You might know Colton Underwood as the first gay Bachelor. He was the token golden boy of “The Bachelor” Season 23 (2019). In the Netflix docuseries “Coming Out Colton,” the reality TV star revisits his time on the show, as well as his coming out journey, reliving the scrutiny that came from the spotlight.
Queer Next Up: Alex Penland
Alex Penland (they/them) is an author, creative writing student, Smithsonian alumnus, and linguist . They primarily write SFF (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction), but also dabble in poetry.
Annelle Staal: Now Streaming
When most people think of the popular live streaming platform Twitch, they think of “Fortnite” fiends or online chess tournaments. The platform, however, is also a thriving hub for musicians who put on powerful performances for eager audiences, live from their bedrooms. Annelle Staal, who boasts nearly 60 thousand followers, is one such savant.
Queer Next Up: D’Andre Adonis
D’Andre Adonis (he/him) is a recording artist. With a mesh of R&B, Hip Hop and Pop with a sound that still has its own character, D’Andre Adonis has one goal: to make you feel something when you listen to his music. Based in his hometown of Chicago, IL he takes pride in his city and loves to grow with his peers.
Queer Next Up: SHILPA
SHILPA (she/her) is an independent musician from Los Angeles, California. She writes funk, neo-soul, and indie tunes, often touching on complex emotions and themes of growth and solitude. She recently released her debut single, a touching homage to her grandmother — this song features poetic, lyrical writing, and is the first project of many more to come.
Queer Next Up: VATTICA
VATTICA (they/them) is an artist and self-described soapbox snark for social change who writes alt-rock anthems for our dystopia.
Apocalyptic Queer Rage: “The Last of Us” Redefines Queerness in Video Games
The gaming community ten years ago was a toxic space for marginalized people, including the LGBTQ+ community. Video games in the early 2010s had minimal LGBTQ+ representation, and the scant representation that did exist portrayed LGBTQ+ people in an unpleasant light. The video games that were sympathetic to LGBTQ+ were few and far between and usually not considered triple-A games (a term for video games made by major video game publishers who have access to higher quality development and a larger budget).
Queer Identity and The Importance of Apologies in Netflix’s “Freeridge”
Netflix released the show “On My Block” nearly 5 years ago. The show follows an all-POC friend group (including characters of Black, Latinx, and Asian ethnicities) as they navigate high school, relationships, struggles at home, and a treasure hunt. While it had its fair share of cringy moments, the show was funny and interesting enough for me to watch the first three seasons, so when Netflix released a spin-off that included queer representation, I knew I had to watch it.
Queer Next Up: Annelle Staal
Annelle Staal (they/them) is a compellingly honest songwriter and storyteller. A pioneer in the world of virtual performance and a visionary in their artistry, Annelle’s sound varies from blue-eyed soul to organic acoustic pop and nostalgic 80s inspired sounds.
The Sims 4 Introduces Items For Trans Players
On Jan. 31, 2023, the Sims team announced that “The Sims 4” was getting an update to include something for trans Simmers to enjoy, including binders and top surgery scars for transmasculine people, and shapewear specific for transfeminine people. “The Sims 4” is known for its increasingly inclusive gameplay. Recently, Simmers have been able to enjoy a breadth of new skin tones, hairstyles, romantic preferences, and new traits that make gameplay feel a bit more realistic.
