oh, I used this guitar on this song or this amplifier,’ you know, the geeky musician stuff that is really a lot of times what records are about. They want to spin it. … But when you’re a good band, you make good records and write good songs, that’s what keeps it alive and keeps it all going. If people aren’t interested in that, they’re only going to pay attention for a second.”
• the effect of transitioning on her vocals: “It doesn’t really work that way. … When I was a kid starting in bands, I din’t know how to sing. I just liked punk so I thought, ‘OK, I’ll just get up there and scream,’ but eventually you have to learn how to sing in a way to save your voice if you’re playing something like 200-odd shows a year. … There are definitely songs I wrote at 21, 22 that I can’t sing the same way now at (nearly) 34.”
• the right of Chelsea Manning to get hormone replacement therapy in prison: “I think it’s borderline torture not to give it to her.”
• the fate of the band’s instruments in the wine monsoon of the “Thrash Unreal” video shoot: “James’ Les Paul was fine. That was a solid body guitar. And Andrew’s was pretty fine too, except for some discoloring. My Rickenbacker, being that it has a semi-hollow body, it warped some of the body but I still have it, I still play it. It’s fine. … I wanted to do that video in drag but the A&R people at the label said no, so we ended up making this shitty video that ruined our guitars and dyed our skin pink.”
Laverne Cox on:
• Candis Cayne who made history on “Dirty Sexy Money” as the first recurring transgender character on a prime time show: “I’ve said it many times: I would not be here if it weren’t for Candis Cayne. She is a huge inspiration to me and her work on ‘Dirty Sexy Money’ made me believe it was possible for me to have a career as an actor.”
• why “Orange” has captured the zeitgeist: “Our fans are really intense and they love the show so much. I’m really lucky that I’m on this show that’s insanely popular and I’m not delusional to think that any platform I may have, that it’s not because I’m on a show that people really love and that’s struck a chord.”
• why trans issues have exploded: “Because ‘Orange’ is an internet show and with the way the internet has exploded with Facebook and Twitter — it’s just a much different thing than it was in 2007 when “Dirty Sexy Money” hit. I mean obviously, yeah, the internet was there, it was a thing, but the social media has really given the trans community a platform and a voice and a support that has just reverberated in a different way.”
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
a&e features
Looking back at the 10 biggest A&E stories of 2025
‘Wicked,’ Lady Gaga’s new era, ‘Sexy’ Bailey and more
Although 2025 was a year marked by countless attacks on trans rights and political setbacks, the year also saw brilliant queer artists continuing to create art. From Cannes and Sundance Award winners now vying for Oscar consideration to pop icons entering new stages of their careers, queer people persevered to tell their stories through different media.
With the state of the world so uncertain, perhaps there’s no more vital time to celebrate our wins, as seen through some of this year’s top pop culture moments. While there’s no collection of 10 stories that fully encompass “the most important” news, here are some events that got the gays going:
10. ‘Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ wins big at Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival has become a crucial start for films hoping to make their way to the Oscars, and first-time director Diego Céspedes won the top Un Certain Regard prize for his intimate western “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo.” The film is set in the ‘80s and is intended as an allegory for the AIDS epidemic. Seeing a film that unpacks vital queer history win one of the most coveted awards at Cannes has been a huge point of pride in the independent filmmaking community.
Since the film bowed at Cannes, it has been selected as Chile’s Oscar entry in the Best International Feature race. Speaking with The Blade during the film’s AFI Fest run in October, Céspedes said: At first, I was kind of scared to have this campaign position in the times that we’re living [in] here. But at the same time, I think the Oscars mean a huge platform — a huge platform for art and politics.”
9. ‘The Last of Us’ returns for an even gayer season 2
While the first season of The Last of Us gave us one of TV’s most heartbreaking queer love stories in the episode “Long, Long Time,” Season 2 doubled down on its commitment to queer storytelling with the blossoming relationship between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). The show expanded on the pair’s relationship in the original video game, making it perhaps the central dynamic to the entire season. That unfortunately came with more homophobic backlash on the internet, but those who checked out all the episodes saw a tender relationship form amid the show’s post-apocalyptic, often violent backdrop. For their performance, Ramsey was once again nominated for an Emmy, but Merced deserved just as much awards attention.
