Eminem, knighthood and cartoon kisses

Your Daily Package of newsy and naughty bits from around the world


Eminem ironically comes out as gay in The Interview cameo

In Seth Rogen’s controversial new movie The Interview, rapper Eminem makes fun of his homophobic reputation by coming out as gay. “When I say things about gay people, or people think my lyrics are homophobic — it’s because I’m gay,” he says in a mock-interview. “I’m more shocked that people haven’t figured it out yet. I mean, it’s kind of like I’ve been playing gay peek-a-boo.”

Watch on YouTube.

What to call Sir Elton John’s new husband?

Sir Elton John is a knight. As of this month, he is also married. If he had married a woman, his spouse could take the title “Lady John.” Unfortunately, however, John’s husband, David Furnish, will get no title at all from the arrangement — British title laws still give no recognition to same-sex spouses, nor do they give titles to the male spouses of titled women. Mr Furnish he will remain.

Read more at Pink News.

Taiwanese activist challenges marriage laws

Gay activist Chi Chia-wei has applied for a constitutional review of Taiwan’s marriage laws for the second time in his 30-year campaign for marriage equality. While he fought alone in his first attempt in 2000, Chi is now backed by a dozen lawyers and Taiwan’s rapidly growing gay-rights movement. A law permitting gay marriage is currently stuck in review stages in the Taiwanese legislature.

Read more at the Taipei Times.

Coming out in Iran

Morality police beat and imprison, and judges may even give out the death sentence, but the greatest threat to gay people in Iran often is their own families. At Vocativ, Sune Engel Rasmussen describes the perilous life of Iranian gays and the careful game they have to play with those closest to them.

Read more at Vocativ.

Nickelodeon inches forward on gay representation

 

Children’s cartoon network Nickelodeon has broken a bit of ground with the last episode of the series The Legend of Korra, in which the female main character holds hands with her female companion and walks off into the sunset (or, in this case, a magical portal). Unlike in some other straight Nickelodeon shows, however, there was no kiss.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

The gayest Christmas songs

In case you’re getting bored of all that straight Christmas music, The Huffington Post’s Gay Voices blog has compiled 29 of the queerest Christmas songs. Make the yuletide gay!

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

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