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Politics

- Nancy Mace calls trans people a slur after sit-ins in Capitol bathrooms: 2024 Dec 6

- Annette Bening gives moving speech in defense of trans youth outside Supreme Court: 2024 Dec 6

- A New York judge refused to marry a lesbian couple. The community wants her to resign: 2024 Dec 6

- Gay Trump ally Richard Grenell really, really wanted to be secretary of State. It went to Marco Rubio: 2024 Dec 6

NANCY | DEC 6, 2024 AT 2:49 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Nancy Mace calls trans people a slur after sit-ins in Capitol bathrooms

Alexa Wilkinson for Gender Liberation Movement

The congresswoman appeared to be taken by surprise by the protest and was seen wandering the halls of the Senate, a different building than the protestors, holding a bullhorn.

Erin Reed

December 06 2024 2:49 PM EST

December 08 2024 9:42 AM EST

@ErinInTheMorn

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On Thursday, transgender activists, including prominent advocate Chelsea Manning, staged a sit-in at the United States Capitol to protest a new bathroom ban announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson at the urging of Congresswoman Nancy Mace. The ban, which appears to target Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride—the first transgender congresswoman in U.S. history—also applies to transgender visitors, staffers, and journalists who frequent Capitol grounds. The surprise protest, which caught Republican leaders off guard, sparked an inflammatory response from Mace, who stood outside a police facility with a bullhorn and referred to the protesters as “tr***y protestors,” using a long-recognized slur against transgender individuals.

Related: Chelsea Manning and Raquel Willis among 15 arrested at U.S. Capitol during bathroom sit-in

Protesters from the Gender Liberation Movement, inspired by Civil Rights Movement demonstrations of the 1960s and ACT UP protests of the 1980s and 90s, gathered both inside and outside a bathroom near Speaker Johnson’s office. Holding signs emblazoned with slogans like “FLUSH BATHROOM BIGOTRY” and “CONGRESS STOP PISSING ON OUR RIGHTS,” they demanded an end to discriminatory policies targeting transgender people. Reporters on the scene, including Pablo Manríquez, noted that protesters were threatened with arrest for “sexual misconduct.” While arrests did occur, including the arrest of notable civil rights activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning, no sexual misconduct charges were ultimately filed. All protesters were released later that day.

The demonstration appeared to catch Mace and other Republicans by surprise, forcing some to scramble or reroute around the sit-in. While Mace seemed to have some forewarning—a mass congressional email earlier in the day revealed she had asked fellow congressmembers to borrow a bullhorn—her response during the protest was perplexing. According to HuffPost reporters Jennifer Bendery and Arthur Delaney, Mace was seen wandering the halls of the Senate building, bullhorn in hand. The Senate, of course, is a completely separate branch of Congress and a different building from where the protest occurred.

Shortly after, Mace shared a video to her public account, standing in front of a door marked “Police,” holding the bullhorn, and shouting at the protestors. In the video, she used a widely recognized slur for transgender people, saying, “Some tra**ny protestors showed up at the Capitol today to protest my bathroom bill, but they got arrested, poor things.” She then mockingly recited the Miranda rights, pausing at the line about not being able to afford an attorney to turn to the camera and sneer, “I doubt many of you could.”

The protest and Mace's inflammatory response occurred just a day after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a pivotal case that will shape the future of transgender rights nationwide. During the proceedings, attorneys from the ACLU and the U.S. government addressed the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by transgender individuals. Mace's actions—proposing bathroom bans targeting transgender people and employing slurs against them—could be perceived as clear evidence of animus, leading to discriminatory policies. Notably, her use of an official government account to disseminate such statements may serve as evidence of unconstitutional bias and discriminatory intent in future legal challenges to the anti-trans laws she supports.

"I'm here today because every person deserves dignity and respect, both in daily life and in more symbolic places like the U.S. Capitol," said Manning in a statement in the aftermath of her arrest. "As someone who has fought against similar rules, I know what it's like to feel pushed aside and erased. But I also know the incredible power and resilience our community has. I'm not here as a leader or a spokesperson but simply as another member of my community who shows up unconditionally to support my siblings in this fight. I will stand beside them no matter what. We didn’t start this fight, but we are together now."

This article originally appeared on Erin in the Morning.

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This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/nancy-mace-transgender-people-slur on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

POLITICS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 1:19 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Annette Bening gives moving speech in defense of trans youth outside Supreme Court

John Sciulli/Getty Images

The actor, whose oldest son is trans, said that she's learned "what these kids and families need is judicious counseling, sound medical advice, and an atmosphere of calm and love and acceptance.”

Ryan Adamczeski

December 06 2024 1:19 PM EST

December 06 2024 1:32 PM EST

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Nyad star Annette Bening recently spoke in defense of transgender youth outside the Supreme Court, citing her trans son as her inspiration to fight for the “civil rights issue of our era."

“I have four beautiful children – and I’m allowed to brag about my children because they’re mine – and my eldest is a remarkable trans man, an extraordinary human being,” she said outside the courthouse Wednesday. “As a well meaning parent, I didn’t always know how to support my teenager – my vulnerable teenager who was just trying to live his truth – but you know what? I learned."

— (@) Link to Tweet by FordFischer

"I learned that what these kids and families need is judicious counseling, sound medical advice, and an atmosphere of calm and love and acceptance," Bening said.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case that could shape the future of transgender rights in the United States. At issue is Tennessee’s law, SB 1, banning gender-affirming medical care for minors. The law prohibits the use of puberty blockers and hormones for the treatment of gender dysphoria while allowing the same medications to be used for other conditions.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Chase Strangio, the first out transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court, argued that the legislation unjustly targets transgender individuals. While the court’s conservative majority appears hesitant to overturn the law, Strangio told The Advocate that “at the end of the day, we hope the court sees it as we do, but no matter what happens, we will keep fighting."

Outside the courthouse, Bening and other speakers continued to inspire the crowds who turned out to support trans rights. For those listening who have ignored the issue thinking that they haven't met any trans people, Bening insisted: "you have."

“Trans folks are everywhere. They’re your doctors in your emergency rooms. They’re your firefighters. They’re your teachers, your librarians, the store clerks, the clerks in the bookstores," she said. "Everywhere in this world trans folks exist and it is our responsibility to support and love them,”

“There’s nothing to be frightened of. Everyone just wants to live in freedom, safety and dignity," Bening concluded.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/politics/annette-bening-supreme-court-trans-son on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

NEWS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 11:39 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

A New York judge refused to marry a lesbian couple. The community wants her to resign

Shutterstock

Felicia Pitts-Davis is being investigated by the state Commission of Judicial Conduct for refusing to marry a lesbian couple despite marrying a straight couple moments before.

Ryan Adamczeski

December 06 2024 11:39 AM EST

December 06 2024 11:39 AM EST

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A city court judge in Syracuse, New York is facing investigation and calls to resign after she refused to marry a lesbian couple.

Felicia Pitts-Davis is being investigated by the state Commission of Judicial Conduct for refusing to marry the two young women, Shawntay and Nicorra Davis (no relation), despite marrying a straight couple moments before. The women told local outlet CNY Central that the judge left the courtroom on Nov. 16 when she saw the two of them were her next wedding.

"All of a sudden she looked at us, she just swished her hair and walked away like she was disgusted or something, and I noticed it and was like, 'What’s going on?' Then another judge came in," Shawntay said.

City court judge Mary Anne Doherty, who is LGBTQ+, then officiated the couple's wedding. Pitts-Davis allegedly told Doherty that she could not marry the couple, as it went against her religious beliefs, according to Syracuse.com.

An investigation against Pitts-Davis has since been launched, as court spokesperson Al Baker told the outlet: “We are aware of the allegation and have referred the matter to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct," further explaining that "discrimination of any kind is not tolerated by the UCS. Under New York Law, Judges are authorized, but not obligated, to perform marriages. Judges who choose to perform marriages may not unlawfully discriminate when deciding which couples they will marry.”

Pitts-Davis, who was elected to a 10-year term in 2020, has since faced multiple calls to resign. Syracuse City Auditor Alexander Marion, who is also LGBTQ+, said in a statement that he was "deeply disturbed" to learn of the allegations, and urged the judge to "step down so all the people of our community can be assured they receive equal treatment under the law."

"If she does not, the Office of Court Administration should promptly suspend her from the bench," he concluded.

New York's Marriage Equality Act of 2011 guarantees marriage equality under state law. Voters also solidified into law the Equal Rights Amendment, which codifies protections for LGBTQ+ people against discrimination in the state constitution, in a November referendum.

A petition from LGBTQ+ organization CNY Pride has also garnered nearly 1,300 signatures, calling on Pitts-Davis to "swiftly resign her position so it can be filled by someone who actually believes in the fair and impartial application of New York law."

"Judge Pitts Davis violated her judicial oath and disgraced the fundamental tenets of her elected position," the petition reads. "The LGBTQ+ community and its allies in Central New York deserve far better from the judicial system than this biased and unethical judge."

Shawntay and Nicorra continued to say that they did not think much of the change at the time, and instead chose to focus on their special day, though Nicorra added that "it’s been frustrating ever since then, because here we are thinking, something happened or maybe she’ll just marry us, but all along she didn’t want to marry us because we’re lesbians, and that’s frustrating."

The two still aren't letting the incident put a damper on their future, as Shawntay urged: “Be comfortable in who you are. Never let anyone dictate how your life should be. Love who you love."

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-refuses-lesbian-couple-wedding on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

POLITICS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 11:39 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Gay Trump ally Richard Grenell really, really wanted to be secretary of State. It went to Marco Rubio

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Former Acting Director of the United States National Intelligence Richard Grenell is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

There was even a plan to pay people to post favorably about him on social media, but Grenell apparently had no role in it.

