1 hr. ago
This summer, we took a family vacation to Oregon to hike in the Pacific Northwest. Not surprisingly, we saw a bunch of people decked out in clothing made by Columbia, the huge sportswear company founded in Portland in 1938, and named for the nearby river.
We also saw a lot of people wearing Patagonia clothes. Named after the vast geographic region at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, Patagonia was founded by climber Yvon Chouinard in 1973 to provide durable climbing equipment and outdoor wear. The company heavily supports environmental causes and donates profits from the sale of their jackets, fleeces and other gear to ecological protection. The company even sued President Trump in 2017, for shrinking federal lands protections.
In addition to environmental causes, Patagonia has also championed the LGBTQ community by partnering with the Human Rights Campaign to oppose state legislation targeting their rights. This summer, though, the company sued one member of that community.
Wyn Wiley is an activist from Bend, Oregon, who focuses on environmental and LGBTQ+ issues, promoting acceptance of queer identities in the environmentalist and outdoors communities, and promoting awareness of climate change and its effects.
In October of 2018, Wiley created the character Pattie Gonia and produced short-form outdoors activism content on Instagram and TikTok, while dressing in drag. The first posted video garnered more than 100 million views. Pattie Gonia has 1.8 million Instagram followers and claims to have raised $3.7 million for environmental causes, including $1 million raised last year on a 100-mile hike. In 2022, Pattie Gonia partnered with The North Face, another outdoor gear juggernaut, for their 2022 "Summer of Pride" series, which consisted of outdoor community-building events focused on local LGBTQ+ engagement and acceptance.
#lgbtq #summer
We also saw a lot of people wearing Patagonia clothes. Named after the vast geographic region at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, Patagonia was founded by climber Yvon Chouinard in 1973 to provide durable climbing equipment and outdoor wear. The company heavily supports environmental causes and donates profits from the sale of their jackets, fleeces and other gear to ecological protection. The company even sued President Trump in 2017, for shrinking federal lands protections.
In addition to environmental causes, Patagonia has also championed the LGBTQ community by partnering with the Human Rights Campaign to oppose state legislation targeting their rights. This summer, though, the company sued one member of that community.
Wyn Wiley is an activist from Bend, Oregon, who focuses on environmental and LGBTQ+ issues, promoting acceptance of queer identities in the environmentalist and outdoors communities, and promoting awareness of climate change and its effects.
In October of 2018, Wiley created the character Pattie Gonia and produced short-form outdoors activism content on Instagram and TikTok, while dressing in drag. The first posted video garnered more than 100 million views. Pattie Gonia has 1.8 million Instagram followers and claims to have raised $3.7 million for environmental causes, including $1 million raised last year on a 100-mile hike. In 2022, Pattie Gonia partnered with The North Face, another outdoor gear juggernaut, for their 2022 "Summer of Pride" series, which consisted of outdoor community-building events focused on local LGBTQ+ engagement and acceptance.
#lgbtq #summer
17 hours ago
GLAAD's New York gala is coming together.
Set to go down later this month — Oct. 23, to be precise — the Manhattan fundraiser will fete Oscar and Tony winning producer Bruce Cohen with one of the org's marquee honors, the Vito Russo Award, which recognizes work in "accelerating LGBTQ acceptance." The program has other boldfaced names on it, too, with Ross Mathews as host, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as presenter and Tony winner Alex Newell as performer.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
LGBTQ Characters in Film Decline for Third Year
'Scarpetta' Review: An Oddly Cast Nicole Kidman Makes the Most of Amazon's Uneven, Overly Familiar Patricia Cornwell Adaptation
#oscar #russo
Set to go down later this month — Oct. 23, to be precise — the Manhattan fundraiser will fete Oscar and Tony winning producer Bruce Cohen with one of the org's marquee honors, the Vito Russo Award, which recognizes work in "accelerating LGBTQ acceptance." The program has other boldfaced names on it, too, with Ross Mathews as host, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as presenter and Tony winner Alex Newell as performer.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
LGBTQ Characters in Film Decline for Third Year
'Scarpetta' Review: An Oddly Cast Nicole Kidman Makes the Most of Amazon's Uneven, Overly Familiar Patricia Cornwell Adaptation
#oscar #russo
18 days ago
Canadian heavyweight icon George Chuvalo, potentially the toughest man to ever live, passed this weekend on his 89th birthday after a lengthy battle with dementia.
Chuvalo fought 93 times in 22 years as a professional, sharing the ring with icons like Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Muhammad Ali without ever once hitting the canvas. A multiple-time national champion, he twice challenged for world **** les, falling short against Ernie Terrell in 1965 and the aforementioned Ali a year later. His career highlights include his 1965 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year against Patterson and a 1969 knockout of Jerry Quarry.
Deeply beloved in his home country, Chuvalo suffered unimaginable tragedy in his personal life, losing two children to heroin addiction while both a third and his wife committed suicide. Despite this, he remained by all accounts a delightful and gregarious figure, a prolific anti-drug advocate and namesake of a community center that supports LGBTQ and other youth in his hometown of Toronto.
Sadly, accumulated damage led to Chuvalo developing dementia, for which he received care in the final years of his life.
Though he never won a world **** le or punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame, Chuvalo deserves recognition for both his extraordinary durability and his status as a genuinely good man in a sport that, at times, can feel dishearteningly short on them. Rest easy, George.
#ever #dementia #years #World
Chuvalo fought 93 times in 22 years as a professional, sharing the ring with icons like Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Muhammad Ali without ever once hitting the canvas. A multiple-time national champion, he twice challenged for world **** les, falling short against Ernie Terrell in 1965 and the aforementioned Ali a year later. His career highlights include his 1965 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year against Patterson and a 1969 knockout of Jerry Quarry.
Deeply beloved in his home country, Chuvalo suffered unimaginable tragedy in his personal life, losing two children to heroin addiction while both a third and his wife committed suicide. Despite this, he remained by all accounts a delightful and gregarious figure, a prolific anti-drug advocate and namesake of a community center that supports LGBTQ and other youth in his hometown of Toronto.
Sadly, accumulated damage led to Chuvalo developing dementia, for which he received care in the final years of his life.
