Azealia Banks, the Harlem-born rapper once hailed as a rising star in hip-hop, is once again facing intense backlash this time for making inflammatory comments about the LGBTQ+ community. In a now widely criticized post on X (formerly Twitter), Banks claimed that being gay or transgender is not natural, prompting swift condemnation from fans and LGBTQ+ advocates.The comments were made in response to another users accusation that Banks was rationalizing abuse as a coping mechanism. In a repost, the 33-year-old rapper wrote:Banks post quickly drew criticism across social media, with many users labeling the comments as hateful, transphobic, and scientifically inaccurate. LGBTQ+ organizations and allies were quick to respond, emphasizing that both homosexuality and gender diversity are naturally occurring and supported by decades of scientific and medical research.To set the record straight: being LGBTQ+ is not a trauma response. Major health organizations including the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association have all affirmed that being gay, bisexual, or transgender is a normal variation of human sexuality and gender identity. There is no credible scientific evidence supporting Banks claims.You outdo your own dumbasseryThe internets response to Banks remarks was swift and severe. You outdo your own dumbassery every time you tweet, its actually impressive, one user wrote. Another added, Its like you are purposely trying as hard as possible to be the most unlikable person in music.Others took the moment to call for accountability. Some fans pointed out that Banks has historically performed at LGBTQ+ events, including Pride festivals most notably a now-infamous 2022 Miami Pride set, which ended prematurely when she stormed off stage after her mic was cut. Video footage from the event showed Banks throwing her microphone and exiting amid a chorus of boos.She has no business performing at any LGBTQ+ event ever again, one commenter stated. Stop giving her a platform in our spaces.A History of ControversyBanks latest statements are unfortunately not an isolated incident. Over the years, the artist has gained a reputation for incendiary behavior on and offline. While some moments have been dismissed as trolling or attention-seeking, others have crossed a line into openly offensive territory.In 2020, she was suspended from Twitter for a series of posts calling for the cancelation of luxury transgender healthcare, an attack that was broadly denounced by advocates and medical professionals alike. Despite multiple bans from social media platforms, Banks has consistently returned through new accounts, often reengaging in the same pattern of behavior.Banks has also feuded publicly with several high-profile figures in entertainment and tech, including Elon Musk, with whom she reportedly had a romantic connection in 2018. In between controversial takes and public fallouts, shes occasionally garnered praise for speaking out on industry issues but critics have long pointed out that moments of clarity are rare amid her increasingly polarizing rhetoric.Fans and Communities Distance ThemselvesIn light of her most recent comments, some LGBTQ+ fans say theyre finally done giving Banks another chance.Shes always been a broken clock, but this crosses a line, one user wrote, referencing the long-running sentiment that Banks is occasionally right but usually for the wrong reasons. Theres no reclaiming this. You dont get to profit off queer people and then turn around and call them mentally ill.Others expressed frustration with platforms that continue to give Banks visibility, urging Pride organizers, music festivals, and media outlets to stop booking her altogether.Its time to stop pretending shes controversial or complicated, said one LGBTQ+ content creator on TikTok. Shes just spreading hate now. Period.Source

Vice President JD Vance cant go anywhere!Vance has a history of being off-putting, making people uncomfortable, and getting booed basically everywhere he goes. But now, President Donald Trumps second in command cant even go to his home state of Ohio without having the population make their dislike of him very clear. And its not just states or the happiest place on earth that dont want him around; entire countries want nothing to do with him, either.He may only have a 47.4 unfavorable rating from Real Clear Polling, but if the crowds that gather every time Vance tries to exit a plane or car are any indication, people really dont like him. We cant imagine why.Here are 7 places that the populace has made it clear that he should steer clear. Ohio (@) Even in his home state of Ohio, Vance isnt guaranteed a warm welcome. On July 28, the vice president visited the Metallus steel mill in Canton, Ohio to brag about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but was met by a few dozen protestors with a giant sign accusing Vance of protecting pedophiles in reference to The Trump administration's refusal to release the files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. Nantucket (@) Last week, Vance traveled to Nantucket for a Republican National Convention Committee fundraiser and was met by boos from protesters who trolled the vice president with giant posters of the AI-generated bald Vance Meme and protest signs with messages like go hump a couch, in reference