Trudy Ring

December 06 2024 11:39 AM EST

December 06 2024 1:32 PM EST

trudestress

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Richard Grenell, the highest-ranking out gay official in the first Donald Trump administration, campaigned hard to be secretary of State in the second but didn’t make the cut.

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Several Trump-supporting social media influencers posted their endorsement of Grenell for the position shortly after the election, and there was even a plan for a paid social media campaign, which didn’t happen and which Grenell has denied any knowledge of, Politicoreports.

“An associate of Grenell had approached conservative social media influencers, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, offering paid contracts of as much as five figures to post favorably about Grenell,” Politico explains. It “illustrates the lengths to which people close to Grenell went to ensure he got the job,” the publication notes.

There’s no evidence that Grenell had ties to the influencers, according to Politico. When a reporter for the outlet sought comment from him, he called the journalist an “unserious gossip reporter,” adding, “None of this is true.”

Sources did say Grenell wanted badly to be secretary of State, a position for which Trump has nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. They also said Grenell had offers for the post of director of national intelligence and another job but rejected them. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman turned Republican, is Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, a position that Grenell held on an acting basis in the first Trump term after being ambassador to Germany. There’s still a possibility that Trump will offer Grenell another high-ranking position, sources told Politico.

He has been a strong Trump loyalist and has spoken at the past two Republican National Conventions. At the 2020 convention, he spread false conspiracy theories about supposed plots against Trump by former President Barack Obama and the man who would beat Trump in that year’s presidential election, Joe Biden. At the 2024 event, he asserted that Trump is not antigay. But Trump is certainly anti-transgender, and he has courted the religious right, known for hostility to all LGBTQ+ people. Grenell has also often made the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

Grenell’s “prickly personality” may have kept him from the secretary of State nomination, according to Politico’s sources. In addition, there was the possibility that his business interests would come under a spotlight. Grenell is working with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, on developing a hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, a project with an estimated cost of $500 million.

Trump has nominated one gay man to a Cabinet post in his second administration, investment manager Scott Bessent, who is up for Treasury secretary.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/politics/richard-grenell-secretary-state-ambitions on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

Trans

- 'Oppenheimer's Nick Dumont embraces transmasc nonbinary identity: 2024 Dec 6

- Transgender 10-year-old worries about being murdered and other trans kids share their concerns on CNN

- CNN takes 'giant leap forward' by featuring transgender contributors on popular news shows, GLAAD says

NONBINARY | DEC 6, 2024 AT 2:35 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Oppenheimer's Nick Dumont embraces transmasc nonbinary identity

Instagram (@emmadumont)

Nick Dumont via Instagram.

The actor, who played Jackie Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan film, has also updated their pronouns.

Bernardo Sim

December 06 2024 2:35 PM EST

December 06 2024 2:35 PM EST

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Actor Nick Dumont, who starred as Jackie Oppenheimer in the 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer directed by Christopher Nolan, has come out as transmasculine and nonbinary.

A rep for Dumont told TMZ:

"They identify as a trans masculine non-binary person. Their work name is still going to be Emma Dumont, but they will go by Nick with friends and family."

Dumont's Instagram bio has also been updated to show Nick Dumont as their name, as well as they/them pronouns.

Nick Dumont's Instagram bio.

Instagram (@emmadumont)

Besides Oppenheimer, you might be familiar with Dumont's work in projects such as 2015's Aquarius, 2016's Inherent Vice, 2017's T@gged, the TV series The Gifted, as well as 2021's Airplane Brenda and Wrong Turn.

Congratulations to Nick for living as his most authentic self! Welcome to the family.

Oppenheimer is now streaming on Prime Video.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/nonbinary/nick-dumont-transmasc-nonbinary on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

NEWS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 2:22 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Transgender 10-year-old worries about being murdered and other trans kids share their concerns on CNN

footage still via CNN

Violet DuMont

Violet DuMont says she fears that "I’m gonna be walking down the street and somebody’s gonna come up and, like, shoot me or something.”

Trudy Ring

December 06 2024 2:22 PM EST

December 08 2024 10:09 AM EST

trudestress

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A transgender 10-year-old fears she’ll be murdered for her identity, and other trans children are talking about the negative impacts of anti-trans rhetoric on them.

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CNN interviewed three trans kids and their mothers who traveled from Arizona to speak on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., as the court heard a case Wednesday on health care for trans minors.

When reporter Lucy Kafanov asked 10-year-old Violet DuMont what concerns she has about speaking out, the girl replied, “That I’m gonna be, like, murdered. I’m gonna be walking down the street and somebody’s gonna come up and, like, shoot me or something.”

“That’s a really scary thing to be worrying about at 10 years old,” Kafanov responded.

Violet’s mother, Lucy Callahan-DuMont, said it’s hard to hear her child say that. After Donald Trump was elected president in November, Callahan-DuMont said, Violet asked her three questions: “Are we gonna have to move? Are they gonna take me away from you? Am I not gonna be able to get my medicine?”

Another trans girl, Dylan Heinzer, said Republican anti-trans rhetoric and ads make her feel “like they think we’re puppets that they can play with, and it’s just so wrong.”

Violet DuMont added, “It literally made me feel dead inside. It’s probably, honestly, the worst thing I’ve ever felt. Like politicians say you have the wrong gender, you’re confused, honey. No, My self is a fact, not an opinion, and they don’t get to decide that for me. I get to decide that for myself.”

Regarding gender-affirming care bans like the one in Tennessee that is the subject of the Supreme Court case, Hazel Heinzer, Dylan’s mother, said she doesn’t know what care her children will need in the future, but she believes in bodily autonomy and parental rights. “My kids deserve access to the same lifesaving care that other, cisgender kids are receiving without politicians interfering,” she said.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

The Tennessee law bans administration of puberty blockers and hormone treatment for gender transition for minors but allows this care for cisgender kids for other conditions, such as early-onset puberty. It also bans gender-affirming surgery for trans people under 18, but such surgery is rarely performed on minors anyway, and the lawsuit out of Tennessee is not challenging that portion of the law. Arizona so far has banned surgery only.

Daniel Trujillo, a trans boy, told Kafanov that if politicians really cared about children, “then they would take the time and listen to what they have to say. I think that they would focus on real things, like climate change, instead of using our identities as a pawn just to get votes or just to stay in office.” He and his family have traveled to the Arizona state capitol many times to speak out, and he has repeatedly been disrespected and misgendered, he said.

He added that they came to Washington because “oftentimes, our lives get turned into numbers and trauma stories with no name and no face. Our existence is so beyond that. I play the guitar, I’m in our school’s March for Our Lives club and our Spanish club. Like, I live this very full and vibrant life. When politicians turn us into numbers, a lot of the times they haven’t met trans people, they don’t know trans people, they don’t take the time to introduce themselves to trans people.”

His mother, Lizette Trujillo, said Daniel lobbied for the first time at age 9; he’ll be 18 next August, two months after the Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to come out. “He will have spent a majority of his life defending his existence,” she said. “So I just want Daniel and Violet and Dylan to live in a world that just lets them be and a world where they can be safe. I really worry that the rhetoric has gotten so bad.”

Callahan-DuMont noted the high suicide rate among trans youth, while Lizette Trujillo cited the violence faced by Black and brown trans women.

Violet DuMont said the anti-trans climate has ruined her childhood. As to what might happen under four more years of Trump, who has backed a national ban on gender-affirming care, she said, “I just don’t want to think about what he’s going to do.”

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/trans-youth-worries-murder on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

NEWS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 1:48 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

CNN takes 'giant leap forward' by featuring transgender contributors on popular news shows, GLAAD says

CNN

Peppermint (left) and Shane Diamond (right)

The network had several transgender people on to talk about access to gender-affirming care.

Christopher Wiggins

December 06 2024 1:48 PM EST

December 06 2024 1:48 PM EST

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It is not every day that transgender voices shape the national media narrative on transgender issues. Yet this week, CNN broke new ground with its coverage of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Instead of allowing outsiders to define the conversation, the network welcomed transgender leaders onto its airwaves, creating a space for those most affected to weigh in and making it impossible to ignore the reality behind these critical debates and earning praise from GLAAD.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments that Tennessee’s law, which singles out trans youth by forbidding them access to care readily available to their cisgender peers, is not just discriminatory—it is unconstitutional. Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney and the first out transgender lawyer to argue before the high court, pressed the justices to acknowledge that this so-called “protection” for children is, in fact, a thinly veiled assault on their autonomy and wellbeing.

Ahead of the Wednesday argument, Strangio appeared on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to preview the case. As the justices deliberated in the nation’s most powerful courtroom, CNN turned its spotlight to voices that have too often been left out of mainstream discussions. On Wednesday morning, Minnesota State Rep. Leigh Finke, who is transgender, offered commentary from Washington, D.C. Finke’s legislative achievements, including safeguarding access to gender-affirming care in her home state, highlighted that these issues are not theoretical—they concern real people, real families, and real futures.

Related: In photos: U.S. v. Skrmetti protest at the Supreme Court in support of transgender youth (exclusive)

Later that night, NewsNight with Abby Phillip brought on Peppermint, a transgender actress and GLAAD board member, and Shane Diamond, a GLAAD consultant and impact campaign producer.

During the discussion, host Abby Phillip pointed out how rare it is to have transgender voices at the table. “The conversation that we are having here is actually not a conversation that happens very often,” she said, acknowledging the long-standing discomfort, fear, and misinformation surrounding trans issues. Peppermint swiftly highlighted the disconnect: “Major decisions that impact our bodies, our lives, our families, our health are being made without us being considered at all.”