Though he never won a world **** le or punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame, Chuvalo deserves recognition for both his extraordinary durability and his status as a genuinely good man in a sport that, at times, can feel dishearteningly short on them. Rest easy, George.
#ever #dementia #years #World
22 days ago
"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Layla Taylor is finally living in her truth, and things couldn't be better. In a new interview, the reality star, who recently came out as bisexual in the summer of 2026, shared more about her life now that she's open about her ******* uality and explained why she decided now was the right time to come out.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Taylor said the main reason she came out was to encourage those who might also be struggling to accept themselves.
"The only reason why I did formally address it is just to help youth that are feeling the same way, that are scared to come out — and even adults that are the same way, that are scared to come out — was just to share my story so I could help other people," he said.
According to a previous report from The Blast, the Hulu star told podcast host Jay Shetty that she was "gay and bi" before saying her breakup with her last boyfriend inspired her to act on her attraction to women.
Elsewhere in her interview, Taylor said that she was surprised to learn people in the LGBTQ+ community still experience ******* phobia.
#people #reason #same
Speaking with PEOPLE, Taylor said the main reason she came out was to encourage those who might also be struggling to accept themselves.
"The only reason why I did formally address it is just to help youth that are feeling the same way, that are scared to come out — and even adults that are the same way, that are scared to come out — was just to share my story so I could help other people," he said.
According to a previous report from The Blast, the Hulu star told podcast host Jay Shetty that she was "gay and bi" before saying her breakup with her last boyfriend inspired her to act on her attraction to women.
Elsewhere in her interview, Taylor said that she was surprised to learn people in the LGBTQ+ community still experience ******* phobia.
#people #reason #same
22 days ago
Kelly Osbourne loves her mother, but she is not pretending they agree on everything.
Asked directly about Sharon Osbourne's support for British activist Tommy Robinson during an interview with Attitude at London's National Television Awards, Kelly gave an equally direct answer: "I don't agree with my mum, no."
Kelly acknowledged that political disagreements can be uncomfortable inside a family. She said Sharon is entitled to her own opinions, but made clear that her mother's position is "not for me."
The conversation then moved beyond Robinson to Kelly's relationship with the LGBTQ+ community and her mother's views on trans issues. Kelly credited drag queens with teaching her makeup, the trans community with teaching her about bravery and RuPaul's Drag Race with influencing how she presents herself.
The issue Attitude put to Kelly dates back to April, when Sharon's official Instagram account commented "See you at the march" beneath a video promoting Robinson's Unite the Kingdom event in London.
#teaching
Asked directly about Sharon Osbourne's support for British activist Tommy Robinson during an interview with Attitude at London's National Television Awards, Kelly gave an equally direct answer: "I don't agree with my mum, no."
Kelly acknowledged that political disagreements can be uncomfortable inside a family. She said Sharon is entitled to her own opinions, but made clear that her mother's position is "not for me."
The conversation then moved beyond Robinson to Kelly's relationship with the LGBTQ+ community and her mother's views on trans issues. Kelly credited drag queens with teaching her makeup, the trans community with teaching her about bravery and RuPaul's Drag Race with influencing how she presents herself.
The issue Attitude put to Kelly dates back to April, when Sharon's official Instagram account commented "See you at the march" beneath a video promoting Robinson's Unite the Kingdom event in London.
#teaching
1 month ago
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California would allow Jews to voluntarily identify their Jewish heritage on state forms under a bill the state Legislature passed Monday.
The bill, which lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, would require state agencies that collect demographic information to add "Jewish" as an option for ethnicity or ancestry. The goal is to give state officials and researchers better data on Jewish Californians, including their unemployment rates and representation in schools.
The data would enable lawmakers to create policies that address the needs of Jews in the state, said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California, an advocacy group.
"It's about inclusion as a community," Bocarsly said, noting the Legislature has passed laws in recent years to collect more inclusive demographic data on Middle Eastern, North African and LGBTQ+ communities.
Some opponents of the bill are worried about the idea of the state collecting such data given the traumatic history of the **** government keeping records of Jews during the Holocaust. The proposal would bar agencies from disclosing "personal identifying information," and bill author Henry Stern, a Democratic state senator who is Jewish, said California already has robust privacy protections that should **** uage those concerns.
#state
The bill, which lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, would require state agencies that collect demographic information to add "Jewish" as an option for ethnicity or ancestry. The goal is to give state officials and researchers better data on Jewish Californians, including their unemployment rates and representation in schools.
The data would enable lawmakers to create policies that address the needs of Jews in the state, said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California, an advocacy group.
"It's about inclusion as a community," Bocarsly said, noting the Legislature has passed laws in recent years to collect more inclusive demographic data on Middle Eastern, North African and LGBTQ+ communities.
Some opponents of the bill are worried about the idea of the state collecting such data given the traumatic history of the **** government keeping records of Jews during the Holocaust. The proposal would bar agencies from disclosing "personal identifying information," and bill author Henry Stern, a Democratic state senator who is Jewish, said California already has robust privacy protections that should **** uage those concerns.
#state
1 month ago
A Nashville charter school has removed books featuring LGBT themes from its elementary school libraries months after a Christian teacher was disciplined for refusing to read one of the books to students, a decision the school later cleared from the teacher's record.
The Tennessee Star reported Friday that, according to the First Liberty Institute — a nonprofit legal organization — the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Nashville has taken out books that promote same-sex marriage.
"We are thrilled that KIPP Nashville voluntarily removed books that could run afoul of parents' rights under the Constitution and Tennessee law," Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, said in a Thursday statement.
"It is paramount that religious views be respected in schools," Martin said.
Utah Library Confirms Lgbtq 'Pride' Book For Its 'Smallest Patrons' Is Kept Easily Accessible
#liberty
The Tennessee Star reported Friday that, according to the First Liberty Institute — a nonprofit legal organization — the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Nashville has taken out books that promote same-sex marriage.
"We are thrilled that KIPP Nashville voluntarily removed books that could run afoul of parents' rights under the Constitution and Tennessee law," Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, said in a Thursday statement.
"It is paramount that religious views be respected in schools," Martin said.
Utah Library Confirms Lgbtq 'Pride' Book For Its 'Smallest Patrons' Is Kept Easily Accessible
#liberty
1 month ago
Ricky Schroder is giving people the "ick" with his tribute to late co-star Dolly Parton.