8. ‘Emilia Pérez’ sparks controversy
Jacques Audiard’s genre-bending trans musical “Emilia Pérez” proved to be an awards season juggernaut this time last year, winning the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy. But when the lead star Karla Sofia Gascón’s racist, sexist, and homophobic old tweets resurfaced, the film’s Oscar campaign became a tough sell, especially after Netflix had tried so hard to sell Emilia Pérez as the “progressive” film to vote for. Mind you, the film had already received significant backlash from LGBTQ+ audiences and the Mexican community for its stereotypical and reductive portrayals, but the Gascón controversy made what was originally just social media backlash impossible to ignore. The only person who seemed to come out of the whole debacle unscathed was Zoe Saldaña, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress over Ariana Grande.
7. ‘Sorry, Baby’ establishes Eva Victor as major talent
Back in January at the Sundance Film Festival, Eva Victor (known by many for her brand of sketch comedy) premiered their directorial debut “Sorry, Baby” to rave reviews, even winning the Waldo Salt Screening Award. Victor shadowed Jane Schoenbrun on the set of “I Saw the TV Glow,” and seeing Victor come into their own and establish such a strong voice immediately made them one of independent cinema’s most exciting new voices. A memorable scene in the film sees the main character, Agnes (played by Victor), struggling to check a box for male or female, just one example of how naturally queerness is woven into the fabric of the story.
Most recently, Victor was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the film, and she’s represented in a category alongside Jennifer Lawrence (“Die My Love”), Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”) and Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”). The film also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations overall.
6. Paul Reubens comes out in posthumous doc
While Paul Reubens never publicly came out as gay before passing away in 2023, the two-part documentary “Pee-wee as Himself” premiered back in May on HBO Max, giving the legendary comedian a chance to posthumously open up to the world. Directed by Matt Wolf, the documentary explores how Reubens found his alter ego Pee-Wee Herman and why he kept his private life private.
The documentary won an Emmy in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special category and remains one of the most critically acclaimed titles of the year with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Also worth noting, the National Geographic documentary Sally told the posthumous coming out story of Sally Ride through the help of her long-time partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy.
5. Lady Gaga releases ‘Mayhem’
Lady Gaga entered a new phase of her musical career with the release of Mayhem, her seventh album to date. From the frenzy-inducing pop hit Abracadabra to the memorable Bruno Mars duet featured on “Die With a Smile,” seeing Gaga return to her roots and make an album for the most die-hard of fans was especially rewarding after the underwhelming film releases of “House of Gucci” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Gaga has been touring with The Mayhem Ball since July, her first arena tour since 2018. She even extended her tour into 2026 with more North American dates, so the party isn’t stopping anytime soon. And Gaga is even set to make an appearance next May in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
4. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande perform at the Oscars
While “Wicked: For Good” didn’t quite reach the heights of the first film, we will forever have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s breathtaking live performance that opened the 97th Academy Awards. The pair sang a rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity,” paying proper homage to the original 1939 “Wizard of Oz.” Even non-Wicked fans can’t deny how magical and brilliantly staged this performance was. With both Erivo and Grande up for acting Oscars last year, they’re hoping to repeat success and make history with consecutive nominations. Either way, let’s hope there’s another live performance in the making, especially with two new original songs (The Girl in the Bubble and No Place Like Home) in the mix.
3. Indya Moore speaks out against Ryan Murphy
Indya Moore has consistently used social media as a platform for activism, and in September, posted a 30-minute Instagram live speaking out against “Pose” co-creator Ryan Murphy. Moore claimed that Murphy wasn’t being a true activist for trans people. “Ryan Murphy, we need you to do more. You need to address the racism, the violence, and the targeting of people on your productions, Ryan Murphy. You do need to make sure trans people are paid equally. Yes, Janet did the right thing,” Moore said. Murphy was also back in the headlines this year for the critically panned “All’s Fair” and the controversial “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” starring Laurie Metcalf and Charlie Hunnam.
2. Cole Escola wins Tony for Best Leading Actor
Few pop culture moments this year brought us together more than Cole Escola winning a Tony award for “Oh, Mary!” the Broadway show they created, wrote and starred in (we love a triple threat!) Escola made history by becoming the first nonbinary person to win a Tony in the leading actor category, and seeing them excitedly rush to the stage wearing a Bernadette Peters-inspired gown instantly became a viral social media moment.