Diamond debunked the notion that there is a sudden “influx” of trans youth, emphasizing that increased visibility and more accessible language simply allow young people to recognize and articulate who they are. “We have more language to describe who we are and how we feel,” Diamond said. “Young people and older people are finally seeing themselves represented.”

Critics of gender-affirming care often claim a lack of consensus or data, but the science is clear. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs, gender-affirming care—encompassing medical, mental health, supportive services, and sometimes surgery—improves mental health, reduces suicide risk, and leads to better overall outcomes for trans and nonbinary youth. While opponents have mischaracterized puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and related treatments, these interventions are widely regarded by major medical associations, including the American Endocrine Society and American Medical Association, as essential, evidence-based, and often lifesaving.

Related: Annette Bening gives moving speech in defense of trans youth outside Supreme Court

A growing body of research backs this guidance. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs points to studies showing that receiving gender-affirming care can significantly lower rates of adverse mental health outcomes for transgender and gender-diverse youth. These young people thrive when families, medical providers, and communities foster supportive environments. Without that support, however, they face higher risks of depression, suicidal ideation, and other serious health challenges.

GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis stressed how critical media representation is for public understanding. “When fewer than thirty percent of non-LGBTQ Americans say they personally know a transgender person, news media play an outsize role in helping introduce this vulnerable community to viewers and readers so they can appreciate their talents and challenges,” Ellis said in a statement to The Advocate. “CNN took a giant leap forward to include transgender Americans in their coverage of an especially consequential and historic day.”

She warned that the conversation could not end there. “We need all responsible media to learn and live the basics of accurate and compelling journalism: include trans voices in stories and conversations about trans lives,” she said.

Watch one of CNN’s segments that included trans voices below.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/glaad-praises-cnn-transgender-representation on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

Voices

- Rudolph wasn’t just for Christmas—he was my first gay icon: 2024 Dec 8

- Here’s why Republicans are poised to dismantle marriage equality

- How queer men can find quiet strength in blustering moments

VOICES | DEC 8, 2024 AT 11:00 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Rudolph wasn’t just for Christmas—he was my first gay icon

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Through adversity and self-discovery, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer helped one writer in his youth find strength in being different and kinder to yourself and others.

Gregory Walters

December 08 2024 11:00 AM EST

December 08 2024 11:00 AM EST

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I'm a dog person, but I'm also partial to reindeer. One in particular: Rudolph, of course.

To be clear, I'm not one of those everyday-is-Christmas folks. Nor am I that person who spends the whole year prepping, ordering new ornaments on Amazon in February, and posting on Facebook in mid-August: "Christmas shopping…DONE!" Most years, I don't celebrate Christmas at all.

If Tofurky isn't sad enough, try Tofurky for one.

Rudolph isn't about Christmas. Sure, he's a big help on foggy Christmas Eves, but I'm confident there's technology for that now. With three hundred sixty-four other days in the year and, even accounting for a week to rest his tired legs, he's got more of a life to live.

Rudolph—I used to call him Rudy, but a particular political figure ruined that—got me through childhood. I suppose every kid has bouts of feeling like he doesn't belong, but it was pervasive with me. I'd play the equivalent of reindeer games like Hide and Seek, Tag, and Make My Sister Scream.

But right around the age when kids started questioning the whole Santa thing, games got more complicated, requiring coordination and catching skills. That's when I, like Rudolph, started getting left off the neighborhood roster. When my gang let me play baseball, they would stick me in the Extreme Outfield, where no ball had ever landed. My at-bats were preceded by Jimmy Hardy yelling, "Move in, everybody. Way in!"

If I'd perfected a slugger's spit, I might've landed a loogie on Jimmy's cheek instead of my chin.

I’m different, I'd tell myself in wallowing moments. Just like Red-Nose. Unlike the derisive names Rudolph's peers gave, it became an endearing expression.

I wasn't as brave as Rudolph. For all the times I wanted to run away, I needed more follow-through. The closest I got was walking out of the house and "hiding" on a window ledge under an awning. I didn't spawn a search party since no one realized I was missing during my twenty-minute stunt.

If he left the North Pole feeling like an outcast, Rudolph soon attracted like-minded company. Hermey the Elf refused to be typecast as a toymaker, walking away from a lifetime supply of Keebler cookies in pursuit of a career in dentistry. Affable Yukon Cornelius showed I could be content living life as a solo venturer. These were dreamers, believing wholeheartedly that the best days were ahead. I drew on that mindset so often and still do.

Having faced intolerance—even from a cranky Santa—Rudolph never responded in kind. He didn't tell Hermey that elves can't be dentists. He didn't question the value of Charlie-in-the-box, the water pistol that shoots jelly, and the other misfit toys. Rudolph immersed himself in a world of acceptance when he found his chosen bunch.

In time, I realized my sense of being different was more complicated than my hair color. I preferred boys more than girls as I was supposed to in second grade but, when all the boys shifted to liking girls. I couldn't make the pivot. A sheltered '70s kid, I didn't know what that was about until others introduced me to many unkind labels.

I grew up long before "It Gets Better" and rainbow flags. Instead of RuPaul, it was Rudolph who offered comfort.

To this day, I think the animated stop-motion TV show is a 1964 marvel, a subversive production intent on showing it's okay to be gay. I don't regard Rudolph as gay, but it's easy to draw the parallels. His father, Donner, insisted he mask his bright nose. "You'll be a normal little buck like everybody else." Even warm-natured Sam the Snowman struggled to talk openly about Rudolph: "Well, for the first year, the Donners did a pretty fair job of hiding Rudolph's, uh…nonconformity."

I connect to Hermey's sensitive nature. Yukon and the possibly closeted, meticulously dressed Sam represent the masculine "bears" of gay culture. Charlie has stereotypical, dated gay mannerisms. He can't pass for Jack. Tellingly, the misfits sing, "Wake up, don't you know it's time to come out?"

Others are welcome to interpret the show as a production aimed at accepting their own misfit qualities. Enduring classics have specific and universal messages.

Thanks to Rudolph, I proudly claim my misfit status. Shunned differences have required considerable soul-searching. However, they have strengthened my convictions and made me kinder to others and myself.

It's enough that I can draw inspiration from Rudolph at any time of year I want.

Gregory Walters is a writer living in Vancouver. His essays have been published by The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, CBC, Writer's Digest, The Funny Times, Little Old Lady Comedy, Next Avenue, and Cottage Life.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/voices/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

VOICES | DEC 8, 2024 AT 9:56 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Here’s why Republicans are poised to dismantle marriage equality

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It’s a perfect storm of a conservative court, the Project 2025 ethos running the next administration, and anti-LGBTQ+ congressional leaders, writes John Casey.

John Casey

December 08 2024 9:56 AM EST

December 08 2024 11:57 AM EST

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I just finished working on my first book, :LOVE: The Heroic Stories Behind Marriage Equality, which will come out from Rizzoli next year on the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established marriage equality nationwide.

I brag about the book for a reason. When I tell people about it, almost unanimously they ask me if President-elect Donald Trump, the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, and the conservative Supreme Court will work together — or separately — to someday overturn marriage equality.

The question is usually phrased as a question: “Oh, I don’t think they’ll come after marriage equality?” And my response is a rhetorical question: “Wanna make a bet?”

Having written for the last few months about marriage equality and spoken with many of the courageous couples who put their lives and livelihoods on the line to make it happen, I’ve come away with a deep appreciation for the sanctity of their marriages and all of those within our community. These couples fought hard. They fought long. They fought against stereotypes. They fought after losing continually. They fought mightily so that our community could have the right to wed who we love.

I’m thinking about all those I spoke with as the GOP and the extreme right start to gloat not only about Trump’s election win but also about how that will translate to dissolving LGBTQ+ rights.

That call to overturn marriage equality has already started. As we reported, Michigan Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver, who represents a district near Detroit, posted on X (formerly Twitter) this week that the United States should “make gay marriage illegal again.”

All Schriver did was say the quiet part out loud, taking his cues from the two most outspoken opponents of marriage equality, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

They have made their intentions regarding marriage equality alarmingly clear. In a 2020 statement, they criticized Obergefell v. Hodges, claiming it undermines religious freedom. Their words signaled a willingness — and no doubt a strong desire — to revisit and dismantle the hard-won rights of millions who have already married, some of whom I have spoken with at length. Everyone I know is concerned about what the court might do.

Thomas and Alito’s words and positions, coupled with their repeated alignment with far-right ideologies, are a chilling reminder that the rights we cherish are not guaranteed. Marriage equality, a cornerstone of dignity and love, faces potential erosion under their scrutiny. We should be afraid, and we should be ready to fight.

However, the Supreme Court is only the beginning.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or are in strong denial, then you are aware that Project 2025 poses a direct threat to marriage equality, seeking to replace inclusive policies with a restrictive, right-wing Christian view of family structures throughout the Trump administration. The plan aims to divert federal resources to promote a “biblically based” definition of family, effectively sidelining the rights of LGBTQ+ couples.

Going even further, Project 2025 proposes dismantling equity initiatives in favor of policies that exclusively prioritize “stable, married, nuclear families,” while safeguarding adoption and foster care agencies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ married couples. Furthermore, it asserts that children should be raised exclusively by their “biological” fathers and mothers, marginalizing diverse family dynamics and undermining the progress made toward equality.

So this brings me back to that question, and why it’s ridiculous that that statement is generally offered as a question. You have a court ready to pounce on marriage. You have a Trump administration that will be heavily staffed by and with departments headed by proponents of and contributors to Project 2025.