The NYPD Blue alum, 56, and legendary country singer appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in 2025, as well as its 2026 sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He played a version of her father in both TV movies.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, August 25 — following Parton's death at the age of 80 — Schroder shared a post honoring the icon. Alongside a photo of them together, he wrote, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Parton was a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, speaking out against North Carolina's anti-trans bathroom bill in 2016 by telling CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
The singer also donated $1 million to vaccine research amid the Covid pandemic. After helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, she filmed herself receiving it as well, sharing the footage to social media.
#vaccine #many #colors #Social
The NYPD Blue alum, 56, and legendary country singer appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in 2025, as well as its 2026 sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He played a version of her father in both TV movies.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, August 25 — following Parton's death at the age of 80 — Schroder shared a post honoring the icon. Alongside a photo of them together, he wrote, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Parton was a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, speaking out against North Carolina's anti-trans bathroom bill in 2016 by telling CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
The singer also donated $1 million to vaccine research amid the Covid pandemic. After helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, she filmed herself receiving it as well, sharing the footage to social media.
#vaccine #many #colors #Social
1 month ago
J.K. Rowling had the perfect response after a critic crossed the line on her Dolly Parton tribute. The Harry Potter author fired back at multiple X users who attacked her heartfelt message honoring the late country legend.
J.K. Rowling responded on X (formerly Twitter) after critics attacked her tribute to Dolly Parton. Rowling had praised the late country legend following her death at 80 from cancer.
She wrote, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity." Rowling added, "Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck." She concluded, "RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
Many X users criticized Rowling's tribute given Parton's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Rowling's allegedly anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure in recent years. One critic responded to the tribute by writing, "It should have been you."
Rowling then shared that comment with her followers and fired back directly. She wrote, "Top tips for wishing death on people in public, b4byfirefly." She continued, "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio." The critic subsequently locked their account after Rowling's response gained traction.
#rowling
J.K. Rowling responded on X (formerly Twitter) after critics attacked her tribute to Dolly Parton. Rowling had praised the late country legend following her death at 80 from cancer.
She wrote, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity." Rowling added, "Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck." She concluded, "RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
Many X users criticized Rowling's tribute given Parton's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Rowling's allegedly anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure in recent years. One critic responded to the tribute by writing, "It should have been you."
Rowling then shared that comment with her followers and fired back directly. She wrote, "Top tips for wishing death on people in public, b4byfirefly." She continued, "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio." The critic subsequently locked their account after Rowling's response gained traction.
#rowling
1 month ago
J.K. Rowling fired back after a critic commented, "It should have been you," on her tribute to Dolly Parton, calling out the post for publicly "wishing death" on her.
Earlier on Tuesday, the "Harry Potter" author, whose anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure, took to X to pay tribute to the late country legend, who died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Like many in the industry, Rowling had nothing but praise for the singer, actress and philanthropist, writing, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
However, given Parton's prior status as a devoted advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, many on X took umbrage with Rowling's message about the "9 to 5" star.
One scathing response appeared to catch Rowling's attention, as she shared the comment with her followers: "It should have been you."
"Top tips for wishing death on people in public," the author wrote alongside a screenshot of the critic's message. "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio."
#tribute
Earlier on Tuesday, the "Harry Potter" author, whose anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure, took to X to pay tribute to the late country legend, who died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Like many in the industry, Rowling had nothing but praise for the singer, actress and philanthropist, writing, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
However, given Parton's prior status as a devoted advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, many on X took umbrage with Rowling's message about the "9 to 5" star.
One scathing response appeared to catch Rowling's attention, as she shared the comment with her followers: "It should have been you."
"Top tips for wishing death on people in public," the author wrote alongside a screenshot of the critic's message. "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio."
#tribute
1 month ago
Enes Kanter Freedom was banned from Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 25, one day after his altercation with Chicago Sky's Natasha Cloud
The incident stemmed from Kanter Freedom's criticism of transgender athletes and Cloud's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community
Kanter Freedom recently expressed interest in joining the WNBA amid debates over transgender athletes in women's sports
Enes Kanter Freedom has been banned from Wintrust Arena in Chicago following his altercation with Chicago Sky point guard Natasha Cloud.
Kanter Freedom, 34, was banned on Tuesday, Aug. 25, following the altercation the previous day on Monday, Aug. 24, according to ESPN.
#kanter #altercation
The incident stemmed from Kanter Freedom's criticism of transgender athletes and Cloud's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community
Kanter Freedom recently expressed interest in joining the WNBA amid debates over transgender athletes in women's sports
Enes Kanter Freedom has been banned from Wintrust Arena in Chicago following his altercation with Chicago Sky point guard Natasha Cloud.
Kanter Freedom, 34, was banned on Tuesday, Aug. 25, following the altercation the previous day on Monday, Aug. 24, according to ESPN.
#kanter #altercation
1 month ago
Comedian Matt Mathews has drawn backlash for a blunt exchange about ******* ouns and gender identity that began when Kandi Burruss asked a seemingly simple question about his husband.
Mathews appeared on the August 16 episode of Burruss' Speak On It podcast, where the conversation eventually turned to his relationship with Rob Killgore. Burruss asked when Mathews had met "them," prompting him to immediately respond, "Them? I only got one," according to Entertainment Weekly.
Burruss explained that she had used the gender-neutral ******* oun because she did not know Killgore's ******* ouns and did not want to make an ******* umption that might offend him. Mathews rejected that approach and expanded his response into criticism of they/them ******* ouns, nonbinary identities and the expanding LGBTQ+ acronym.
Mathews acknowledged during the exchange that his comments were likely to upset people. Once clips from the interview began circulating on social media, that prediction proved accurate, with his remarks drawing millions of views and a divided response.
The exchange can be heard in the original Speak On It interview. After Burruss asked when Mathews had met "them," he immediately questioned the wording. "Them? I only got one," Mathews said.
#gender #began #immediately
Mathews appeared on the August 16 episode of Burruss' Speak On It podcast, where the conversation eventually turned to his relationship with Rob Killgore. Burruss asked when Mathews had met "them," prompting him to immediately respond, "Them? I only got one," according to Entertainment Weekly.