to the hilarious rumor that he once made sweet sweet love to a piece of furniture. Disneyland (@) After Trump started gleefully ripping families apart as part of his immigration policy, ICE protests sprang up all over Los Angeles, so when Vance decided to roll into town to take a family trip to Disneyland, the protestors set up camp outside the park. But thats not all, once he arrived, Vance and his family were met with people confronting, heckling, and recording them.Also, if you havent seen him running while at Disneyland, do yourself a favor and check it out now. You can thank us later.San Diego (@) Vance is so unpopular that he cant even have dinner without facing hate. Over Fourth of July weekend, Vance was heckled and booed while coming out of a sushi restaurant with his wife. "Hope your Michelin-starred sushi was worth it with 82 people dead in Texas! Thanks for cutting the National Weather Service, someone can be heard shouting in the video, while another person says, "Get the hell out of San Diego, a******!"The Kennedy Center (@) As Vance and his wife Usha took their seats at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at Washingtons Kennedy Center back in March, the concert hall filled with booing, jeering, and shouts of You ruined this place! from the crowd. This came after Trump sacked the chairman of the Kennedy Center board and appointed himself instead, and named Usha as one of the new board members, all while vowing to change the Kennedy Centers offerings because he deemed them to be too woke.Greenland (@) In March, Vance and Usha arrived in Greenland on a controversial trip as part of Trumps bizarre push to take Greenland from Denmark, but instead of being welcomed with open arms by the locals, Vance was ignored by the people of Greenland and told the trip was highly aggressive by the government. People protested the trip outside the airport where Vance landed, and organizers of a dog sled race, the second lady intended to attend, announced they never invited her. Ouch. Canada (@) Conservative Canadian MP Jamil Jivani, who befriended Vance while the two were at Yale, uninvited his old friend to the Great White North after Trumps comments about Canada becoming the 51st state and the administrations threats of tariffs. They need to probably reconsider some of their rhetoric and their policy before coming to Canada, Jivani told Politico. Our country should deserve more respect before being able to welcome them.Vermont (@) Vermonts normally very welcoming people gathered by the thousands to protest Vance when he and his family descended on the state for a ski trip. People lined the streets leading to the ski resort with protest signs expressing concerns about the state of democracy, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and LGBTQ+ rights, and aimed their ire at the vice president, the Maine Morning Star reported.And finally...furniture stores (@) Listen, the whole story about Vance d*cking down a sectional might have been just a rumor that got out of control, but furniture stores arent taking any chances!

Well, is the bus still running?Lana Ja'Rae didn't snatch the crown on season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race, but she certainly snatched the hearts of fans around the world. This lovable queen served up sickening lip syncs, iconic one-liners, and tons of personality.Since filming wrapped earlier this year, Ja'Rae is booking gigs around the world including the WorldPride SADBrunch in Washington, D.C. and reminding everyone to live out and proud."A lot of people don't want us to be happy. They're trying to take away our queer joy. Now more than ever, it's more important to be as loud and as happy ever. A smile is the best weapon to have! Kill them with kindness," Ja'Rae tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Ja'Rae is not only celebrating Pride all year long, but she's also fighting back against anyone who's speaking against LGBTQ+ equality."Shut the f*** up! Y'all are bored. We're booked and blessed! You're hating from outside the club. You can't even get in, baby. Let's clock that tea. Get in first!"Looking back on her time on Drag Race, the talented queen lip-synched a total of six times and eliminated many of her competitors. However, her personal favorite performance was a lip-sync she actually lost to Sam Star."I think 'Illusion!' I feel like that's the only one I was actually clocked in for. I knew I was going home, so it was a different way of performing. No shade to Sam... Sam did a great job, but I did an amazing job!"Approximately six months from now, season 18 of Drag Race will be announced and a new crop of contestants will be introduced to the world. Ja'Rae has some important tips to share with any queen hoping to eventually appear on the popular show."Don't do Rosa Parks for Snatch Game! Also, wear pads. Cinch your body and be good at Drag Race. Don't be bad like me! Thank you."Fans can follow Lana Ja'Rae on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