And then you have the crown jewel, a U.S. House run by Speaker Mike Johnson who is ferociously anti-LGBTQ+. Johnson has referred to same-sex relationships as “inherently unnatural” adding that “society cannot give its stamp of approval to such a dangerous lifestyle.”

Not stopping there, Johnson added, “If we change marriage for this tiny, modern minority, we will have to do it for every deviant group. Polygamists, polyamorists, pedophiles, and others will be next in line to claim equal protection.” Then grotesquely saying it would allow people to marry their pets.

Johnson will be aided by the new Senate majority leader, South Dakota Republican John Thune, and as we reported, he has scored mostly zeroes on the Human Rights Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard. Most notably, Thune voted against 2022’s Respect for Marriage Act, which wrote marriage equality into federal law.

Now, if you connect the dots, you have a complete picture of what we will be up against: a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, Project 2025 running the administration, and anti-LGBTQ+ House and Senate leaders. The confluence is a perfect storm of forces that are ready to throw marriage equality out the window.

And all this is frightening — and real. To those who say you can’t take someone’s marriage away, well, you're not paying attention. It took years and years of fighting to get where we are today, and all it will take are decisions, rules, and legislation that will take it all away. Nothing should be taken for granted.

For anyone out there who is in a same-sex spouse, I can only imagine your fear in having your union vaporized. The threat is very real. They can’t undo something that has already been bonded? How do you nullify millions of marriages? As the old saying goes, if there is a will — and there is — there is a way.

I've been asked by several same-sex couples who are planning to marry next year, if they should at least have a civil ceremony now or in the not too distant future, just in case. My answer has been "absolutely." We cannot predict the speed at which the extreme right will try to dismantle marriage equality.

To all those who think it could never happen. Think again. The hate of these individuals knows no bounds. They are yearning for the days of the 1950s, when “homosexuals” were considered “deviants.” When we lived in fear. When we were considered wretched. When we had to hide who we were and when we were prevented from marrying the ones we love.

“Oh, they won’t come after marriage equality?” Wanna make a bet?

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

VoicesNon-topicsRM Editors Pick

donald trump

jim obergefell

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marriage equality

news

obergefell v hodges

project 2025

same-gender marriage

same-sex marriage

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This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/voices/republicans-marriage-equality-dismantled on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

VOICES | DEC 6, 2024 AT 11:00 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

How queer men can find quiet strength in blustering moments

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In a world dominated by the Strong Man archetype, how can queer men redefine masculinity and find true strength within themselves?

Tim Bish

December 06 2024 11:00 AM EST

December 06 2024 11:00 AM EST

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Take a glance at the news, and you'll likely see a polarizing figure voicing an unyielding opinion, surrounded by others eager to agree or vehemently disagree. The greater the divide, the more entertaining it seems to be.

In this climate, there's an incentive to play into the extremes, creating caricatures of beliefs and identities. With the holiday season upon us and no doubt both sides of the divide represented in loved ones gathering, the chaos can literally enter our homes.

How did we get to this point?

Enter the "Strong Man." Though this archetype is not new, it looms larger today in the United States, embodied most prominently by figures like Donald Trump and his circle of supporters. This archetype thrives on big, simplistic statements, prioritizes physical dominance, and defaults to aggression. It reflects a shadow aspect of the Warrior archetype—a distorted vision of strength that resonates with those who see power only through the lens of control and dominance. It's Darwinian; as the theory goes, people look to authority to be part of the domination.

The Strong Man touts military might, flaunts powerful alliances, glorifies weapons, and mocks diplomacy. Criticism is met with hostility, and scrutiny becomes a threat. Though blustering and bombastic, this idea of strength is hollow—detached from true power—and inherently dangerous.

So how do men, especially queer men, respond to this version of strength when they don't connect with it ideologically?

A growing movement is unfolding in the LGBTQ+ community. It's called Men's Work. At its core, it provides a safe space for men to challenge cultural conditioning and connect with their authentic selves. Men's Work allows participants to explore and redefine what it means to be a man through group practices like journaling, inquiry, physical movement, breathwork, meditation, and self-expression.

For many men, this journey reveals that traditional expectations—always being strong, never needing help, knowing all the answers, suppressing pain and emotion—are not serving them. These ideas often create disconnection from loved ones, prevent the pursuit of meaningful passions out of fear of failure, and sacrifice authenticity to uphold a false image.

Through Men's Work I've led, I've witnessed profound transformations. Men reconnect with their partners, communities, and, most importantly, themselves. They engage with the world with greater ease and confidence, experiencing a happiness that ripples out to everyone around them. What begins as personal growth becomes a catalyst for collective change.

This work is critical now more than ever. As the Strong Man archetype rises, we must meet it by helping men become more conscious or, as we refer to it, the "Conscious Man."

The Conscious Man recognizes power lies in choice, response, and creation. He embodies self-control, allowing space for intentional decisions that uplift his world. Unlike the reactive Strong Man, the Conscious Man observes emotional triggers without succumbing to them. He steps into the archetype of the King in its fullness—wise, steady, and heart-centered.

These skills require practice, which is why Men's Work exists, and I am so proud to be a facilitator. Queer men, in particular, play a vital role in these spaces, offering unique perspectives on masculinity. Many queer men have spent a lifetime questioning and redefining their relationship with masculinity to navigate a world that may not accept them. This hard-earned insight enriches the work and serves as a guide for those just beginning their journey.

As we watch political landscapes shift, Strong Man rhetoric dominates headlines. Maybe even in our daily interactions, it's natural to feel anger, frustration, or sadness. But these feelings can be fuel for purposeful action. True strength begins within.

I invite you to join the movement toward genuine, compassion-based power. Step into the archetype of the heart-centered warrior and fight for the loving, connected world we all crave.

Tim Bish is a Men's Work facilitator and coach. He has facilitated internationally, leads his own circles, and works as a leader and trainer with Embodied Masculine. Bringing over two decades of facilitation experience to his clients, his focus is bringing this work to his queer community. He co-founded The Circle podcast with the intention of making this conversation available to as many men as possible. He is also the co-founder of Helltown Fitness in Provincetown, MA.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/voices/mens-work on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

Arts

- Queer's Daniel Craig on LGBTQ+ stories & Omar Apollo on being down for his sex scene

ARTS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 6:28 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Queer's Daniel Craig on LGBTQ+ stories & Omar Apollo on being down for his sex scene

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Queer's Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey on Attraction and Addiction in LGBTQ+ …

Queer's Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, and Omar Apollo chat with The Advocate about gay sex, intimacy, and addiction and why LGBTQ+ stories matter.

Tracy E. Gilchrist

December 06 2024 6:28 PM EST

December 08 2024 9:57 AM EST

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“You think he’s queer?” Daniel Craig’s William S. Burroughs surrogate Lee asks his friend Joe about Drew Starkey’s lithe young Eugene in Queer.

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“You could always just ask,” Joe, Jason Schwartzman’s louche invocation of Allen Ginsberg, replies while Lee protests that he could never. Set in Mexico City in the ’50s, Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of Burroughs’s novella delivers the audience to a time when "queer" was a slur used by those who identified with it. And something so straightforward as asking someone if they were anything but straight was not done in the light of day.

Throughout Queer, Lee, an addict and expat, smolders and sweats through his linen suit jackets while cruising Mexico City’s gay underworld, becoming smitten with and hooking up with pretty young things, including Omar Apollo’s character, billed only as Chimu bar guy.

Told in several sections, Queer follows the tenuous relationship of Lee and Eugene from Mexico City to the jungles of Ecuador, where they trip on yagéor ayahuasca together, before finally landing on Lee back in Mexico.

A24

The film drops at a time in the United States when the re-ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency has some LGBTQ+ folks, again targets under Project 2025, considering expat status. Though unlike when Burroughs wrote Queer while awaiting trial for killing his wife in a botched game of William Tell, queer sex is discussed more openly and mostly free of pathos among LGBTQ+ people nowadays.

“Burroughs was a very complicated, messy, kind of wonderful artist writer and who was married and went through all sorts of [experiences], was a junkie, and represented queerness at a time when it was illegal, when it was all of these things,” Craig, who plays the queer character Benoit Blanc in Knives Out, tells The Advocate. “I think it is as important now as it ever was and maybe more so to have stories like this, but I wouldn't have tackled it unless I thought I could emotionally dig into it and know what that was.”

Starkey (Outer Banks) explains Eugene’s hot and cold approach to physical and emotional intimacy with Lee.

“I think he’s in a state of vulnerability. I think Lee's probably the first person in his life that’s ever shown [Eugene] to himself in a way. And I think that's scary, but also it’s in a time where he may not have, or a lot of people, you don't have the language to associate these feelings to externalize them in any way,” Starkey says.

“[Eugene] doesn't have the mechanisms to allow himself to show [intimacy], but there’s still some type of gravitational force that's pulling him towards Lee in a way. And at times he leans into it. At times, he keeps it at arm's length.”

Daniel Craig as Lee and Drew Starkey as Eugene in Luca Guadagnino's Queer A24

Though Apollo appears only briefly in the film, the image of his Chimu Bar Guy bedding Lee in a grimy hotel under stark overhead lighting permeates the movie. Queer recording artist Apollo, who says he’s a longtime fan of Burroughs, discusses working on that memorable scene with Craig that depicted real sexual connection between men.

“I got the call and [they] told me about the scene and how explicit it was. I instantly just said yes. I was like, Yeah, of course. It’s Daniel Craig. Of course I'm down,” Apollo says. “I wasn't really fearful or anything. I was like, It's kind of my reality. It’s not something that's new to me,” he adds.