Burruss explained that she had used the gender-neutral ******* oun because she did not know Killgore's ******* ouns and did not want to make an ******* umption that might offend him. Mathews rejected that approach and expanded his response into criticism of they/them ******* ouns, nonbinary identities and the expanding LGBTQ+ acronym.
Mathews acknowledged during the exchange that his comments were likely to upset people. Once clips from the interview began circulating on social media, that prediction proved accurate, with his remarks drawing millions of views and a divided response.
The exchange can be heard in the original Speak On It interview. After Burruss asked when Mathews had met "them," he immediately questioned the wording. "Them? I only got one," Mathews said.
#gender #began #immediately
2 months ago
Sometimes, a totally normal moment between a couple is enough to warm your heart and make you believe in queer joy again.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten went viral earlier this year when the liberal Dutch leader became the first out gay politician to hold the position in the Netherlands —and he did it with his fiancé, Argentinian field hockey player Nicolás Keenan, by his side. Now, the two have the LGBTQ+ community cheering for them once again after Keenan walked over to get a kiss from Jetten at the FIH Hockey World Cup.
The sweet moment, caught on camera and posted on Instagram by the Royal Dutch Hockey **** ociation, shows Keenan walking over to the stands where Jetten is cheering him on while wearing his fiancé's jersey. The two men reach over the divider to hug, and Jetten plants a kiss on Keenan's cheek.
www.instagram.com
The kiss between the couple happened after Keenan and his teammates won a match against **** an 3-0. The tournament kicked off on August 15 and will run until August 30.
#hockey #dutch #Instagram #moment
Prime Minister Rob Jetten went viral earlier this year when the liberal Dutch leader became the first out gay politician to hold the position in the Netherlands —and he did it with his fiancé, Argentinian field hockey player Nicolás Keenan, by his side. Now, the two have the LGBTQ+ community cheering for them once again after Keenan walked over to get a kiss from Jetten at the FIH Hockey World Cup.
The sweet moment, caught on camera and posted on Instagram by the Royal Dutch Hockey **** ociation, shows Keenan walking over to the stands where Jetten is cheering him on while wearing his fiancé's jersey. The two men reach over the divider to hug, and Jetten plants a kiss on Keenan's cheek.
www.instagram.com
The kiss between the couple happened after Keenan and his teammates won a match against **** an 3-0. The tournament kicked off on August 15 and will run until August 30.
#hockey #dutch #Instagram #moment
2 months ago
Not every Hollywood love story begins on a movie set or red carpet. These famous stars found lasting relationships with partners who built their lives outside the spotlight, proving that sometimes the strongest connections happen far from the celebrity world. Here are 14 couples whose enduring romances show that true love doesn't require two famous names.
TRF / MEGA
Known for her iconic role as Miranda Hobbes, Cynthia Nixon found love beyond the Hollywood bubble. Her marriage to a non-celebrity partner showcases her advocacy for LGBT rights and the authenticity she brings to every aspect of her life. The couple's bond is a reminder that genuine connection isn't reserved for the famous. Nixon has been married to Christine Marinoni, an LGBTQ rights activist, since 2012, as reported by Parade.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner turned heads with his blockbuster charm, but it was his relationship with a non-celebrity that truly captured his heart. Known for keeping his private life low-key, Lautner's partnership proves that a simple, grounded connection can win out over all the Hollywood glitz. Lautner and Taylor Dome tied the knot on Nov. 11, 2022, at Epoch Estate Wines outside Paso Robles, California, per Parade.
#hollywood #famous #celebrity #lautner
TRF / MEGA
Known for her iconic role as Miranda Hobbes, Cynthia Nixon found love beyond the Hollywood bubble. Her marriage to a non-celebrity partner showcases her advocacy for LGBT rights and the authenticity she brings to every aspect of her life. The couple's bond is a reminder that genuine connection isn't reserved for the famous. Nixon has been married to Christine Marinoni, an LGBTQ rights activist, since 2012, as reported by Parade.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner turned heads with his blockbuster charm, but it was his relationship with a non-celebrity that truly captured his heart. Known for keeping his private life low-key, Lautner's partnership proves that a simple, grounded connection can win out over all the Hollywood glitz. Lautner and Taylor Dome tied the knot on Nov. 11, 2022, at Epoch Estate Wines outside Paso Robles, California, per Parade.
#hollywood #famous #celebrity #lautner
2 months ago
Perez Hilton was reevaluating his ***** ual orientation in the days leading up to what his family called a "severe mental health crisis," according to a new report.
"He was telling people he considered himself 'ex-gay,'" one insider told Rob Shuter for his Naughty But Nice Substack on Tuesday, August 11. "He was very serious about it. This wasn't a joke or something he said once. He was telling people that he was no longer gay."
The 49-year-old, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was rushed to the hospital on August 4 after seemingly committing acts of self-harm in a disturbing TikTok livestream. His condition "remains serious but stable," his family said in an August 8 statement posted on his website, adding that his "treatment and recovery will be a long process."
In the months leading up to the incident, the celebrity blogger had spoken about his religion more often, even revealing in a June video posted on YouTube that God had told him to relocate from Las Vegas to his hometown of Miami.
Sources told Shuter the formerly proud LGBTQ+ voice — who controversially "outed" multiple celebrities in his heyday — had become involved with conservative Christian communities.
#shuter #posted
"He was telling people he considered himself 'ex-gay,'" one insider told Rob Shuter for his Naughty But Nice Substack on Tuesday, August 11. "He was very serious about it. This wasn't a joke or something he said once. He was telling people that he was no longer gay."
The 49-year-old, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was rushed to the hospital on August 4 after seemingly committing acts of self-harm in a disturbing TikTok livestream. His condition "remains serious but stable," his family said in an August 8 statement posted on his website, adding that his "treatment and recovery will be a long process."
In the months leading up to the incident, the celebrity blogger had spoken about his religion more often, even revealing in a June video posted on YouTube that God had told him to relocate from Las Vegas to his hometown of Miami.
Sources told Shuter the formerly proud LGBTQ+ voice — who controversially "outed" multiple celebrities in his heyday — had become involved with conservative Christian communities.
