As usual… 5.5 minutes to read. A weekly digest of the most important queer news in your backyard! Exclusively for paid subscribers every Monday, “The 9” is curated weekly by Taylor Abbot + the GenZ editorial team.
Your guide to the queer media circus.
This week, a legendary movie adaptation, and then, and then:
NETFLIX. ELITE 7 SEASON AND FAREWELL TO MANU RIOS.
As the highly anticipated season 7 of “Elite” had its premiere, a new teaser clip from Netflix reveals the emotional exit of Manu Ríos’ character, Patrick. For three seasons, Patrick was known as the spoiled rich kid with a penchant for complicated relationships. While it was previously announced that Ríos would not return for season 7, the new clip shows Patrick bidding farewell to his lover Iván in a heartfelt message. Despite Ríos’ departure from “Elite,” fans can expect the return of various beloved characters and intriguing new additions in the upcoming season. Was the time to dress him up and say goodbye? Do not worry, a new candy will appear.
FRANCE. MEDIA. PUBLISHER OF TÊTU IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE.
I/O Media Group, the parent company of publications such as Têtu, Ideat, and The Good Life, has submitted a request for placement in receivership to the Paris commercial court. Albin Serviant, the group’s president, confirmed the request, emphasizing ongoing discussions with major media entities for support. I/O Media faces challenges due to traditional newsstand sales and advertising models. Têtu, the prominent LGBT+ magazine of France, has faced a tumultuous journey since its inception in 1995. Co-founded by Didier Lestrade and Pascal Loubet, and historically overseen by Pierre Bergé from the legendary Le Gai Pied, Têtu emerged in the wake of Gai Pied magazine’s closure in 1992. In January 2013, Pierre Bergé sold the magazine, passing its ownership to Jean-Jacques Augier. However, financial woes plagued Têtu, leading to its declaration of bankruptcy in January 2015, with losses amounting to €1.1 million ($1.2 million) in 2014. A glimmer of hope arrived in November 2015 when the French start-up Idyls acquired Têtu, reviving it as an online-only publication. Although the magazine resurfaced in 2017, this year has seen concerning signs of renewed financial difficulties. Receivership is a legal process where a “receiver” is appointed by a court to manage the assets, operations, or finances of an entity, typically during financial distress or insolvency. We saw too many queer publications și led and we as a community bear a responsibility. Têtu’s resilience is imperative since it is the only French queer magazine with a constant apparition.
Lie with Me, directed by Olivier Peyon.
FRANCE. FILM. A MOVIE ADAPTATION OF A FAMOUS WONDERFUL NOVEL BY PHILIPPE BESSON.
In mid-November, the cinemas in Europe will launch the film Arrête avec tes mensonges (Lie with Me), a French gay romantic drama directed by Olivier Peyon. The film boasts an exceptional cast, including Guillaume de Tonquédec, Victor Belmondo, Guilaine Londez, Jérémy Gillet, and Julien de Saint-Jean. Lie with Me follows the story of Stéphane Belcourt, played by Guillaume de Tonquédec, a renowned novelist and the face of a prestigious cognac brand. When he returns to his rural homeland, he encounters Lucas, portrayed by Victor Belmondo, who happens to be the son of Stéphane’s first love, Thomas. The film explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, inspired by Philippe Besson’s iconic book, Arrête avec tes mensonges. (Lie with Me). We must admit the book is one of our favourites. We can’t wait for the movie.
Netflix is planning to open new brick-and-mortar locations in 2025.
NETFLIX. BUSINESS. THE STREAMING COMPANY WILL OPEN INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE STORES.
Netflix plans to open permanent retail locations called Netflix House, aiming to offer fans immersive experiences with their favourite TV shows. They affirm that will be inclusive and refer to the big queer titles they produces during the last years. These venues will blend retail, dining, and live experiences. The company intends to launch the first two Netflix House locations in the US in 2025 and later expand the concept worldwide. While Netflix has experimented with pop-up fan experiences, Netflix House will be the first permanent retail sites, showcasing the company’s commitment to marketing its programs and building fan communities. It will offer rotating installations and a range of dining experiences, from casual to upscale cuisine.
WORLDWIDE. MUSIC. MADONNA PAYS TRIBUTE TO AIDS VICTIMS.
The iconic pop star and LGBT+ ally, Madonna, launched her much-anticipated Celebration Tour at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, dedicating her performance of the 1986 ballad “Live to Tell” to the friends who succumbed during the HIV/AIDS crisis. As she sang from an open-air box moving across the stage, screens displayed images of prominent figures lost during the 1980s AIDS epidemic, including Keith Haring, Martin Burgoyne, Herb Ritts, Sylvester, and Freddie Mercury. The emotional tribute followed her upbeat rendition of “Holiday,” an anthem of respite for the LGBT+ community during the crisis. Fans praised Madonna’s unwavering support and allyship.
