Queer Culture Catch-Up

Mashed-up historical romance from Lex Croucher, ‘Yesterqueers’ on TikTok and musicians Kaien Cruz and Moe Reen top our calendar this week

Plus national treasure Walter Borden is onstage in Toronto

By S. Bear Bergman

Books

James Frankie Thomas’s ‘Idlewild’ surfaces the intense agony of not getting to be gay

REVIEW: This thrilling debut is a rare exploration of gay trans manhood

By Eli Cugini

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Put music from Sister Wife Sex Strike, Venezuelan film ‘Bad Hair’ and a Coyote Joe Stevens musical on your culture calendar

Plus Danny Ramadan’s new children’s book and more

By S. Bear Bergman

Books

‘Fair Play’ is the thorough reflection on the trans sport ‘debate’ we need

Sports writer Katie Barnes’s debut book is a must-read deep dive into trans inclusion in sport

By Michelle Kay

Books

Kai Cheng Thom’s ‘Falling Back in Love with Being Human’ is an ode to the love letter

Cheng Thom discusses her latest book, and how she holds on to love and hope

By Ziya Jones

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Book your date with queer country love from Tyler Childers and trans advocate Chanel Lopez

Plus two great fiction choices for tweens and teens

By S. Bear Bergman

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Author Khashayar J. Khabushani, films ‘Mutt’ and ‘Summer Qamp’ and music by Thea Grace and Um, Jennifer? top this week’s culture calendar

Plus patient advice from the Trans Handy Ma’am

By S. Bear Bergman

Books

In the graphic novel ‘Roaming,’ a volatile trio of friends orbit and collide in New York City

REVIEW: Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s latest collaboration explores the treacherous transitions of young adulthood

By H Felix Chau Bradley

Queer Culture Catch-Up

A new release from R. Eric Thomas and ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ delivers the happy gay fluff we deserve

Plus Darcy & Jer, Kai Cheng Thom and queer ASL

By S. Bear Bergman

Activism

Queer libraries are on the front lines of the fight against book bans

Queer and trans librarians, activists and everyday people are keeping access to LGBTQ2S+ literature alive

By Adam Rhodes

Travel

Enjoying the legacy of feminist restaurants and cafés

In the 1980s, hundreds of feminist restaurants and cafés dotted the U.S. Though most are gone, a new generation is embracing their queer spirit

By Paul Gallant

Culture

From Barbie porn and Ken buttplugs to Trixie Mattel

Queer and trans folk have been doing wonderfully awful things to Barbie since the doll’s creation

By Kerry Manders

Queer Culture Catch-Up

‘Dungeons and Drag Queens’ and country music without the gun-toting hate top the QCC playlist this week

Plus Caitlin Metz, gay science, C.A. Tanaka and more

By S. Bear Bergman

Books

Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf’s memoir is a journey of healing we can all relate to

Wolf shares his healing path from outsider to activist in this coming-of-age memoir

By Femi Redwood

Queer Culture Catch-Up

‘International Male’ documentary and ‘Vibe Check’ podcast top the catch-up this week

Plus diverse, ethical porn, a “Fast and Furious”-themed trans zine and a breathlessly funny YA title from Jason June

By S. Bear Bergman

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Miss Major, Big Freedia, Dykanite and trans science fiction on deck for Pride Month

Plus queer poetry and two big film festivals online

By S. Bear Bergman

Books

Non-binary author Steacy Easton digs deep into the life of the country singer in ‘Why Tammy Wynette Matters’

Easton discusses writing their first book and the pleasures and pain of country music

By Rachna Raj Kaur

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Black trans town hall, masc films, Manuel Betancourt’s ‘The Male Gazed’ and Cher, Cher, Cher

Plus, for those in Toronto, queer music from NXNE

By S. Bear Bergman