#shuter #posted
2 months ago
Rosie O'Donnell opened up about navigating her ****** uality in the public eye
O'Donnell remembered that when she hosted her eponymous talk show, she was clear about her obsession with Tom Cruise, but not all fans understood that she didn't mean she wanted to sleep with him
O'Donnell called herself "100% gay" and said she's a "proud" member of the LGBTQ+ family
Rosie O'Donnell had to clear up a little confusion when she came out as a lesbian.
O'Donnell, 64, opened up on the Aug. 11 episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler. During the episode, Poehler, 54, noted that conversations about "sexuality and gender" have evolved a lot since the '90s and "everything is so much more open."
#cruise
O'Donnell remembered that when she hosted her eponymous talk show, she was clear about her obsession with Tom Cruise, but not all fans understood that she didn't mean she wanted to sleep with him
O'Donnell called herself "100% gay" and said she's a "proud" member of the LGBTQ+ family
Rosie O'Donnell had to clear up a little confusion when she came out as a lesbian.
O'Donnell, 64, opened up on the Aug. 11 episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler. During the episode, Poehler, 54, noted that conversations about "sexuality and gender" have evolved a lot since the '90s and "everything is so much more open."
#cruise
2 months ago
Sometimes, putting out a sign actually works.
Young adults at the LGBTQ+ program Summer of Sass got quite the surprise Friday when Dylan Mulvaney unexpectedly showed up at the organization's annual Strawberry Social fundraiser in Provincetown.
It started when Salem, a Summer of Sass participant who works at the Provincetown Theater, learned that the transgender actress and influencer was in town and planned to attend a nearby show that night. Salem had an idea: Why not invite her to the Strawberry Social?
Juniper Kristal Starling, another participant, suggested putting up signs leading to the Sass House.
"Ultimately, I don't think anyone expected it to work," Juniper tells Out.
#sass #provincetown #participant
Young adults at the LGBTQ+ program Summer of Sass got quite the surprise Friday when Dylan Mulvaney unexpectedly showed up at the organization's annual Strawberry Social fundraiser in Provincetown.
It started when Salem, a Summer of Sass participant who works at the Provincetown Theater, learned that the transgender actress and influencer was in town and planned to attend a nearby show that night. Salem had an idea: Why not invite her to the Strawberry Social?
Juniper Kristal Starling, another participant, suggested putting up signs leading to the Sass House.
"Ultimately, I don't think anyone expected it to work," Juniper tells Out.
#sass #provincetown #participant
2 months ago
EXCLUSIVE: Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico bragged in a resurfaced interview that his church had stirred controversy by housing a family of illegal immigrants who were set to be deported by ICE, laughing as he said that "Christianity is just another word for causing trouble."
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who serves as a Democratic state representative, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat that is critical to both parties.
In a resurfaced clip of Talarico speaking on Texas Impact's "Weekly Witness" show in June 2023, he credited his faith for "why I am in politics." Asked how his faith influences his politics, Talarico pointed to examples of his church advancing progressive causes, saying, "Justice is just love out in public."
"Our church was really active in LGBTQ rights in the '90s. We caught some attention by letting an atheist join our church in the 2000s, and then in the 2010s, again stirred some controversy by housing an undocumented family, a mother and son, who were close to being deported by ICE," he said. "That was the tradition that I was brought up in. It's what led me to teach public school students on the west side of San Antonio, led me to run an education nonprofit and then led me to run for office."
Texas Dem Nominee James Talarico Invokes Faith To Defend Abortion Rights, 'The Bible Is Silent On Abortion'
#talarico #church
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who serves as a Democratic state representative, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat that is critical to both parties.
In a resurfaced clip of Talarico speaking on Texas Impact's "Weekly Witness" show in June 2023, he credited his faith for "why I am in politics." Asked how his faith influences his politics, Talarico pointed to examples of his church advancing progressive causes, saying, "Justice is just love out in public."
"Our church was really active in LGBTQ rights in the '90s. We caught some attention by letting an atheist join our church in the 2000s, and then in the 2010s, again stirred some controversy by housing an undocumented family, a mother and son, who were close to being deported by ICE," he said. "That was the tradition that I was brought up in. It's what led me to teach public school students on the west side of San Antonio, led me to run an education nonprofit and then led me to run for office."
Texas Dem Nominee James Talarico Invokes Faith To Defend Abortion Rights, 'The Bible Is Silent On Abortion'
#talarico #church
2 months ago
Grammy nominee Tate McRae is continuing to take heat for her perceived **** ociation with the MAGA movement, after she refused to outright deny the speculation in a recent Variety interview in which she pointed to her support of LGBTQ+ and women's causes and said she thinks it's "pretty obvious" what side of the aisle she stands on.
Tate McRae attends the 2026 Met Gala.
McRae was asked about the **** umption—fueled largely by her rumored relationship with hockey star Jack Hughes and recent collaboration with country singer Morgan Wallen—and responded, "I like to say my piece through organizations I support," reportedly in reference to The Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, and the Global Fund for Women, which supports gender equality movements.
McRae, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna, said she thinks it's "pretty obvious what kind of person I am and the things I support, and I hope that my fans can see that through the things that I'm putting my energy towards."
The singer has since been slammed for refusing to outright state that she's not affiliated with President Donald Trump's Make American Great Again movement, with online commenters suggesting her silence speaks "volumes."
#support #outright #pretty
Tate McRae attends the 2026 Met Gala.
McRae was asked about the **** umption—fueled largely by her rumored relationship with hockey star Jack Hughes and recent collaboration with country singer Morgan Wallen—and responded, "I like to say my piece through organizations I support," reportedly in reference to The Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, and the Global Fund for Women, which supports gender equality movements.
McRae, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna, said she thinks it's "pretty obvious what kind of person I am and the things I support, and I hope that my fans can see that through the things that I'm putting my energy towards."
The singer has since been slammed for refusing to outright state that she's not affiliated with President Donald Trump's Make American Great Again movement, with online commenters suggesting her silence speaks "volumes."
#support #outright #pretty
2 months ago
Adam Carolla is the latest conservative voice to crash out over Anne Hathaway's 2018 Human Rights Campaign speech about white, straight men.
Back in 2018, Hathaway gave a speech while accepting National Ally for Equality Award from the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization the Human Rights Campaign. In it, she called out straight white men in a way that is rankling conservatives and MAGA-minded people eight years later now that she stars in one of the biggest movies of the year, Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."
