Queer News Curated Weekly. Your guide to the queer media circus.
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.
If you want to hear the most important 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.
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This week, political chaos at Eurovision, and then:
USA. Fashion. Met Gala 2024 is not so Spectacular
The 2024 Met Gala, shows some of the world’s most stylish actors, musicians and models walking the red carpet outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hosted by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, this year’s event is co-chaired by Bad Bunny, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Hemsworth and will celebrate the Costume Institute’s new exhibition: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” The 2024 Met Gala theme: “The Garden of Time.” If there’s one thing the LGBTQ+ community knows how to do, it’s pull a look!
It’s the first Monday in May, and that means the 2024 Met Gala is here! And of course, queer celebs are bringing out the big guns in order to show off their best fashion based on the theme “Garden of Time.” The Met Gala is known as fashion’s biggest night, and we love to see the way celebs go all out to try to fit the theme, and few know how to do that like queer celebs.
Czech Republic. Politics. Legal Gender Changes
In a landmark ruling, the Czech Constitutional Court voted 13-2 to abolish the requirement for transgender individuals to undergo surgery for legal gender changes. The decision, celebrated by human rights advocates, aligns Czech legislation with EU standards. The case was brought by a trans man challenging the surgery mandate. The court deemed the previous law unconstitutional, emphasizing human dignity. While hailed as progress, concerns persist over potential legislative hurdles ahead. The Parliament has until 2025 to amend the law. The decision underscores a shift towards greater inclusion, following recent moves to expand rights for same-sex couples, though marriage equality remains unapproved. Czech Human Rights Commissioner Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková lauded the decision as a milestone for transgender rights.
USA. Journalism. Pulitzer Prize 2024 Winners were Announced
This year’s Pulitzer Prize winners were announced, celebrating outstanding achievements in journalism and literature. The New York Times, ProPublica, and authors like Jayne Anne Phillips and Jonathan Eig were among the recipients. The prizes recognized excellence in journalism across 15 categories and honoured arts contributions in eight categories. Notable winners include The Associated Press for feature photography on global migration, and ProPublica for investigative reporting on the US Supreme Court. Special citations were also given for coverage of the war in Gaza and to late hip-hop critic Greg Tate. The Pulitzers, administered by Columbia University, spotlighted impactful reporting and literary works from 2023.
Denmark. Sport. British Darts Player refuse to Play a Danish Transgender Woman.
British darts player Deta Hedman made headlines after withdrawing from the Denmark Open quarter-finals rather than face trans opponent Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Initially citing illness, Hedman later revealed on Twitter that she refused to play Van Leuven, misgendering her and stating, “I don’t think biological-born men should compete in women’s sport.” Former US college swimmer Riley Gaines offered to compensate for Hedman’s lost prize money, but the offer was declined as Hedman was fully reimbursed by the event organizers. Professional Darts Corporation CEO Matthew Porter reaffirmed the organization’s support for Van Leuven, emphasizing compliance with their transgender participation policy amid ongoing debates about trans inclusion in sports.
Press. Religion. The Washington Post Made a Short Podcast Documentary on Pope’s Positive Attitude to Trans Sex Workers
The Washington Post, one of the most respected quality newspapers in the world, produced a short feature documentaryon Pope’s attitude to transgender sex workers and LGBT+. Pope Francis’s decision to open the Vatican to transgender sex workers marks a significant step in his efforts to embrace the LGBTQ+ community, a move that has sparked both praise and criticism within the Catholic Church. Since his election in 2013, Francis has adopted a more inclusive approach, exemplified by his famous statement, “Who am I to judge?” regarding gay priests. Despite the Church’s traditional stance on homosexuality, Francis has approved blessings for same-sex couples and allowed transgender individuals to be baptized. However, his invitation to transgender women, many of whom are sex workers, has faced opposition from conservative clerics. This move underscores Francis’s ongoing efforts to reconcile traditional doctrine with contemporary social issues.
