Pride month is coming.
Queer and trans folks around the world are readying ourselves for June’s annual onslaught of rainbow capitalism, breaking queer news, perfectly timed celebrity coming-outs and tone-deaf corporate statements. Like clockwork every year, the turning of the months brings everything from rainbow social media avatars to the Target Pride section.
But it’s not here yet! In terms of queer and trans pop culture, this week is the calm before the rainbow-glitter-confetti-laced storm. But that doesn’t mean things aren’t still happening! Every week in “The Buzz,” we catch you up on what you need to know about the world of LGBTQ2S+ folks in pop culture.
Here’s what you missed this week.
→ This one is for the trans ’90s kids: there’s going to be a new non-binary Power Ranger called the Death Ranger. The character will star in an upcoming Power Rangers comics series, and writer Paul Allor confirmed on Twitter that the new ranger is non-binary, because he wanted to make sure everyone was lusting with the proper pronouns.
The original Power Rangers of the ’90s were a big awakening for many queer fans, so it’s great to see expanded representation. Online fans were quick share their appreciation for the series’ new metal-as-hell take on non-binary representation. Sure, it’s nice to have wholesome and heartwarming non-binary characters, but also … Death Ranger!!
In a separate post, Allor said that the Death Ranger character was already in development when he was brought on, and as a queer and non-binary person, it was his suggestion to make them non-binary.
So here’s to more hot-as-hell non-binary baddies. And if you need me, I’ll be describing my gender from now on officially as “Death Ranger.”
→ The first trailer for Billy Eichner’s long-awaited gay rom-com Bros is here and incredibly queer. Set for a Sept. 30 theatrical release, the film is the first gay rom-com from a major studio that boasts an entirely queer cast.
→ This week marks the final episode of Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, critic Matt Brennan reflected on how she won—and lost—a generation of viewers.
→ Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance at a John Mulaney show this week, and trans fans say they felt “ambushed.”
→ Comics artist Kate Beaton shared an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at her new show, Pinecone and Pony, showcasing the diversity of the background characters.
→ Speaking of animated shows, the first trailer for Dead End: Paranormal Park is here. The series, which is based on Hamish Steele’s best-selling comic, features a trans teen as its protagonist, who will be voiced by trans actor Zach Barack.
→ Hacks did a lesbian cruise episode! No word on if it was inspired by a certain iconic Buzzfeed article, but it sounds like Jean Smart had a blast on set, and honestly, Jean Smart deserves it.
“It was fun because we got lucky. It was an absolutely gorgeous two days, so you felt kinda like you were on one of those cruises,” Smart told Decider. “I said you need one of those steel drum bands playing. People getting little cocktails and walking around in bathing suits and shorts, it was just a lot of fun.”
→ Kate McKinnon bid an emotional farewell to Saturday Night Live this weekend, as the show wrapped up its 47th season, McKinnon’s last.
→ Heartstopper has been renewed for two more seasons of warm, fuzzy feelings!
→ The Umbrella Academy Season 3 trailer dropped, featuring plenty of Elliot Page badassery.
→ Yes, iconic emo band My Chemical Romance is really selling a gay tramp stamp shirt.
→ JoJo Siwa says her dream is to play Lady Gaga in a biopic. But if that doesn’t work out, being a backup dancer would do just fine.
→ Time released its list of the 100 most influential people of 2022 on Monday, and there are a whole bunch of queer folks on there, including Megan Rapinoe, Ariana DeBose, Tim Cook and Japanese Breakfast musician Michelle Zauner.
“My first exposure to Michelle was seeing her dressed in a Korean hanbok, shredding guitar while sitting on an 18-wheeler. I immediately knew I would be obsessed with this person,” comedian Bowen Yang wrote about Zauner.
Why you can trust Xtra