The cherry on top of Escola’s major moment is the recent news that they are writing a Miss Piggy movie with Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone producing — news that also broke the internet for the better. We cannot wait!
1. Jonathan Bailey makes gay history as ‘Sexiest Man Alive’
The same year as his on-screen roles in blockbusters “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” Jonathan Bailey made history as the first openly gay man to be named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” The fact that it took 40 years for an openly gay man to earn the title is a signifier of how far we still have to go with queer representation, and seeing Bailey celebrated is just one small step in the right direction.
“There’s so many people that want to do brilliant stuff who feel like they can’t,” he told PEOPLE, “and I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment. So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.” In 2024, Bailey founded the charity titled The Shameless Fund, which raises money for LGBTQ+ organizations.
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Your guide to D.C.’s queer New Year’s Eve parties
Ring in 2026 with drag, leather, Champagne, and more
With Christmas in the rear view mirror, we can turn our attention to ringing in a much-anticipated New Year with a slew of local LGBTQ parties. Here’s what’s on tap.
Pitchers
This spacious Adams Morgan bar is hosting the “Pitchers’ Perfect New Year’s Eve.” There will be a midnight Champagne toast, the ball drop on the big screens, and no cover, all night long. The bar doesn’t close until 4 a.m., and the kitchen will be open late (though not until close). All five floors will be open for the party, and party favors are promised.
Trade
D.C.’s hottest bar/club combo is leaning into the Shark motif with its NYE party, “Feeding Frenzy.” The party is a “glitterati-infused Naughty-cal New Year’s Even in the Shark Tank, where the boats are churning and the sharks are circling.” Trade also boasts no cover charge, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the aforementioned Shark Tank opening at 9 p.m.. Four DJs will be spread across the two spaces; midnight hostess is played by Vagenesis and the two sea sirens sensuously calling are Anathema and Justin Williams.
Number Nine
While Trade will have two DJs as part of one party, Number Nine will host two separate parties, one on each floor. The first floor is classic Number Nine, a more casual-style event with the countdown on TVs and a Champagne midnight toast. There will be no cover and doors open at 5 p.m. Upstairs will be hosted by Capital Sapphics for its second annual NYE gathering. Tickets (about $50) include a midnight Champagne toast, curated drink menu, sapphic DJ set by Rijak, and tarot readings by Yooji.
Crush
Crush will kick off NYE with a free drag bingo at 8 p.m. for the early birds. Post-bingo, there will be a cover for the rest of the evening, featuring two DJs. The cover ($20 limited pre-sale that includes line skip until 11 p.m.; $25 at the door after 9 p.m.) includes one free N/A or Crush, a Champagne toast, and party favors (“the legal kind”). More details on Eventbrite.
Bunker
This subterranean lair is hosting a NYE party entitled “Frosted & Fur: Aspen After Dark New Year’s Eve Celebration.” Arriety from Rupaul Season 15 is set to host, with International DJ Alex Lo. Doors open at 9 p.m. and close at 3 p.m.; there is a midnight Champagne toast. Cover is $25, plus an optional $99 all-you-can-drink package.
District Eagle
This leather-focused bar is hosting “Bulge” for its NYE party. Each District Eagle floor will have its own music and vibe. Doors run from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. and cover is $15. There will be a Champagne toast at midnight, as well as drink specials during the event.
Kiki, Shakiki
Kiki and its new sister bar program Shakiki (in the old Shakers space) will have the same type of party on New Year’s Eve. Both bars open their doors at 5 p.m. and stay open until closing time. Both will offer a Champagne toast at midnight. At Kiki, DJ Vodkatrina will play; at Shakiki, it’ll be DJ Alex Love. Kiki keeps the party going on New Year’s Day, opening at 2 p.m., to celebrate Kiki’s fourth anniversary. There will be a drag show at 6 p.m. and an early 2000s dance party 4-8 p.m.
Spark
This bar and its new menu of alcoholic and twin N/A drinks will host a NYE party with music by DJ Emerald Fox. Given this menu, there will be a complimentary toast at midnight, guests can choose either sparkling wine with or without alcohol. No cover, but Spark is also offering optional wristbands at the door for $35 open bar 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (mid-shelf liquor & all NA drinks).
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The year in photos