"It is important to acknowledge with the exception of being a cisgender male, everything about how I was born has put me at the current center of a damaging and widely accepted myth," Hathaway said at the time. "That myth is that gayness orbits around straightness, transgender orbits around cisgender, and that all races orbit around whiteness. This myth is wrong. But this myth is too real for too many … It is a habit, so it's ***** umed to be the way things are."
On Friday's episode of "The Adam and Dr. Drew Show," both men took umbrage with the near-decade old quote. A meltdown ensued on the show as the two tried to figure out what exactly Hathaway meant while ***** uring listeners that regardless of what she meant, she was wrong.
"It sounds like she's saying, 'I was born into this world myself as a rich, white person,'" Carolla said. "But you know what they never factor in? The ultimate privilege – bone structure. Being good-looking. Beauty. Chuck knows what I'm talking about. A lot of doors opening. Lots of doors."
#hathaway #white #around #human
Back in 2018, Hathaway gave a speech while accepting National Ally for Equality Award from the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization the Human Rights Campaign. In it, she called out straight white men in a way that is rankling conservatives and MAGA-minded people eight years later now that she stars in one of the biggest movies of the year, Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."
"It is important to acknowledge with the exception of being a cisgender male, everything about how I was born has put me at the current center of a damaging and widely accepted myth," Hathaway said at the time. "That myth is that gayness orbits around straightness, transgender orbits around cisgender, and that all races orbit around whiteness. This myth is wrong. But this myth is too real for too many … It is a habit, so it's ***** umed to be the way things are."
On Friday's episode of "The Adam and Dr. Drew Show," both men took umbrage with the near-decade old quote. A meltdown ensued on the show as the two tried to figure out what exactly Hathaway meant while ***** uring listeners that regardless of what she meant, she was wrong.
"It sounds like she's saying, 'I was born into this world myself as a rich, white person,'" Carolla said. "But you know what they never factor in? The ultimate privilege – bone structure. Being good-looking. Beauty. Chuck knows what I'm talking about. A lot of doors opening. Lots of doors."
#hathaway #white #around #human
2 months ago
The WNBA appears to be at an inflection point that will decide whether it can successfully navigate the inordinate attention around Indiana star Caitlin Clark, or if it will be captured by uninformed media perspectives and false narratives.
Clark is a full-fledged icon in America's culture wars, a straight white point guard in a largely Black and LGBTQ league. And she is also a money-maker like the WNBA has never seen. She also is a 24-year-old who can't seem to ever satisfy critics.
In an appearance on The Awful Announcing Podcast this week, sports commentator Jemele Hill shared her thoughts, after covering WNBA All-Star weekend, on the vast divide between media perspectives on television and across the internet and how the people close to Clark feel about her.
"I feel a lot of empathy for her, just because there's so much of this she did not ask for," Hill said. "She didn't ask to be some kind of bat signal for a culture war. She certainly didn't ask for the group of fans — which I believe are not the majority — the group of fans that have decided that she's going to be their vessel to get off as much racism as they possibly can."
Hill likened the intense scrutiny toward Clark to another sports story, transgender athlete laws, that has been co-opted by conservative media as well.
#Media #perspectives #feel
Clark is a full-fledged icon in America's culture wars, a straight white point guard in a largely Black and LGBTQ league. And she is also a money-maker like the WNBA has never seen. She also is a 24-year-old who can't seem to ever satisfy critics.
In an appearance on The Awful Announcing Podcast this week, sports commentator Jemele Hill shared her thoughts, after covering WNBA All-Star weekend, on the vast divide between media perspectives on television and across the internet and how the people close to Clark feel about her.
"I feel a lot of empathy for her, just because there's so much of this she did not ask for," Hill said. "She didn't ask to be some kind of bat signal for a culture war. She certainly didn't ask for the group of fans — which I believe are not the majority — the group of fans that have decided that she's going to be their vessel to get off as much racism as they possibly can."
Hill likened the intense scrutiny toward Clark to another sports story, transgender athlete laws, that has been co-opted by conservative media as well.
#Media #perspectives #feel
2 months ago
Elon Musk directed a series of personal insults at Anne Hathaway after an eight-year-old speech about LGBTQ equality, race and privilege resurfaced on X.
The billionaire called Hathaway a "marionette," accused her of reading words written by somebody else and said the Oscar winner had a "little bird brain." He also claimed she simply repeated whatever Hollywood instructed her to say.
The video came from the Human Rights Campaign's National Dinner in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2018. One of the posts recirculating the footage incorrectly described Hathaway's remarks as a new speech.
Musk has attacked The Odyssey's casting and announced plans for his artificial-intelligence platform to create a competing adaptation of Homer's epic before the end of 2026.
The renewed controversy began after the X account Her Tribe Vibe shared an excerpt from Hathaway's speech and presented it as a recent statement. Musk responded across several posts. "She has a little bird brain," he wrote in one reply.
#hathaway #little #brain
The billionaire called Hathaway a "marionette," accused her of reading words written by somebody else and said the Oscar winner had a "little bird brain." He also claimed she simply repeated whatever Hollywood instructed her to say.
The video came from the Human Rights Campaign's National Dinner in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2018. One of the posts recirculating the footage incorrectly described Hathaway's remarks as a new speech.
Musk has attacked The Odyssey's casting and announced plans for his artificial-intelligence platform to create a competing adaptation of Homer's epic before the end of 2026.
The renewed controversy began after the X account Her Tribe Vibe shared an excerpt from Hathaway's speech and presented it as a recent statement. Musk responded across several posts. "She has a little bird brain," he wrote in one reply.
#hathaway #little #brain
2 months ago
The Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm 105-95 on Tuesday night in the first night of regular-season action for the WNBA after the All-Star break. However, instead of the Fever's three-game winning streak entering the game, a lot of the coverage surrounding the Fever was on comments reserve guard Sophie Cunningham made regarding transgender athletes.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said via a profile on her published by ESPN. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Cunningham's words became a hot-topic issue, with people weighing in from all over the media, intense debates being had online, and even rallies being planned.
