The Reading List: Aug 9, 2012

It’s been amazing to see all the support that Pussy Riot has garnered since their arrest.

Image via Jezebel

Canadian electro-punker Peaches got more than 400 people together to protest the group’s trial, citing that she wanted PR to know that people support them. Madonna had the words “Pussy Riot” written on her back while in St Petersburg, saying, “I think that these three girls — Masha, Katya, Nadya — I think that they have done something courageous. I know that everyone in this auditorium, if you are here as my fan, feels they have the right to be free.” An artist in Russia has sewn his mouth closed as a response to what he feels is the censorship of fellow artists.

– Meanwhile, over in the UK, a former aide to the mayor of London is found not guilty for owning what was originally deemed “extreme pornography.” The videos featured images of fisting and sounding, acts that are legal in the UK, but their depiction, apparently, is not. The weirdest part of this case is how the testimony was tweeted by one of the lawyers.

– The editors of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, a manual used in psychology and psychiatry, have decided to remove the term “gender identity disorder” from the book. Transgender activists state, “The label of mental defectiveness really places a burden on trans people to continually prove our competence in our affirmed roles.”

– And, if you’re looking for something a bit uplifting after all that, check out this video of Antony Hegarty performing “Blind” with Hercules & Love Affair, live, for the first time ever.

Journalist, writer, blogger, producer.

Keep Reading

Myki Meeks with an up arrow behind her; Darlene Mitchell with a down arrow behind her

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18, Episode 16 power ranking: Three of hearts

We take one last look back at our final three queens’ journeys
Darlene Mitchell with backup dancers

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18 finale recap: Rise of a new supreme

Who is America’s Next Drag Superstar XVIII?
A circle of Miis jumping in a grassy area, in front of two Miis chatting while sitting by a fountain

Queer players are finally ‘Living the Dream’ in the new ‘Tomodachi Life’ sequel

The latest instalment of Nintendo’s life-sim game breaks ground with new Mii gender, pronoun and attraction options
Juicy Love Dion crying in Athena Dion's lap

How ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 18 went off the rails

After a streak of strong flagship seasons, the MTV era saw its first real disappointment. What went wrong?
Advertisement