Your weekly guide to the queer media. Every Wednesday. As usual… 5.5 minutes to read. Or more.
A weekly digest of the most important queer news in your backyard!
Every Wednesday THE9+ is edited by me, Taylor Abbot, with the support of the GAY45 editorial team. If you want to hear the most essential news commented on in-depth, you can listen to our podcast, GenClash: Queer Perspectives on Current Affairs.
Let us know what you think about it. If you have a comment or a suggestion, write to me at [email protected]
Hungary. Politics. Orban Government Proposes Moving Budapest Pride Indoors
Hungary’s government has proposed that this year’s Budapest Pride be held in a “closed venue” instead of its usual route along Andrassy Avenue in central Budapest, citing child protection concerns. Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Chief of Staff, announced the suggestion on Wednesday, raising uncertainty over whether the event’s location or public access would be restricted. The proposal is seen as part of Orban’s broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights ahead of the 2026 elections. Community members argue that Pride is a family-friendly event and poses no threat to children. Orban, a long-time ally of Donald Trump, dismissed Pride as a “waste of money and time” during a recent speech. Event organisers have yet to comment.
The USA. Politics. Trump Administration Orders Removal of Transgender Troops from US Military
The Trump administration has ordered the Pentagon to identify and discharge transgender members of the US military, according to a memo issued on Wednesday. The directive states that service by transgender individuals is “not in the best interests of the military” and mandates a procedure to separate them within 60 days unless they receive an exemption. The move follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January, further restricting transgender participation in the armed forces. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the policy, citing concerns about military readiness and cohesion. Transgender rights advocates condemned the decision as an unprecedented purge. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has filed a lawsuit challenging the policy’s constitutionality, arguing it violates equal protection rights under the Fifth Amendment.
Russia. Justice. European Court Condemns Russia for Blocking LGBT+ Websites
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Russia violated LGBT+ citizens’ freedom of expression by blocking access to websites supporting the community. The court also condemned Russia for infringing privacy rights by collecting data on users’ sexual orientation from social media. The ruling came after complaints from six Russian citizens accused of “promoting homosexuality to minors” and having their websites blocked. The ECHR found these actions breached Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Although Russia withdrew from the court’s jurisdiction in 2022 following its expulsion from the Council of Europe, cases filed before that date remain valid. Moscow has not yet commented on the ruling.
The USA. Art Politics. Washington DC Gallery Cancels LGBTQ+ and Black Art Exhibits Amid Trump Crackdown
The Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC has abruptly cancelled two exhibitions featuring Black and LGBTQ+ artists, sparking accusations of pre-emptive compliance with Donald Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. The exhibitions, Nature’s Wild by Andil Gosine and Before the Americas, were pulled following a Trump executive order directing a review of U.S. funding for international organisations. Gosine criticised the move as “an alarming example of pre-emptive capitulation.” The Organisation of American States (OAS), which runs the museum, has not commented. The cancellations add to growing fears of censorship in U.S. cultural institutions amid Trump’s intensified assault on DEI initiatives.
France. Film. César Awards: Emilia Pérez Dominates Amid Controversy
The 50th César Awards at the Olympia in Paris saw Emilia Pérez sweep seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Jacques Audiard. The night, presided over by Catherine Deneuve, was marked by triumphs and controversies alike. Deneuve opened the ceremony by dedicating it to Ukraine, wearing a pin in the Ukrainian colours amidst rising tensions between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The success of Emilia Pérez was overshadowed by accusations of racism and Islamophobia against lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón. Meanwhile, popular films like The Count of Monte Cristo secured only technical wins. Emotional moments included Abou Sangaré’s acceptance of Male Revelation after avoiding deportation. The evening honoured cinematic legacy, with Costa-Gavras receiving a lifetime achievement award. Read our full reportage here.
The USA. Film. Low-Budget Comedy Anora Dominates Oscars with Five Wins
Anora, a low-budget comedy directed by Sean Baker, triumphed at the Oscars, winning five awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. The film, which premiered at Cannes, follows Madison as a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Baker made history by winning Best Director, Editing, and Original Screenplay, becoming the first to claim four Oscars for a single film in one night. In his speech, Baker paid tribute to the sex worker community. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, addressing antisemitism and racism in his speech. Host Conan O’Brien lightened the mood with political humour. Despite high expectations, Conclave and The Substance took home only one award each. Read our full reportage here.
Latin America. Politics. Growing Support for LGBT+ Political Representation
Despite over 50 years since the first Pride march, political representation for LGBT+ people remains limited in Latin America. However, a new study reveals increasing public openness to a diverse democracy. Commissioned by Luminate and conducted by Ipsos, the survey shows that 55% of respondents across Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia support LGBT+ participation in political roles. Brazil leads with 59% support, followed by Argentina at 55%. While 63% agree LGBT+ individuals should run for office, challenges persist, particularly for transgender candidates, who face the most resistance, with only 49% comfortable with trans people in public office. The study also highlights that 60% support policies promoting equality, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The USA, Music. David Johansen, the Legendary Singer from the New York Dolls, Has Died
David Johansen, the singer of the seminal punk band the New York Dolls, has died at the age of 75. Formed in the early 1970s, the New York Dolls redefined rock and roll, providing the blueprint for British punk bands such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash, and inspiring the glam-metal movement. Johansen died “peacefully” at his home in New York City on Friday, his family said. He was “holding the hands of his wife Mara Hennessey and stepdaughter Leah, in the sunlight surrounded by music and flowers”, they added. Johansen’s death comes just weeks after the singer’s family said he had stage 4 cancer and a brain tumour. The New York Dolls provided the blueprint for British punk bands such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash and inspired the glam-metal movement that emerged in the 1980s. The “Spiegel” praised the singer as a “destroyer of gender norms in rock”: “Johanson stood for an early form of queerness on the one hand, but he could also loudly howling machismo.”
Must Read of GAY45
- An explosive investigative report on Gay Furry Hackers.
- Opinion: The Deep Corruption in LGBT Organisations Makes the Fight Much More Complicated
Quote of the Week
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
– Nelson Mandela
Movie of the Week
BPM won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Moving without resorting to melodrama, BPM (2018) offers an engrossing look at a pivotal period in history that lingers long after the closing credits roll.
Book of the Week
Not a book, a manifesto. I recommend you read Toward the Queerest Insurrection by Mary Nardini Gang. It is the perfect time.
Music of the Week
Make way into favourites for this political punk group, Aye Nako. Bringing a modern sound to punk music, this Brooklyn-based quadruple uses music to send a message of community-oriented and queer-friendly ideology. Their sounds are also described as queer punk or Homopop. Aye Nako is becoming a prominent figure in the modern LGBTQ+ punk-influenced music scene.
Conversation starters, cooking, fashion and games from our favourite newspapers
- Read in Financial Times Was DEI just performative political theatre?
- Transformational fashion: Revisit the 25 most influential shoes and bags of the past century.
- Cook: A reader calls this one-pot roasted chicken and rice “a joy to cook and delicious to eat.”
- Play the Spelling Bee. And here are The New York Times Wordle. You can find all the puzzles here.
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