A member of the LGBT+ community reacts on the day of the verdict on same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court in New Delhi, India, October 17, 2023. Photo: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters.
INDIA. POLITICS. SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
India’s top court has refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, stating that it falls under the jurisdiction of parliament, but emphasizing that queer relationships should not face discrimination. The decision is a disappointment for India’s LGBTQ+ community, as many had hoped the court would recognize their constitutional right to marriage equality. Despite scrapping a colonial-era anti-LGBTQ+ law in 2018, Indian society remains largely conservative. The Hindu nationalist BJP government opposed the case, and the majority verdict ruled against same-sex marriage. LGBTQ+ couples still face discrimination, and activists vow to continue their fight for equal rights.
Poster for the 14th edition.
GERMANY. FILM. 18TH PORN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO BERLIN.
The 18th edition of the Porn Film Festival is set to take place in Berlin from October 24th to 29th. This year’s lineup includes 24 feature films, seven documentaries, 17 feature films, and 23 short film programs. The festival opens with Manuel Abramovitch’s “Pornomelancholia” (2022), exploring the life of a sex influencer stuck in digital staging and real-life melancholy. The closing film, “A mes amours” (2022) by Anoushka, delves into the complexities of a couple’s relationship. The festival also features country-focused programs on Turkey and Poland, with some screenings available online from October 30th to November 14th.
Sex workers and sympathisers take part in a demonstration in Amsterdam on Thursday to protest against plans to move the city’s historic red light district to a new erotic centre. Photo: AFP
THE NETHERLANDS. POLITICS. AMSTERDAM SEX WORKERS PROTEST.
In Amsterdam, sex workers and their advocates have protested against Mayor Femke Halsema’s plan to move the city’s iconic red light district to an out-of-town “erotic centre.” The mayor’s intentions are aimed at reshaping the city’s image as a “sin city” while addressing issues related to tourism and petty crime. Sex workers argue that they’re being unfairly targeted for problems in the area. Opposition also comes from local residents who don’t want the centre in their vicinity. The European Medicines Agency expressed concerns about one proposed site’s proximity to its headquarters. A petition against the move calls for better crowd control and police surveillance. Amsterdam’s efforts to transform its image continue as it discourages party tourism. We remember the vivid atmosphere in 90s when Amsterdam was the Gay Capital of the World. Conservatives wants to make it an amusement park.
PALESTINE. POLITICS. LGBT+ VOICES IN GAZA SHARE TALES OF LOSS
Amid the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel, LGBTQ+ individuals in Gaza have turned to Queering the Map, an online platform, to share poignant narratives. In recent days, the platform has become a sanctuary for queer Palestinians from Gaza who are seeking to express themselves, as homosexuality remains illegal in Palestine. These stories reflect the deep human impact of the conflict, with one user mourning a lost chance at love, and others emphasising the existence of LGBTQ+ people in Gaza. As the situation intensifies, international artists and writers are urging a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Queering The Map was created by Lucas LaRochelle in 2017 and it is a community-generated counter-mapping platform for digitally archiving LGBT+ experience in relation to physical space. We really love it, and we used it since its conception. Please donate to keep them expanding the project.
USA. POLITICS. GOOGLE MONETIZE HATE SPEECH.
Google-owned digital platform YouTube is reportedly profiting millions of dollars from videos featuring anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech. A study by digital media watchdog Ekō found that over 100 brands, including MIT, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC, had their ads displayed on content by notorious online figures promoting hate speech. Despite YouTube’s guidelines clearly prohibiting violence against individuals based on their gender identity or sexuality, the report reveals that the platform allowed ads to run alongside content inciting violence against transgender individuals. Google’s failure to enforce its own content regulations raises concerns, particularly regarding the platforming and monetization of hate speech.
Recommendations from our favourite newspapers. This week NYT.
Use leftover rice to create a stir-fry dish that takes less than 30 minutes.
Pack your overnight bag with all your essentials.
Unmoor how you think about your health from the scales.
Pair these novels with their settings, in our quiz.
Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here.
Curated every week by our news editor Taylor Abbot & GAY45 editorial staff. Exclusive for subscribers on Monday through Substack and Wednesday on the website.
Taylor Abbot is a 23 y.o. staff writer for GAY45 and MA student at the University of Oxford. Previously he studied at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is passionate about journalism, contemporary literature, poetry, technology, socio-political involved art forms and queer implications in society. He wrote previously for several magazines as Bay Area Reporter or Männer. Nerdy curious, passionate about the weird parts of life and the good stories written by great journalists. Taylor decided to delete all his social media accounts two years ago. Lives and works between Berlin and London.
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