“But it was exciting to do something, especially when it comes to skin and bodily physical contact, It’s nice to trust somebody that shoots those kinds of scenes, so intimate and beautifully. So I trusted everyone on set and it was really easy and fun.”

Watch The Advocate's interviews with Craig and Starkey and Apollo above.

Read out sibling publication Out's review of Queer here.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/daniel-craig-omar-apollo-queer on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

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NEWS | DEC 8, 2024 AT 10:13 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Inside the military’s LGBTQ+ witch hunts

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Trump’s return to the White House is resurfacing questions over who is fit to serve. Two veterans — from opposite sides — reveal the lasting harm of our discriminatory past.

Anne Marshall-Chalmers

December 08 2024 10:13 AM EST

December 08 2024 10:13 AM EST

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Originally published by The 19th

This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter.

On weekends, Staff Sgt. Todd VanCantfort, an armed forces police officer in San Antonio, Texas, targeted gay bars in search of anyone in the military. One time, at the direction of his supervisor, he ditched his light blue and navy uniform to “dress gay.” He chose tight jeans, cowboy boots, and an open button-down shirt, advertising a burst of chest hair.

It was 1985. San Antonio was dotted with several military installations and even more bars, many of them rowdy dance clubs where VanCantfort would break up fights or drive slurring servicemembers back to base.

At the gay clubs, though, his orders were clear—round up anyone in the military and turn them in, so leadership could kick them out.

“Victimizing the people for no reason,” is how VanCantfort now describes it.

Forty years later, those witch hunts sound archaic. But they cast a long shadow over a military still struggling to make amends—and now serve as a reminder of a disturbing legacy as Donald Trump returns to the White House next year. His now-embattled choice to lead the defense department, Fox News host and former National Guard soldier Pete Hegseth, has declared a war on “woke.”

He’s railed against women in combat, transgender rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that he insists have demoralized troops and weakened our fighting forces. Whether the controversial Hegseth is confirmed or not, his nomination has rekindled the question of who is welcome to serve in the United States military. And Trump’s ties to the authors of Project 2025, a conservative and controversial blueprint for his second term, adds to the uncertainty.

For those caught up in the witch hunts that rooted out LGBTQ service members, the disgrace is everlasting.

“I don’t know how to explain to somebody what it feels like when your own military that you volunteered to fight for your country doesn’t want you,” says Elaine Rodriguez, who was outed as a lesbian and kicked out of the Navy in 1991. She still mourns the military career taken from her and the self-worth that never fully rebounded.

Stories like Rodriguez’s have recently inspired pardons and other actions by the White House and the Defense Department. But, as The War Horse has reported, those efforts have benefitted only a fraction of the tens of thousands of gay and lesbian veterans who were kicked out. Still, advocates hoped that the small gains made under President Biden would lead to more sweeping action. That now seems unlikely.

It’s not exactly deja vu, said Rodriguez, now 58 and living in Jacksonville, Florida, but it is “scary” that once again people who want to serve may be forbidden from doing so, much like in the 1980s.

She and VanCantfort are sharing their stories with The War Horse—from opposite sides of the witch hunts—to shed light on a painful and calculating discriminatory past that they say must not be forgotten.

How the raids went down

VanCantfort, now retired and living outside Washington, D.C., was among a cadre of police officers, criminal investigators, commanders, and JAGs across the globe who executed the military’s anti-gay policies that stretched from the 1950s through the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 2011 and resulted in the dismissal of about 100,000 servicemembers.

In those days, when the staff sergeant pulled up to a gay club, it often would unfold like this:

Intimidate the crowd just by walking in, ask for the military IDs of people they recognized or suspected were in the military, and haul those folks back to their base, outing them to their commander. License plates with military decals in the parking lot were jotted down and reported.

On occasion, though, things went sideways. One night, he remembers arriving with two or three other officers at a smoke-filled country western lesbian bar on the outskirts of San Antonio. When they entered, the twangy band stopped playing. The lights popped on.

Someone—the bar owner—barked into the mic, telling her patrons to protect their friends in uniform.

The women stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a wall, allowing any scared service member to flee through a back exit. Because most of the women in the bar were civilians, they knew the armed forces police wouldn’t arrest them. They inched so close to VanCantfort, he could feel their anger and their message was clear—get the fuck out; leave us alone.

Making her family proud

In December 1989, Elaine Rodriguez joined the Navy, following in the footsteps of her Navy veteran father and her older brother, a Marine.

She was 23 when she left her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, to begin boot camp in Orlando, Florida.

In her official boot camp photo, she appears so serious that she almost scowls. The military’s strict rules, she says, were “a shock to the system.” But she endured—“I’m not a quitter”—only landing in trouble once for giggling with a friend during physical training.

When boot camp graduation day finally arrived, her family came to Orlando to celebrate. Rodriguez’s father beamed in the family photos. It was the proudest Rodriguez had ever seen him. From Orlando, Rodriguez went to Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois to train as an electrician’s mate.

Having grown up in a protective, Catholic, Puerto Rican family, Rodriguez was on her own in the Navy for the first time and loved the independence. “I was doing my own thing,” she says. “I was happy. I guess I could compare it to going to college but getting paid.”

She made friends easily. She studied when she had to and stayed out late at bars when she wanted. Before the military, she had imagined that at some point, she’d find a husband and have kids.

In Great Lakes, away from her home state of Florida, unexpected feelings found the space to emerge. “Am I gay?” she’d wonder.

Origins of the military’s witch hunts

When VanCantfort gets going on his military career, he’s a fast talker, and on a humid September day in Washington, D.C., he’s a conveyor belt of memories. He starts in the early ’80s when he was a military dog handler (13 dogs, many bites) and winds up in Germany and then Greece during the first Gulf War when he’s helping secure military facilities and receiving slaps on the wrist for his hard-charging, eff-the-bureaucracy-and-get-it-done attitude.

His tales, however, lose color and momentum when the era of “anti-gay stuff” in San Antonio surfaces. His manner becomes careful, even procedural. The ’80s were the era of the new AIDS epidemic and a conservative, Reagan-era Defense Department. In 1981, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger made discharge mandatory for gay service members, solidifying a practice that had already been established but was inconsistent among the branches.

The military’s anti-gay policy dates back to World War I’s Articles of War, which implemented a ban that prohibited gay sex. And in 1951, the Uniform Code of Military Justice outlawed sodomy with Article 125—a ban on oral and anal sex—which resulted in gay and lesbian service members being pushed out and occasionally prosecuted. It’s unclear how many gay service members were court-martialed, and in September, The War Horse filed a lawsuit to compel the branches to turn over those records.

In the years after World War II, the military sought to expel some of the hundreds of thousands of women who had enlisted as part of The Women’s Army Corps or WAC (originally the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps or WAAC) and the term “witch hunt” emerged.

Details of a few of those witch hunts are spelled out in formerly classified documents from 1950-1951 that The War Horse learned had been anonymously surrendered to a museum in Hawaii.

In a December 1950 memo, for instance, a military investigator focuses on an “insidious female ring” that military leaders believed was introducing homosexuality to new WAC trainees at Fort Lee, Virginia. “The homosexual road is not only down, it is always a continuous road from the first homosexual act to the end of the road—the brutal sex crime,” a different investigator later wrote.

A “modus operandi” document described how investigators compiled allegations and rumors, secured and maintained an informant system, inspected mail, and interrogated and polygraph-tested women in the ranks.

Women soldiers admitted under interrogation to letting loose just like their male counterparts—drunken nights, parties. A few reported suspicions of certain women being “that way.” Others reported that they had witnessed women “petting” or kissing or involved in a “lovers quarrel.”

Nobody got off easy. In a document that included notes from a meeting between an Army colonel and a general, a colonel wrote: The Army would “build a case against the guilty that will STICK.”

Sticky note waiting on her door

Within a year of enlisting, Rodriguez was on track to become an electrician’s mate. One afternoon, right before Labor Day weekend in 1990, she was heading to a night class when a lieutenant commander came into a common area of the barracks with an order: If the women knew of any homosexual activity, they better report it.

This visit came a few years after a notorious witch hunt involving Marines at Parris Island. Almost half of the 246 women in a unit were questioned. Sixty-five of them subsequently were pushed out of the Marines.

But Rodriguez wasn’t too worried. She wasn’t going to “narc” on anyone. A few weeks passed and she assumed the whole thing would blow over.

However, one night, when she returned from a class, she was told she had to go to the Navy’s on-base legal department. A stern superior in uniform was waiting for her. He grilled her about alleged homosexual activity that he had heard about.

“He said, ‘This isn’t a witch hunt,’” Rodriguez recalls. “And in my mind, I said, ‘Well, I didn’t say it was. So it must be.’” It was the first time she had ever even heard that phrase.

Rodriguez denied going out to gay bars and being attracted to women, and he let her go. She put the ordeal behind her and looked forward to shipping out to her first duty station in Hawaii.

A few weeks later, though, a sticky note on her door told her to go to the Naval Investigative Service. She headed to the NIS building. The walk was short, but dread warped time into a long and withering few minutes.

When she got there, two Naval investigators knew everything. Her girlfriend? A civilian named Marty. Her favorite gay bar? River’s Edge. Overwhelmed and crying, Rodriguez confessed.

“I was in shock. The only thing that had ever happened to me prior to this was a speeding ticket,” she says. “I literally felt like a criminal.”

The Navy kicked her out with an other than honorable discharge—a common practice that not only marred the records of thousands of service members but denied them access to veterans benefits such as health care and the G.I. Bill. Rodriguez’s commander wrote in her exit paperwork that her behavior “is not compatible with the lifestyle of a service member and will not be tolerated.” The governing body that determines whether a servicemember deserves being kicked out, decided she had committed a serious offense. And with that, the Navy emptied out her plan for the future.