After the game, WNBA reporter Roberta Rodrigues, who rebuked Cunningham's comments and the rally tied to them on social media, asked head coach Stephanie White, who is married to journalist Lisa Salters, about the situation.
"Coach, there was a rally before the game, an anti-trans rally before the game, inspired by Sophie Cunningham," Rodrigues started. "As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, how did you receive her comments and the way it ignited the right-wing and anti-trans supporters? And for the players, have you had conversations in the locker room about it?"
#sophie
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said via a profile on her published by ESPN. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Cunningham's words became a hot-topic issue, with people weighing in from all over the media, intense debates being had online, and even rallies being planned.
After the game, WNBA reporter Roberta Rodrigues, who rebuked Cunningham's comments and the rally tied to them on social media, asked head coach Stephanie White, who is married to journalist Lisa Salters, about the situation.
"Coach, there was a rally before the game, an anti-trans rally before the game, inspired by Sophie Cunningham," Rodrigues started. "As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, how did you receive her comments and the way it ignited the right-wing and anti-trans supporters? And for the players, have you had conversations in the locker room about it?"
#sophie
2 months ago
The Hetrick-Martin Institute, dedicated to serving LGBTQIA+ youth, set a new fundraising record at its annual School's Out Hamptons benefit this year, raking in more than $1 million.
Though the event has outperformed its fundraising goals every year for the last five years, the seven-figure tally was the first in the event's 26-year history.
More from WWD
What to Wear to a Gala in 2026, Including Chic Outfits for Black-Tie and White-Tie Dress Codes
Katie Holmes Honored at American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala
#fundraising
Though the event has outperformed its fundraising goals every year for the last five years, the seven-figure tally was the first in the event's 26-year history.
More from WWD
What to Wear to a Gala in 2026, Including Chic Outfits for Black-Tie and White-Tie Dress Codes
Katie Holmes Honored at American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala
#fundraising
2 months ago
HETAUDA, Nepal (AP) — She paces the side of the darkened highway in central Nepal, just enough light from the trucks roaring past to illuminate her painted face to the men rolling in on rickshaws and motorbikes. She knows that every stranger who pays for her body could end her life. But she also knows their money is the only thing preventing her death.
This spot, littered in condom wrappers and fringed by jungle, is familiar to her. Rubi Lama once came here not as a **** worker, but as an aid worker who helped **** workers.
For nine years, Lama — who is transgender — had devoted her life to conducting HIV outreach in Nepal's marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ **** workers who wait by this highway each night. But after the United States slashed its foreign aid funding last year, Lama and more than 280,000 aid workers worldwide found themselves out of a job.
Much has been written about the devastating impacts the U.S. foreign aid cuts have had on the millions of people the funding once helped. Far less is known about the impacts on the helpers themselves.
In impoverished Nepal, where a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options, the impact on aid workers' lives was particularly crushing. Starving and scared, Lama and around 100 other LGBTQ+ aid workers left jobless by the funding cuts have turned to **** work to survive, walking the streets alongside the very people they once fought so hard to help.
#nepal #once
This spot, littered in condom wrappers and fringed by jungle, is familiar to her. Rubi Lama once came here not as a **** worker, but as an aid worker who helped **** workers.
For nine years, Lama — who is transgender — had devoted her life to conducting HIV outreach in Nepal's marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ **** workers who wait by this highway each night. But after the United States slashed its foreign aid funding last year, Lama and more than 280,000 aid workers worldwide found themselves out of a job.
Much has been written about the devastating impacts the U.S. foreign aid cuts have had on the millions of people the funding once helped. Far less is known about the impacts on the helpers themselves.
In impoverished Nepal, where a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options, the impact on aid workers' lives was particularly crushing. Starving and scared, Lama and around 100 other LGBTQ+ aid workers left jobless by the funding cuts have turned to **** work to survive, walking the streets alongside the very people they once fought so hard to help.
#nepal #once
3 months ago
Patti LuPone has revealed that an LGBTQ+ cruise ship she is performing on has allegedly been banned from entering Turkey.
The Tony Award winner took to Instagram to share her shock regarding the news. LuPone is scheduled to perform on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, which sets sail on July 5 through July 15.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Carrie Preston on Her 'Elsbeth' "Miracle," Getting More Kaya After That Season 3 Finale and Patti LuPone Making Her Cry
Inside Sundance Institute's Robert Redford Tribute With Tears, Cheers and a Patti LuPone Performance
The Tony Award winner took to Instagram to share her shock regarding the news. LuPone is scheduled to perform on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, which sets sail on July 5 through July 15.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Carrie Preston on Her 'Elsbeth' "Miracle," Getting More Kaya After That Season 3 Finale and Patti LuPone Making Her Cry
Inside Sundance Institute's Robert Redford Tribute With Tears, Cheers and a Patti LuPone Performance
3 months ago
Frankie Grande has no qualms about touting 2026 as a "Frankie-sance," and it's hard to argue with that **** sment.
In the past year, the "Henry Danger" star and former "Big Brother" contestant dropped a debut solo album, "Hotel Rock Bottom," and began performances in a buzzy Broadway musical, "Titaníque." Now, he's showcasing his reflective side in a delightfully unfiltered memoir, "Supergay!"
Buzz: Village People Lead Singer Victor Willis Dead At 74
Released June 23, "Supergay!" charts the highs and lows of the actor, singer and reality TV personality's life, including his experiences with drug and alcohol addiction, his path to self-acceptance as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and his "wonderfully reciprocal" relationship with his sister, pop icon Ariana Grande.
Despite the book's arrival at a prolific moment in his career, Frankie Grande insists its timing was motivated by "where we are as a nation."
In the past year, the "Henry Danger" star and former "Big Brother" contestant dropped a debut solo album, "Hotel Rock Bottom," and began performances in a buzzy Broadway musical, "Titaníque." Now, he's showcasing his reflective side in a delightfully unfiltered memoir, "Supergay!"
Buzz: Village People Lead Singer Victor Willis Dead At 74
Released June 23, "Supergay!" charts the highs and lows of the actor, singer and reality TV personality's life, including his experiences with drug and alcohol addiction, his path to self-acceptance as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and his "wonderfully reciprocal" relationship with his sister, pop icon Ariana Grande.
Despite the book's arrival at a prolific moment in his career, Frankie Grande insists its timing was motivated by "where we are as a nation."