Sweden. Music & Politics. Switzerland wins Eurovision Song Contest amid Gaza protests
In political terms how they handled the contest was the worst. And the best in terms of queer representation. The Eurovision music contest, the oldest on the continent, was exhausting for the viewers who had to keep their attention pinned between the street protests and the stage. Co-host terrible LGBT+ jokes, massive protests against Israel, then The Netherlands representant excluded without a clear motive made all to shadow a well-deserved win for Nemo, the first non-binary singer to end in the first place with “The Code”, a drum-and-bass, opera, rap and rock song, about Nemo’s journey of self-discovery as a non-binary person. The subject is further developed in the GAY45 podcast episode 5.
Israel. Politics. Tel Aviv Pride Parade Cancelled Amid Security Crisis and Pro-Palestinian Protests Around the World
Tel Aviv’s annual Pride Parade has been cancelled this year due to heightened security concerns, Mayor Ron Huldai announced. The decision comes against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and repeated attacks. Huldai emphasized the necessity to prioritize public safety amidst the current threat landscape, leading the city council to postpone large-scale events. Reports of severe human rights violations against hostages underscore the urgency of allocating resources to ensure public security and well-being. The cancellation underscores the severity of the security situation, precluding the city from hosting major events. It is reported as well a lot of protests in the queer community that supported Palestine.
Germany. Film. XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin Set to Return for 18th Edition
The dates for the highly anticipated 18th edition of the XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin have been unveiled, scheduled to run from May 30th to June 2nd, 2024. Attendees are invited to local cinemas across Berlin to immerse themselves in an array of captivating short film programs and feature-length films from around the globe.
With a rich history spanning fifteen years, XPOSED celebrates the diversity of queer cinema, exploring themes of glory, shame, distaste, trash, and beauty. Originating as a passion project, the festival continues to be fueled by a love for queer film, Berlin, and innovative storytelling within the queer community. Founded in 2006 by Bartholomew Sammut, XPOSED remains committed to showcasing both emerging and established talent, offering audiences a blend of cutting-edge and timeless films that challenge conventional perspectives and celebrate diverse narratives. The festival’s programming reflects its creators’ dedication to showcasing the global queer experience and fostering dialogue that pushes boundaries and redefines storytelling norms.
Germany. Festival. WHOLE Festival Returns to Ferropolis for Sixth Edition
WHOLE Festival, the renowned celebration of queer creativity and music, probably the coolest queer festival in the world, is set to return to Ferropolis for its sixth and largest edition yet. From August 2nd to August 5th, 2024, the lakeside industrial park near Berlin will transform into a vibrant hub of entertainment, hosting three days of camping, DJ sets, workshops, art installations, film screenings, and more. With a capacity expanded to accommodate 9000 visitors, WHOLE Festival aims to unite queer collectives from around the world in a celebration of diversity, passion, and pleasure. Over six stages, attendees can experience an eclectic lineup of local and international artists spanning techno, house, disco, bass, and beyond. This year’s festival will feature 12 Berlin-based collectives and 16 international groups from 10 countries, including new additions such as Hanoi’s “Equation Festival,” London’s “Inferno,” and Brooklyn’s “Merge.” Returning favourites like “Adonis” from London and “Batekoo” from Brazil ensure a dynamic mix of music and culture. In a bid to promote inclusivity, WHOLE Festival introduces a new tier of 1000 community tickets, offering discounted access for those on a tight budget. Additionally, the solidarity program expands to provide free festival experiences, including transportation, food vouchers, and camping gear, to marginalized community members facing economic disparities.
With a lineup boasting names like Eris Drew, Octo Octa, and The Blessed Madonna, WHOLE Festival promises a weekend of liberation, community, and unforgettable music experiences. GAY45 will write an extensive review of this edition and will have their journalists there to report live.
Quote of the Week
“[Eurovision]…, the kitschy spectacle is an inherently geopolitical format. In the interests of fairness then, should Palestine, like its neighbour Israel, enter Eurovision?”
– Aris Roussinos, journalist, UnHerd
Recommendations from our favourite newspapers.
Read an excellent article by the journalist students at Columbia Univerity in the middle of the unrest.
Read: “Long Island,” Colm Tóibín’s sequel to “Brooklyn,” deals its heroine a wild card.
Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here.
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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 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 de Volkskrant or Bay Area Reporter. 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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