Silence proves the safest bet

Rodriguez isn’t sure how investigators gathered intimate details about her. This was before cell phones and social media. She suspects either someone in her unit ratted her out or someone spotted her at River’s Edge, the gay club outside Chicago.

VanCantfort knows that both scenarios are probable. In the early 1980s, in San Antonio, the Armed Forces disciplinary control board would create the list of bars he and his fellow officers had to scope out on weekends.

He also remembers times when service members who were in trouble would offer intel (with or without evidence) on gays and lesbians in uniform in exchange for a lighter punishment.

“It creates a whole class of people that are victimized with no way to get help,” he says, “because the system is so secured against them.”

It’s why gay people in the military lived quiet, closeted lives, the sword of Damocles hanging above them should they share the truth even with close friends. In a system built entirely on power imbalance, silence proved the safest bet.

VanCantfort said he learned all of this a few months into his enlistment at 19 years old.

One night after a barracks party, with a few beers in him, he crawled into bed. At some point, he stirred awake and found someone standing in the dark beside his bed. The man, who VanCantfort recognized as living in the barracks, was naked.

Shocked, VanCantfort recalls stammering—How did you get in my room? Get the fuck out.

He had honed scrappy fighting skills as a kid growing up poor in Texas and Massachusetts. He attended a dozen schools and didn’t flinch at throwing a punch or insult to defend himself.

As the man moved toward the bed, VanCantfort said he fought him off. For weeks, though, the man taunted VanCantfort, daring him to report the attempted assault. “Making sure I understood, he would flip the story and claim I was a ‘fag’ and was trying to hit on him,” VanCantfort recalls. So he stayed quiet.

A couple of years later, as an armed forces police officer engaging in witch hunts, VanCantfort stepped into a role that gave him all the power.

Little changes under 'don't ask, don't tell'

After Rodriguez learned in late 1990 that she was getting kicked out with an other than honorable discharge, the news spread around Great Lakes. Stares and slurs followed her for the 45 days it took to process her discharge. Sailors taunted her with catcalls. “Take her out back,” they’d say. She was assigned to clean the barracks.

One day, a female sailor in the barracks called out—“Rodriguez!”—and demanded that she repair something in her room. Rodriguez walked in, and the woman shut the door and sexually assaulted her.

Rodriguez never told anyone. Who would believe her?

Homophobia was rampant in the early 90s and continued into the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era, which ended in 2011. President Obama repealed the policy, which was intended as a compromise to an outright ban on gays in uniform, allowing them to serve as long as they kept it hidden. Witch hunts slowed, but did not disappear.

Since then, the Pentagon has invited gay and lesbian service members who were discriminated against to apply for a discharge upgrade, an often cumbersome process that only about 1,700 service members have pursued, according to the Defense Department. Most have received an upgrade.

In October, the Pentagon announced that it had identified 820 veterans who were kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and that those veterans would now receive honorable discharges.

And over the summer, President Biden announced pardons for gay and lesbian veterans who were convicted in a military court for consensual sex. But as The War Horse has reported, the narrow confines of the pardon exclude thousands of gay and lesbian veterans who were forced out of the military but didn’t wind up in court. As of November, only 14 veterans had applied.

Dixon Osburn, an attorney who helped orchestrate the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 2011 supports all this federal action, but says gay service members who were kicked out in the ’90s and earlier, like Rodriguez, often don’t have records that clearly indicate the true nature of their dismissal from the military.

This leaves the Department of Defense with a tricky choice. “Are you just going to carte blanche, get rid of all the derogatory records, because the system is so flawed?” Osburn says. “That might be the easiest thing to do, but the military, I think, is trying to be exacting and making sure that they don’t overturn appropriately recorded bad conduct.”

Osburn and other advocates don’t know what to expect from President-elect Trump when it comes to reparations for veterans kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation.

Hegseth provided some clues during an interview that aired just two days after the election on The Shawn Ryan Show, a podcast hosted by a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor. “The dumbest phrase on planet Earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth said, pumping his book The War on Warriors.

He lamented the military’s slide into wokeness, beginning, he said, under President “Clinton with the tinkering of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’” and really accelerating, he said, under President Obama.He talked about frequent conversations with veterans and active-duty service members complaining that “standards are dropping, the woke stuff is everywhere,” and telling him, “I feel like I’m walking on eggshells.”

About a week later, Trump announced he was tapping Hegseth to lead the military. But as controversy swirls around Hegseth’s character, reports surfaced Wednesday that Trump is considering another veteran with a well-established track record of policies decried by the LGBTQ communities: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

‘Didn’t want to be gay'

According to Department of Defense statistics, a majority of gay and lesbian servicemembers who were kicked out before 2011 were quietly discharged with an honorable or general discharge.

Rodriguez wasn’t as lucky.

After the Navy booted her with an other than honorable discharge, she returned home to Jacksonville and lied to her family, telling them a fistfight led to her dismissal. “I didn’t want to be gay,” she says. “I started dating a guy. I would hide my paperwork, my DD 214, and everything, I would hide it under my mattress.”

She tried to become a detective. But a police academy wouldn’t accept her because of the “commission of a serious offense” on her record. She eventually got work at a medical supply company, which she’s grateful for, but it’s not the career she wanted. She also, eventually, confessed to her family that she was gay, and that’s the reason the Navy disposed of her.

For three decades she largely kept her past military service to herself, ashamed of her short time in uniform and her unceremonious exit. About 21 years ago, though, at the urging of her family, she decided she’d try to get her discharge upgraded. Military review boards denied her upgrade application three times for various reasons, including her admission of lying all those years ago. But with the help of a lawyer, earlier this year Rodriguez finally received an honorable discharge.

“It’s bittersweet,” she says.

Her parents have died, and she can’t share her victory with them. Rodriguez turned 58 in November. Her childhood dream of becoming a cop after religiously watching the tough New York female officers on Cagney and Lacey is long gone.

In the last two years, her fight to get that honorable discharge has revived old memories she thought she had wiped away, like the sexual assault. In the last year, she has had trouble falling asleep. She started relying on alcohol to doze off and is now on medication to cut that craving.

In the middle of the night, her wife will occasionally find her in the fetal position with blankets over her head.

“I don’t like to say they screwed up my life,” Rodriguez says, referring to the Navy. “But they screwed up my life.”

What's next after Trump's victory?

Rodriguez and VanCantfort have never met. But when The War Horse told her about the former military police officer who participated in witch hunts, she was taken aback. Why would he do it? She wondered.

“I just can’t even imagine having that type of job,” Rodriguez said. “I actually feel bad for him.”

At the time, VanCantfort was young and following orders. Even back then, he said, he disagreed, but disobeying was not an option.

“That’s insubordination,” he says. “And that’s grounds for getting kicked out of AFPD [Armed Forces Police Department] as well as not getting any other good assignments.”

After a year with the San Antonio Armed Forces Police, VanCantfort left the witch hunts behind for a new assignment. He ascended in the military, eventually retiring as a master sergeant. His license plate reads “USAF 23,” honoring the 23 years he spent in the Air Force. And outside of the military, he compiled nearly two decades as a cop and intelligence expert.

VanCantfort, 61, is not a big feelings guy and speaks matter-of-factly. When asked how he believes a Trump presidency will impact a “woke,” more inclusive service, he offers a belief he repeats often: Anyone who is mentally and physically fit to commit themselves to their country should have the chance. And the military should stick to being nonpartisan.

The Trump transition team did not respond to questions about whether the new administration plans to keep Biden’s pardons for convicted gay veterans intact, or eliminate policies it considers “woke.” It also failed to respond on whether the Trump White House will reinstate a ban on trans servicemembers enlisting. According to a recent Newsweek article no decision has been made on a potential trans ban.

On the day after Trump’s victory, Rodriguez decided to display her honorable discharge for the first time on Facebook. In the post, she congratulated Trump voters while thanking Presidents Biden and Obama for trying to right the wrongs of the past. “If it weren’t for them, I would not be getting what I deserve as well as many others,” she wrote.

Some of her Trump-voting friends liked the post, and perhaps that should’ve heartened her that the chorus of anti-woke talk will soften now that the election is over.

She can’t help but worry, though, for one of her male cousins who is in the Army and married to a man. And when her wife wants to hold her hand or kiss in public, she still looks around, paranoid, worried that the affection is somehow wrong. Something to be punished.

This War Horse investigation was reported by Anne Marshall-Chalmers, edited by Mike Frankel, fact-checked by Jess Rohan, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Hrisanthi Pickett wrote the headlines.

News

dadt

defense department

donald trump

dont' ask don't tell

elaine rodriguez

honorable discharge

lgbtq communities

military career

military court

military review boards

nonpartisan military

president obama

trump voters

veterans benefits

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/us-military-witchunt-dadt on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

TRAVEL | DEC 6, 2024 AT 4:36 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Gay blind traveler Henry Martinez embraces Greater Fort Lauderdale in his latest video

Donald Padgett

Donald Padgett

| 12/06/24

Gay blind traveler Henry Martinez embraces Greater Fort Lauderdale in his latest video

Henry Martinez enjoys a drink in Greater Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy Visit Lauderdale

Professional surfer and influencer Henry Martinez readily concedes that being blind is a challenge but refuses to accept his condition as an impediment to experiencing life to its fullest.

“Being a blind person, it’s a big challenge,” says Martinez. “But I think it’s not a problem.”

