Arts & Entertainment
Thor: Love and Thunder features more queer scenes than previous Marvel films
The film not released in China over LGBTQ themes
During an advanced screening of Thor: Love and Thunder, the casting member Natalie Portman, who played the role of Jane Foster, answered one fan’s question and said, “[The film would be] so gay.”
“Super gay.” The director Taika Waititi followed.
@zachaniff #fyp #foryoupage #thorloveandthunder #marvel #gay #lgbt #natalieportman ♬ original sound – zachaniff
Watiti is known for LGBTQ+ storytelling. In both the HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death and Thor, he both arranges romantic storylines for gay characters.
While the latest Thor turned out not be that “super gay” as Waititi described, it still features a number queer characters, including Zeus, a pansexual god, Korg, a gay rock man, and Valkyrie, a bisexual warrior as confirmed by her cast Tessa Thompson.
Even though in this movie Valkyrie didn’t find “her queen” as Thompson said in the preview, she had a long conversation with Korg about same-sex relationships. The lengthy conversation marks a outbreak from MCU’s previous depiction on queerness, which had been noted for fleeting moments over long time.
In the end of this movie, Korg attended the first on-screen gay wedding at Marvel’s universe.
Waititi understands how much he is understood as a gay icon and it feels “amazing” to him.
“We’re all queer. Just to varying degrees of where we are on the [sexuality] spectrum I think. I think, innately, humans have all got some degree of queerness in them.” He told Out magazine.
In the interview with The Daily Telegraph, in correspondence to the question whether the queer representation in MCU universe would be normalized as 20 years ago, the director responsed, “It’s where we should have been probably 1000 years ago. It’s 2022 and we’re still having this conversation. It’s insane.”
@dailytelegraph About time! 👏 #thor #thorloveandthunder #queer #representation #taikawaititi #chrishemsworth ♬ original sound – The Daily Telegraph
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
