Arts & Entertainment
Willam Belli called out for transphobic remarks on talk series
the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ alum gave some bad advice to a woman dating a trans man
Willam Belli was blasted by Courtney Act for spewing transphobic remarks during the Fullscreen series, “Suck Less.”
Belli, who appeared on season four of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” did an advice segment on the series along with season six contestant, Act.
One woman asked for advice on dating a transgender man, who was uncertain about him not having a penis. She even calls her boyfriend “a butch lesbian.”
Belli responds by saying, “Here’s the thing, he’s not your boyfriend if he’s not a boy and he’s not f*cking you… just because someone says they’re a boy, [it] doesn’t make them a boy.”
“If they haven’t had the science, they’re not a boy yet. Just because you cut off your titties off and take testosterone, that doesn’t change your chromosomes,” Belli continued.
Act called Belli out for the transphobic comments and remarked that it sounded similar to transphobic comments made by author Germaine Greer.
“Just because you lop off your d**k and then wear a dress, that doesn’t make you a f***ing woman,” Greer is quoted as saying.
“You just accidentally quoted Germaine Greer,” Act told Belli before redirecting the conversation with some different advice.
“You’re dating a trans man, by the sounds of it. Sometimes men have vaginas, and sometimes men have penises, and that is a fact of the world we live in. [Just because he] does not have a penis, it doesn’t mean that he can’t pleasure you. Saying that he’s a butch lesbian is disrespectful. He’s not a butch lesbian. He identifies as a man, and you need to respect his identification,” Act says.
Belli later apologized for his comments and admitted he should “be more responsible” as a public figure.
“I feel bad about how I made people feel about it and this is my official apology,” Belli says. “I’m sad that me not knowing these things made my friends feel some kind of way. What I do makes me a known entity or a public figure, so I have to be more responsible for my words.”
Watch below.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony
The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
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