Martinez just completed Seguimos III: A Blind Traveler’s Experience, the final installment of his acclaimed Sequimos short video series. Translated as “keep going” in Spanish, Sequimos highlights the importance of travel for the blind community.

In collaboration with Visit Lauderdale and Wheel the World, Seguimos III follows the intrepid traveler as he visits Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale's famed beach and beachfront promenade

Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock

The video captures Martinez exploring the area’s renowned beaches, parks, and natural beauty, making new friends, and experiencing the Greater Fort Lauderdale vibe and LGBTQ+ scene with locals.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is committed to being a welcoming and accessible destination for all, and we're proud to showcase our ongoing partnership with Wheel the World,” says Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “Accessibility is a priority for us, and we’re continually working to enhance our experiences to ensure everyone can enjoy the diversity and warmth of our community.”

Henry Martinez relishes the tactile experiences available in Greater Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy Visit Lauderdale

“We are committed to being a destination that truly sees you for who you are,” said Richard Gray, Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility at Visit Lauderdale. “Genuine hospitality embraces diversity and ensures everyone feels welcome. Our focus on accessibility and acceptance allows each visitor to create unforgettable memories and feel at home in Greater Fort Lauderdale.”

Martinez agrees, saying in the video that Greater Fort Lauderdale is an ideal destination for the sight-impaired because “there are many options to touch, to feel, not just to see.”

Fort Lauderdale's colorful beachfront promenade at sunset

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

According to data provided by the TravelAbility Foundation, there are an estimated 12.7 million disabled travelers in the world. Seguimos III demonstrates Greater Fort Lauderdale’s commitment to ensuring its famed intercoastal waterways, beachfront promenade, museums, restaurants, shops, and entertainment and cultural offerings are available and accessible to everyone.

And Visit Lauderdale's partnership with Wheel the World underscores its dedication to accessibility and inclusion.

“Partnering with Visit Lauderdale to create the first blind destination video in North America has been an inspiring journey,” said Alvaro Silberstein, CEO of Wheel the World. “This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to innovation in travel and accessibility, ensuring that the beauty and unique experiences of Greater Fort Lauderdale are within reach for everyone. By breaking visual barriers, we’re opening new avenues for exploration and showing the world that travel knows no limits.”

Henry Martinez frolics in the Fort Lauderdale surf

Courtesy Visit Lauderdale

In addition to its page on Greater Fort Lauderdale, Wheel the World also has two handy and specific guides on the region.

The Accessible Guide to Fort Lauderdale provides tips and much more on where to stay and what to do in the area. The guide doesn’t just recommend accommodations but includes detailed amenities lists and even pictures of the rooms and facilities. It also provides a list of accessible trails and their conditions.

The Fun Wheelchair Accessible Expeditions Guide provides helpful information to keep you rolling in style for your visit, including pre-planning, getting to your hotel from the airport, and more. Want to go kayaking, swim in the ocean, or visit a flamingo garden? This guide has you covered.

Henry Martinez living his life to the fullest

Courtesy Visit Lauderdale

Martinez says he faces life’s challenges head-on by serving as a visible activist for the community, working to make travel accessible for all.

“For many years, people with disabilities, we have been at home,” Martinez says. “And I think that it is our moment to live, to travel, to be visible.”

“I really want to invite you to visit Greater Fort Lauderdale. If you’re a blind person and you’re thinking about it, this can be your next destination,” Martinez says in Seguimos III.

You can learn more at Visit Lauderdale and Wheel the World. You can follow Visit Lauderdale on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube at @visitlauderdale.

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NEWS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 2:34 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Russian police raid clubs in crackdown on LGBTQ+ 'propaganda,' make arrests

AFP/Getty Images

About a dozen people were arrested and convicted of "petty hooliganism."

Trudy Ring

December 06 2024 2:34 PM EST

December 06 2024 2:34 PM EST

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About a dozen patrons of Moscow nightclubs were arrested last weekend during raids by police looking to stamp out LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in Russia.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

They were convicted of “petty hooliganism,” NBC News reports, citing Russian media and court documents.

Police raided three clubs, Arma, Inferno, and Mono, late Saturday and early Sunday. “Videos and images of the raids shared on social media over the weekend showed stunned clubgoers lying on dance floors with their hands above their heads as police officers sifted through the crowds and shouted orders,” according to NBC.

— (@) Link to Tweet by igorsushko

“These citizens committed an administrative offense, which was expressed in obvious disrespect for society, accompanied by obscene language in a public place,” Moscow court officials said in a written statement quoted by the network. It’s not clear what penalty they face, although violation of Russia’s law against LGBTQ+ “propaganda” comes with a fine of up to 400,000 rubles ($6,500).

Those arrested included the director of Men Travel, a travel agency serving LGBTQ+ customers, notes The Moscow Times,an independent (not state-run) publication. He was arrested on suspicion of “preparing a trip for supporters of non-traditional sexual values to go to Egypt for the New Year holidays,” says a statement from Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.

The Times reports a raid on a fourth nightclub, Inferno Night, which Russia’s Interior Ministry said was “propagandizing the ideology of the banned LGBT movement.”

In 2013, Russia banned LGBTQ+ “propaganda,” that is, any positive mention of LGBTQ+ people or topics, in venues accessible to minors. In 2022, the nation extended the ban to apply to adults as well. And a year ago, the Russian Supreme Court granted a request from the country’s Ministry of Justice to label the “international LGBT social movement” as “extremist” and outlaw any movement activities.

There were raids on LGBTQ+ bars around Russia shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, and they have continued over the past year. The Russian government has ramped up anti-LGBTQ+ activity since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, claiming Russia is making war on Western values.

President Vladimir Putin signed two more anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law last month. One bans the adoption of Russian children by foreign nationals from countries that recognize a person’s right to gender-affirming care. The other bans what it terms “childfree propaganda” that promotes nontraditional families as a positive environment for children.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/russia-raids-lgbtq-bars on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

NEWS | DEC 6, 2024 AT 1:21 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

‘I don’t even know what that word means’ says South Carolina mayor who used antigay slur at meeting

Mayor Curtis Boyd via facebook

Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd

Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd said he meant a ‘bundle of sticks,’ before claiming he didn’t know what the well-known antigay slur meant.

Christopher Wiggins

December 06 2024 1:21 PM EST

December 06 2024 1:32 PM EST

Cwnewser

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A South Carolina mayor is facing widespread criticism after an inflammatory exchange during a city council meeting Tuesday night in which he repeated an antigay slur and made comments many have called inappropriate and unprofessional. The exchange, captured on video, has drawn criticism over Boyd’s conduct.

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The incident happened when a resident, identified as Calvin, used the public comment portion of the meeting to accuse Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd of violating state law by living outside city limits, a requirement for holding political office, CBS affiliate WBTW reports. Calvin challenged the mayor’s residency and called for an investigation.

Boyd, who was elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023, responded with an offbeat and unexpected invitation. “You’re welcome to leave with me tonight, and if you want, you can sleep in my bed butt naked with me,” he said.

The comment drew laughter from the audience, but Calvin replied, “I’m not gay,” before using an antigay slur. Boyd echoed the slur in his response, saying, “I’m not [that], either.”

In the days following the exchange, Boyd defended his remarks, telling local media outlets that he didn’t intend to be offensive and repeated the slur only to mirror Calvin’s words. In a phone interview with WBTW, Boyd tried to downplay his slur use by citing an archaic definition.

“The F word… that you are referring to means a bundle of sticks,” Boyd said. “And he said he was not that; I said I’m not that either. Whatever it is, I looked it up, and it means a bundle of sticks. If you look at the dictionary.”

Boyd later told ABC affiliate WPDE that he didn’t even fully understand the meaning of the slur. “I just responded back to what he said. I don’t even know what that word means.”

Councilwoman Elaine Reed criticized Boyd’s remarks, saying he should have addressed Calvin’s accusations and avoided personal comments. “He just should have simply given the facts,” Reed told WBTW. “There shouldn’t have been any other comment.”

On Thursday, Boyd issued an apology to those he may have upset.

“I could have probably said something nicer, or different, or in a nicer way. I could have just let him sit down from the beginning," he told local news station WMBF.

He added: "I could have done a lot of things differently. But, I’m not-- I haven’t done anything wrong, or said anything wrong to him.”

Boyd maintained he didn't use the word as a slur, but that he apologizes to those he offended. He added that he felt the situation had been blown out of proportion.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/news/south-carolina-mayor-antigay-slur on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

TELEVISION | DEC 6, 2024 AT 11:31 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Southern Charm's Rodrigo Reyes calls Ryan Albert a 'messy gay' ahead of season 10 premiere

The girls are fighting!

Ricky Cornish

December 06 2024 11:31 AM EST

December 06 2024 11:31 AM EST

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A petty feud between a couple gays is going on down South!

Southern Charm is back for a monumental tenth season on Bravo and Rodrigo Reyes is no longer the only gay man on the hit show.

Ryan Albert joins the South Carolina group of friends this year and it leads to some tension between the two guys. After all, Albert has already admitted to being a pot-stirrer.

"I like to stir the pot too! We have to wait and see who's doing what. This show who's had three sassy male leads... Shep, Craig, and Austen... the three of them are more dramatic than Ryan and I could ever possibly have been. It's going to be nice for everyone to watch the drama," Reyes tells PRIDE.

See on Instagram

Although Albert is friendly with a few of the OG Charm cast members, Reyes wasn't too familiar with him before he came onto the show.

It seems like things got off to a bit of a rough start once the two hunks met, but who's to say things can't be resolved in the future?

