Queer and trans folks slayed at the 2022 Met Gala

Plus other pop culture, from Taco Bell drag brunch and Ellen Degeneres saying goodbye

The first Monday in May is back!

After a COVID-19 hiatus, plus a rescheduling to the fall for 2021’s edition, the Met Gala returned last night to great fanfare. The glitzy affair is ostensibly about Vogue and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, but we all know it’s about the gowns, gowns, gowns. 

The annual showcase of lewks always serves as a shot in the arm for queer and trans pop culture, as we all know the gays know what best-dressed really means. Every week in “The Buzz” we round up the biggest happenings (and in this case, looks) of the week in queer and trans pop culture. 

Here’s what you missed this week in queer and trans pop culture. 

→ In no particular order, here are some of the best-dressed queer and trans folks who walked the red carpet Monday night with the theme of “Gilded Glamour.”

Newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose fittingly wore Oscar gold.

But in the category of gold, Emmy winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez might have had her beat.

Janelle Monáe, on the other hand, opted for silver.

 

Lizzo brought her flute and gave onlookers an impromptu recital.

Actress and singer Dove Cameron evoked historical dresses with her spindly garment.

Everyone’s favourite chaotic sapphic and repeat Met Gala walker Cara Delevingne was tits-out on the red carpet.

While everyone’s other favourite sapphic Tessa Thompson opted for flowing pink. 

Amidst a sea of black, white and gold, Lena Waithe stood out in striking blue butch couture.

Ben Platt rocked a corset.

Top Chef winner Melissa King—who curated the event’s menu—rocked shorts and a seriously fierce hand-piece.

Tommy Dorfman wore a stunning green ensemble featuring a 200-year-old tiara and a purse with “protect trans kids” emblazoned on it.

And that’s just a small selection of the looks from the night. If you want the full rundown, so you can judge yourself, check out Vogue’s full coverage of the event. 

→ Speaking of the Met Gala—have you ever wondered what happened to Lil Nas X’s golden armour from last year? Turns out it ended up in some dude’s apartment for a short time.

https://twitter.com/JustLike_Jake/status/1520467275551236097?s=20&t=skKvwo_syrulIpdcxjHLiQ

Finders keepers!

→ The New York Times interviewed author Maia Kobabe about eir book Gender Queer, which is among the most banned in the U.S. right now. However, the publication also seemingly made a point of avoiding using Kobabe’s pronouns (e, eir and em) throughout the entire piece, which was quickly noted on social media.

Magic: The Gathering will release a special set of LGBTQ2S+-themed cards tied to Pride month, with 50 percent of proceeds going to The Trevor Project. The cards feature characters from the popular trading-card game who are canonically gay, lesbian, trans or non-binary, among others. But really everyone’s just hyped for a card called “Bearscape,” featuring, well, bears.

→ Lindsay Lohan is set to narrate a dating reality show on Amazon and it looks VERY queer.

→ Trans actress Jen Richards has been cast in an upcoming Anne Rice vampire TV show. 

→ The CW has cancelled Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, which both featured openly queer women in leading roles.

→ Ellen Degeneres shared an emotional message on social media following the taping of her final edition of The Ellen Show, set to air later this month. 

Crush star Auli’i Cravalho spoke to the Daily Beast about being bi, giving a “middle finger” to “Don’t Say Gay” bills and the impact of starring in a queer rom-com.

“It’s just important to have films that show what happens the day after you come out, and the day after that,” Cravalho said. “Because you’re more than your sexuality. To have a coming-of-age rom-com that focuses on the love instead of how someone is loving? It’s kind of groundbreaking in its own way.”

→ The trailer for Trixie Mattel’s motel makeover show named—wait for it—Trixie Motel is here!

https://twitter.com/trixiemattel/status/1521174287662473217?s=20&t=skKvwo_syrulIpdcxjHLiQ

→ Laverne Cox, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Eva Reign all spoke to Them about their careers and what comes beyond the infamous “trans tipping point.” 

“I’ve had the exposure and I understand what my goal and purpose is as far as being in the limelight,” Rodriguez said. “And now, I’m realizing the sky’s the limit.”

→ The NFL draft happened over the weekend, and tight end Trey McBride was selected by the Arizona Cardinals. McBride, who has two moms, is set to become the first NFL player with same-sex parents. 

“They’ve done a great job of pushing me to be the best version of myself, constantly getting support and love,” he said.

→ Taco Bell is apparently doing drag brunch now. I guess it’s time to start workshopping Cheesy Gordita Crunch-related drag names.

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

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