Summer’s right around the corner, and with it a luscious lineup of queer and trans pop-cultural fun for us to enjoy.
New shows are getting announced, stars are dating new people and, of course, there’s Eurovision! It’s a great time of year to be watching, listening to and reading the cool things that queer and trans folks are putting out and loving.
Every week in “The Buzz,” we catch you up on what delightful treats you might have missed in the week of LGBTQ2S+ pop culture.
Here’s what you need to know.
→ A bright spark amidst a grim news cycle came this weekend, with the grand finals of the annual Eurovision Song Contest taking place Saturday. If you need background on what exactly the glitz, glam and absurdity of Eurovision is all about, we’ve got you covered.
The 2022 edition of the competition came in the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the former barred from competing and messaging throughout the competition directed at peace and unity in Europe. Due to a wave of international goodwill toward Ukraine at the moment, the country’s entry was heavily favoured going in, with Kalush Orchestra producing an absolute banger of a song, “Stefania.”
And triumph Ukraine did, with Kalush Orchestra dominating the public vote and faring quite well in the country judging section to take top prize.
But when it comes to Eurovision, there are always multiple winners in terms of bringing a bit of joy into our drab lives—especially for the queer, for whom the show of camp, over-the-top weirdness and epic outfits seems tailor-made.
Tragically, Latvia did not make it through to the final with their song about eating vegetables and pussy.
Nor did San Marino’s Achille Lauro, who made history with the competition’s first on-stage same-sex kiss in an earlier round. But still, the finals had plenty of queer to celebrate: Australia’s Sheldon Riley sang “Not The Same,” a ballad about growing up autistic and queer.
Icelandic entry Systur waved a trans flag throughout the competition. One of the band’s members has a trans son and the group has spoken openly about supporting trans rights.
As for pure, camp joy, there was the classic Eurovision weirdness entry from Moldova, which somehow managed to have both the straightest and queerest energy I’ve ever seen.
And my personal favourite performance of the song contest was Serbia’s entry, Konstrakta, whom my partner and I declared “handwashing dom-mommy”—someone’s kink I’m sure.
Thank you for these cultural gifts, Eurovision. Never change!
→ Heartstopper standout Yasmin Finney is joining Doctor Who as the new Rose! The 18-year-old trans actress will debut on the show in 2023, joining the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa.
“If anyone would have told eight-year-old Yasmin that one day she’d be part of this iconic show, I would have never in a million years believed them,” Finney said in a statement. “This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself, Russell [T. Davies], has not only made my year, it’s made my life. I cannot wait to begin this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get Ready.”
→ Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer directed the new girl in red video and it’s full of queer, horny lovesickness.
→ For anyone wondering if it’s possible to imagine a more dystopian timeline than the world we’re living in, Black Mirror is coming back! No word yet on if we’ll get a “San Junipero”-level of queerness, but the sci-fit series always has some fun tricks up its sleeve.
→ There’s going to be a trans member of the X-Men! Marvel’s Voices: Pride Vol. 2 #1 will feature the new character of Shela Sexton, aka Escapade. Escapade has the power to switch physical locations with another person. The issue is written by sci-fi author Charlie Jane Anders.
“I have loved the Marvel Universe for as long as I can remember, and may or may not sing the Spider-Man cartoon theme in the shower on a regular basis. So I was so thrilled to be able to introduce a brand-new hero to stand alongside all of my favourites,” Anders said. “I hope that Escapade and Morgan Red will inspire trans and non-binary people everywhere to believe that they, too, can fight for justice with the power of creativity and chosen family.”
→ The Netflix series First Kill will follow a monster hunter and a vampire who fall in love and yes, they’re also teen queers. Sign us up!
→ A Simple Favor—aka, the movie where Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively dabble in secrets, martinis, jazz, menswear and a little bit of kissing—is getting a sequel.
→ Blumhouse is making a slasher film set at a conversion therapy camp called They/Them, which is almost too perfect of a pun title (almost!). The film will debut on Peacock later this summer.
→ Rapper Kendrick Lamar released a new song that touches on members of his family transitioning. Reception has been mixed, with some fans praising the honest discussion, while others calling out the rapper for deadnaming and keeping homophobic slurs in the track.
→ Raven-Symoné made a pitch-perfect and very dykey appearance on A Black Lady Sketch Show for its season finale.
→ Remember last week when we mentioned that Selling Sunset’s Chrishell was dating Australian rapper G Flip? Well, the music video they made together is now here and it is VERY steamy.
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