"I didn't really know Ryan. Does this person really have my best interest at heart or are they just trying to stir the pot? I mean, more power to him... everyone loves a messy gay. People like a messy gay more than a messy bottom. I'll put it that way. This is where we're at."

Southern Charm premieres tonight on Bravo. To see the full interview with Rodrigo Reyes, check out the video at the top of the page.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/television/rodrigo-reyes on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

GAY | DEC 6, 2024 AT 11:30 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Squirt unloads the most popular taboo adult film categories in 2024

Ariel Messman-Rucker

Ariel Messman-Rucker

| 12/06/24

Squirt unloads the most popular taboo adult film categories in 2024

Elnur/Shutterstock

The popular gay cruising and hookup app gathered responses from thousands of gay, bi, and curious men to find out their sexual preferences, turn-ons, fave sex toys, top gay adult film stars, hottest gay porn scenes of 2024, and so much more. Squirt Unloaded is overflowing with naughty statistics about what gay men have been into this year.

"Squirt Unloaded is your backstage pass to the year's hottest hookups, kinkiest confessions, and the steamiest stats that prove just how naughty the Squirt community truly is," the Squirt website says.

Most of the time, the types of porn people consume, the kinks they're into, or what sex toys they like to use are facts you might only know about your closest friends, but Squirt Unloaded gives you a window into the spicy things gay men across the country are into.

While all of the stats are interesting (and arousing!), we've been focused on the most popular gay porn categories of the year. From twinks to daddies to cumshots, the top ten list will either leave you scratching your head or have you wanting to expand your watching habits!

Check out PRIDE's article on this year's Grindr Unwrapped too.

10. Twinks

ViDl Studio/Shutterstock

Twinks have been sought after for decades, but they've only grown in popularity recently with different young celebs being labeled as twinks and the never-ending debate about whether or not "twink death" is a myth or reality. But for gay men's porn watching habits, twinks will probably forever be somewhere on this list!

9. Public

Oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

Listen, we're all about consent in this house, which means public sex where other people can see you is tricky, but it's also undeniable how hot the taboo sex act can be!

8. Rough sex

AJR Photo/Shutterstock

Whether you're into a little light BDSM or watching more hard core sex, it's not hard to understand why this one made the list.

7. Group

Vlad Orlov/Shutterstock

Sometimes, more people equals more fun!

6. Daddy

BAZA Production/Shutterstock

Like twinks, daddies are having a moment in pop culture — think Pedro Pascal and Colman Domingo — so it's no wonder older men have captured gay men's sexual imaginations.

5. Blowjob

AJR Studio

This one feels pretty self explanatory. Whether you're into something a little slower and more sensual or love watching a guy get deep throated until his eyes are watering, there is something for every taste — ahem — in this category.

4. Cumshot

Carlos Yudica

Sometimes getting messy can be HOT!

3. Amateur

M-Production

Sometimes we want to watch slick adult films from major studios and other times we love watching home-made, amateur porn.

2. Big dick

Red Fox Studio/Shutterstock

Go big or go home!

1. Bareback

Diego Cervo/Shutterstock

And the most popular gay porn category of 2024 is bareback! Safe sex is sexy, but the taboo nature of having sex bare can make this type of porn hot and highly sought after. So what do you think, are queer men across the county correct or is there a kinky category that should have made the ranking?

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CRIME | DEC 6, 2024 AT 10:12 AM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Video shows Florida police arrest sugar heir who beat his girlfriend after sitting next to a gay couple

Palm Beach Police Department bodycam footage via Law & Crime youtube channel

Alexander Nicholas Fanjul viciously beat his girlfriend because the two were earlier seated next to a gay couple at a swanky steakhouse, according to authorities. “This is like the worst week I’ve ever had in my life,” he's heard saying while being placed in a cell.

Donald Padgett

December 06 2024 10:12 AM EST

December 06 2024 12:45 PM EST

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Footage obtained from police in Palm Beach shows the arrest of a Florida sugar company executive's son who attacked his girlfriend because he was upset at being seated next to a gay couple at a swanky steakhouse earlier that evening, Law&Crime reports.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

Alexander Nicholas Fanjul, 39, was initially arrested and charged with domestic battery by strangulation, tampering with or harassing a victim, robbery, and false imprisonment for the incident that took place at his Palm Beach home late in the evening of January 28. He pleaded guilty to felony battery, criminal mischief, and petit theft on November 4. The court withheld final adjudication on the felony battery charge. He is currently serving four years of probation.

Related: Florida sugar scion beat woman because the two were seated next to a gay couple

Fanjul appears highly intoxicated in the video, slurring his words and stumbling as officers are seen confronting him inside his home and after police take him into custody. Later, he appears unable to enter or exit a police vehicle without assistance from officers.

“She had her purse on her,” one officer says about Fanjul, who is seated on a step outside his home. “He kicked her, threw her to the floor, ripped it off her shoulder. She doesn’t know where her purse is, her phone is. She’s beat up pretty good.”

The video has long sections without audio.

“I’ve been f*ck*ng framed, man,” Fanjul says when the audio resumes.

When an officer asks him what he wants, Fanjul stammers, “I would like to, uh, I would like, I think, to go to bed.”

“Come on, bro,” Fanjul slurs a few minutes later as police search him. “Look, come on, man, be real.”

“F*ck*ng aye, man. Let’s take a break,” he says as he is being strapped into the backseat of a police vehicle. “I’m thirsty and I’m interrogated.”

Later in the video, Fanjul has difficulty exiting the police vehicle after he entangles himself in his cuffed hands. He grows combative and belligerent as he is led bent over from the vehicle.

“Oh, this hurts. Please stop doing this to me, man, it really hurts. It really f*ck*ng hurts. It really, really, really hurts. It’s very painful,” he says as he is led into the booking station and tossed into a holding cell.

“Jesus Christ, dammit,” Fanjul says as the officer walks away. “This is like the worst week I’ve ever had in my life.”

Police responded to reports of a woman screaming at Fanjul’s home in Palm Beach just after 11 p.m. on January 28, as first reported by the Palm Beach Post. The gate and front door were open when police arrived, and inside, officers found Fanjul standing over the woman, who was curled into a fetal position on the floor, according to arrest records and as seen in the video.

The woman told police that she and Fanjul, (who goes by ‘Nico’) dined at the Flagler Steakhouse in Palm Beach earlier that evening. She said Fanjul was angered they were seated next to a gay couple and that he became “increasingly irate” as the dinner progressed, to the point that other guests reportedly took note. The woman said the dispute continued after the couple left the restaurant and returned home. Once inside the property on the front lawn, the woman said she told Fanjul to drop the matter.

At this point, the woman said Fanjul repeatedly punched and kneed her in the face. She said when she threatened to call the police, Fanjul reportedly grabbed the phone and the woman’s hand holding it within his hand and drove them into the ground with such force that it shattered the phone. She further alleged that when she screamed for help, he dragged her inside the residence, where he tried to choke her.

The assault stopped when police arrived.

Fanjul was also arrested on April 22, 2023, for allegedly assaulting a woman at his residence following a round of drinking and insults at the Echo sushi restaurant. In an eerily similar scenario, Fanjul was accused of making “vulgar statements about prior incidents between them," according to official court documents seen by Page Six.

That argument escalated after the couple arrived at Fanjul’s residence, and he allegedly tackled her to the ground when she tried to leave. She accused him of slamming her phone when she threatened to call the police and claimed she escaped after she elbowed and kneed him, and ran screaming into the yard. She allegedly told police Fanjul had a history of such abusive and controlling behavior.

Fanjul made national headlines in 2017 when he was dating Tinsley Mortimer of the Bravo TV show Real Housewives of New York City. Mortimer was arrested for trespassing at Fanjul’s home, but the charges were later dropped.

Fanjul is the son of Alexander Fanjul, Sr., an executive at Florida Crystals, one of the largest producers of sugar in the region. The younger Fanjul is not an employee of the company, according to a spokesperson.

This article was downloaded from https://www.advocate.com/crime/homophobic-sugar-scion-video on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:23 AM EST.

Table of Contents

The Advocate: 2024 Dec 8

Politics

Nancy Mace calls trans people a slur after sit-ins in Capitol bathrooms: 2024 Dec 6

Annette Bening gives moving speech in defense of trans youth outside Supreme Court: 2024 Dec 6

A New York judge refused to marry a lesbian couple. The community wants her to resign: 2024 Dec 6

Gay Trump ally Richard Grenell really, really wanted to be secretary of State. It went to Marco Rubio: 2024 Dec 6

Trans

'Oppenheimer's Nick Dumont embraces transmasc nonbinary identity: 2024 Dec 6

Transgender 10-year-old worries about being murdered and other trans kids share their concerns on CNN

CNN takes 'giant leap forward' by featuring transgender contributors on popular news shows, GLAAD says

Voices

Rudolph wasn’t just for Christmas—he was my first gay icon: 2024 Dec 8

Here’s why Republicans are poised to dismantle marriage equality

How queer men can find quiet strength in blustering moments

Arts

Queer's Daniel Craig on LGBTQ+ stories & Omar Apollo on being down for his sex scene

Other

Inside the military’s LGBTQ+ witch hunts

Gay blind traveler Henry Martinez embraces Greater Fort Lauderdale in his latest video

Russian police raid clubs in crackdown on LGBTQ+ 'propaganda,' make arrests

‘I don’t even know what that word means’ says South Carolina mayor who used antigay slur at meeting

'Southern Charm's Rodrigo Reyes calls Ryan Albert a 'messy gay' ahead of season 10 premiere

Squirt unloads the most popular taboo adult film categories in 2024

Video shows Florida police arrest sugar heir who beat his girlfriend after sitting next to a gay couple