Arts & Entertainment
Ariana Grande’s new song sparks queerbaiting controversy
The Victoria Monét collab includes the lyrics ‘I like women and men’


Ariana Grande says she doesn’t like to label her sexuality after some people were skeptical about her new song’s bisexual lyrics.
Grande released “Monopoly” with her friend and singer/songwriter Victoria Monét. In the song, Grande and Monét both sing the lyric “I like women and men (yeah).” Grande also sings the line by herself later in the song.
Monét came out as bisexual in November 2018 tweeting “After coming out, this thanksgiving coulda went
A source told People that Grande “is of course a well-known LGBT ally and this is her supporting her friends.”
Grande expressed on Twitter that she doesn’t feel the need to label her sexuality.
i haven’t before and still don’t feel the need to now ???♂️ which is okay
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) April 1, 2019
Monét backed up her friend by telling a fan Grande “said what she said” on the song.
Some fans were glad Grande was being open with them about her sexuality.
SO ARIANA GRANDE IS POSSIBLY BI?? ANOTHER WIN FOR THE GAYS pic.twitter.com/mUJ8kZYjDW
— bryan! (@bryanvilIa) April 1, 2019
y’all accused ariana of queerbaiting and it turned out she’s bisexual. y’all dragged her just because she’s not showing off her sexuality as a personality trait like some of y’all do
— uǝq (@nootearstocry) April 2, 2019
YALL ARE BOO BOO THE FOOLS. pic.twitter.com/HkcFZfmrav
dont forget that ariana might be bi but she could also still be figuring herself out/exploring and she might not label herself yet . she could be trying it out feel comfortable expressing it thru music
— naya (@lovedlust) April 1, 2019
Others felt Grande wasn’t talking about her own sexuality in the song but was queerbaiting.
Can Ariana Grande stop queerbaiting and treating bisexuality like it’s some cute fuckin joke for straight women to play with??? Thank u, next ?
— 〘 Anne Lorraine 〙 (@LegitLorraine) April 1, 2019
Ariana will never publicly come out and say she’s bisexual because that would require her actually being attracted to women(not just kissing for fun like every straight girl) she’ll say sexuality is fluid while still only dating men so she doesn’t get accused of queerbaiting pic.twitter.com/23yPVfSMbg
— Nae (@DeepSpaceYonce) April 1, 2019
Ariana retired doing blackface and has moved onto pretending to be bisexual pic.twitter.com/DEwsVofPlG
— brandon (@cabelIo) March 31, 2019

The 2025 Baltimore Pride Parade was held on Saturday, June 14.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)








































































You’ve done your share of marching.
You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.
You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.
Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.
You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.
Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.
If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.
Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.
Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.
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