3 months ago
Connor Franta reflects on coming out publicly in 2014, the same year he came out privately to loved ones
His coming out video garnered 12 million views and sparked widespread support from fans and the LGBTQ community
Franta says his YouTube career and personal life were deeply intertwined, making it natural to share his truth
Connor Franta likens his coming out process to his YouTube career: "slow, then all at once," he tells PEOPLE.
In 2014, when he was just 22 years old, Franta posted a video that would then rock the internet community, racking up 12 million views and nearly 160,000 comments.
"2014 is truly the year that I have accepted who I am and become happy with that person, so today I want to talk to you guys about that and be open and honest and tell you that I'm gay," a young Franta, clad in a plaid flannel over a gray shirt, told his audience at the time.
"I hope this doesn't change a thing," he wrote in the caption of the now 12-year-old video. However, like his rapidly evolving YouTube career, things would change — though perhaps not in the way he had braced himself for.
"I came out personally to the first person ever in the same year I came out publicly to my entire YouTube audience," he tells PEOPLE. "So it was a very fast-tracked process. I mean, in many ways that is kind of who I am as a person that once I want to go for something or once I accept something or I have a goal or a mission, it's kind of hard for me to not just seek it out. So I think once I'd come out to one person and then my family and then my friends, it was like, 'Well, why wouldn't I just come out to everyone? This is just what it is.'"
Maybe it was trust in his audience, or just naiveté, Connor says, but it made "no sense" to him to keep facets of himself "hidden" from anyone
He echoes a refrain to PEOPLE: "My life was my career" and vice versa. "I think it was the perfect combination that everything was growing — content was king," he recalls of those golden years of YouTube.
By no means did Franta invent the coming out video, he says, despite the eventual cultural impact his own would have. In fact, he had watched a few before making his own, realizing that it might be much simpler than he had imagined. "I thought, 'Oh, you really just sit down, tell your story and tell everyone and then hope for the best.'"
The response to his video was "unfiltered joy and support," which Franta took for granted at the time. "The fact that I was welcomed, I think that shaped who I am today in many ways, and that my experience could have been completely different."
His coming out video garnered 12 million views and sparked widespread support from fans and the LGBTQ community
Franta says his YouTube career and personal life were deeply intertwined, making it natural to share his truth
Connor Franta likens his coming out process to his YouTube career: "slow, then all at once," he tells PEOPLE.
In 2014, when he was just 22 years old, Franta posted a video that would then rock the internet community, racking up 12 million views and nearly 160,000 comments.
"2014 is truly the year that I have accepted who I am and become happy with that person, so today I want to talk to you guys about that and be open and honest and tell you that I'm gay," a young Franta, clad in a plaid flannel over a gray shirt, told his audience at the time.
"I hope this doesn't change a thing," he wrote in the caption of the now 12-year-old video. However, like his rapidly evolving YouTube career, things would change — though perhaps not in the way he had braced himself for.
"I came out personally to the first person ever in the same year I came out publicly to my entire YouTube audience," he tells PEOPLE. "So it was a very fast-tracked process. I mean, in many ways that is kind of who I am as a person that once I want to go for something or once I accept something or I have a goal or a mission, it's kind of hard for me to not just seek it out. So I think once I'd come out to one person and then my family and then my friends, it was like, 'Well, why wouldn't I just come out to everyone? This is just what it is.'"
Maybe it was trust in his audience, or just naiveté, Connor says, but it made "no sense" to him to keep facets of himself "hidden" from anyone
He echoes a refrain to PEOPLE: "My life was my career" and vice versa. "I think it was the perfect combination that everything was growing — content was king," he recalls of those golden years of YouTube.
By no means did Franta invent the coming out video, he says, despite the eventual cultural impact his own would have. In fact, he had watched a few before making his own, realizing that it might be much simpler than he had imagined. "I thought, 'Oh, you really just sit down, tell your story and tell everyone and then hope for the best.'"
The response to his video was "unfiltered joy and support," which Franta took for granted at the time. "The fact that I was welcomed, I think that shaped who I am today in many ways, and that my experience could have been completely different."
3 months ago
Elliot Page has abs for days!
Despite his busy schedule filming a slew of major Hollywood projects or advocating for LGBTQ+ equality, the handsome actor is prioritizing his physical and mental health by hitting the gym on a consistent basis.
Page recently posted a snapshot posing shirtless alongside the trainer who has helped him get into fighting shape.
"I've been incredibly fortunate to train with coachnol," he captioned a photo and video carousel on Instagram. "He's a brilliant teacher, not just in the way he breaks down complex movements, but also in his strategic understanding of boxing and his thoughtful approach to the psychological side of the sport."
www.instagram.com
Despite his busy schedule filming a slew of major Hollywood projects or advocating for LGBTQ+ equality, the handsome actor is prioritizing his physical and mental health by hitting the gym on a consistent basis.
Page recently posted a snapshot posing shirtless alongside the trainer who has helped him get into fighting shape.
"I've been incredibly fortunate to train with coachnol," he captioned a photo and video carousel on Instagram. "He's a brilliant teacher, not just in the way he breaks down complex movements, but also in his strategic understanding of boxing and his thoughtful approach to the psychological side of the sport."
www.instagram.com
3 months ago
As Pride Month comes to a close and the FIFA World Cup captures fans' attention, one Boston soccer club has been quietly making history for nearly four decades.
The Boston Strikers, an LGBTQ+ soccer club, first took the field in the spring of 1987. At the time, there were no gay soccer teams in New England.
"We had our first practice in the spring of 1987," said founding member Jeffry Pike.
Pike says the idea began with a phone call from another gay athlete after he returned from competing in the Gay Games.
"I had basically the mailing lists and connections, so I said, 'Let's work this out. Let's get it to happen,'" Pike recalled.
The Boston Strikers, an LGBTQ+ soccer club, first took the field in the spring of 1987. At the time, there were no gay soccer teams in New England.
"We had our first practice in the spring of 1987," said founding member Jeffry Pike.
Pike says the idea began with a phone call from another gay athlete after he returned from competing in the Gay Games.
"I had basically the mailing lists and connections, so I said, 'Let's work this out. Let's get it to happen,'" Pike recalled.