The Oversight Project, a spinoff of the Heritage Foundation the right-wing think tank that authored Project 2025, the blueprint for Donald Trumps second presidency has asked the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) to submit the syllabi and class materials for all 70 of its courses. The project seeks to identify any materials (including LGBTQ+-related ones) that contradict President Trumps executive orders seeking to defund and persecute institutions that pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.The request occurs as the Trump Administration continues to target DEI and pro-Palestinian protests on college and university campuses. Last week, Trumps Education Secretary Linda McMahon admitted that the administrations persecution of schools over these issues represents a monumental victory for conservatives against elite campuses and their far left-leaning professors (rather than a victory in the Trump Administrations ostensible crusade to end discrimination in higher education). Related Edwin Feulner, Project 2025 author and Heritage Foundation founder, dies His organization has made life much worse for LGBTQ+ people and working class Americans of all sorts. Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted his request to the university on July 2, specifically requesting any data on class materials using the following terms: gender identity, queer, sexuality, microaggressions, implicit bias, and numerous other terms related to social justice and DEI efforts, Inside Highed Ed reported.Howells request said that the university should pay for the administrative costs to pull the data because Disclosure of these records will contribute significantly to the publics understanding of university operations and student-facing programming, particularly considering ongoing public concern regarding institutional compliance with the presidents anti-DEI executive orders. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today [The records] will shed light on potential inconsistencies between internal practices and public representations made by officials in a matter of substantial national importance, he wrote.Its likely that if The Oversight Project detects any DEI-related keywords in the universitys course materials, it would report the school for investigation by the Department of Educations (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The office has persecuted schools, threatening to revoke millions in federal funding unless they agree to remove all support for DEI initiatives and any policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in campus sports. The OCR claims that DEI and trans-inclusive policies violate federal anti-discrimination laws. UNC-Chapel Hill hasnt yet responded to the Oversight Projects request, but said that course materials remain the intellectual property of the professors who created them. As such, professors arent required to submit their course materials in response to information requests.One UNC-Chapel Hill professor, Chris Petsko, has said he wont hand over the course materials for his business management course which partially discusses the outcomes of stereotyping and prejudice in various workplace practices because he considers the projects ideology illegitimate and wholly beholden to the Trump administration.These very broad and vague requests for faculty academic records such as syllabi and faculty communications about their academic pursuits chill free speech by putting a large burden on the faculty members and revealing private academic information they use to teach their classes, said Zach Greenberg, a First Amendment attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The DOEs OCR has persecuted several colleges and universities in pursuit of Trumps and the Heritage Foundations anti-DEI crusade. The DOE extorted $200 million out of Columbia University to restore the majority of funding that the Trump administration cut over allegations it violated anti-discrimination laws.When commenting on Columbias settlement, DOE Secretary Linda McMahon admitted, This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far left-leaning professors. Her comment undermined the Trump administrations claims about protecting students from antisemitic and discriminatory harassment on campus.On July 29, the DOEs OCR announced that it would investigate Duke University in North Carolina for allegedly considering ethnic and racial factors in hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions.Last year, the Oversight Project issued thousands of data requests to search all federal government workers communications that mentioned sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The requests were likely to help identify any career civil servants who oppose the foundations and the presidents anti-DEI views, the investigative news site ProPublica reported.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In 2019, Ryan RK Russell, an NFL veteran who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made history when he became the first NFL player to come out as bisexual in an article he wrote for ESPN.Since then, hes been a proponent of bisexual equality and is outspoken about his bisexual nature. In a world where bi erasure is a real thing, its imperative to have people like him as a spokesperson for the community.In a recent TikTok video, Russell addressed the way people viewed bisexuality and broke down how queer culture mirrors sports.Today, were going to be talking about how sports culture is queer culture, he said at the top of the video.He went on to discuss the way people talk about bisexuality, citing how he often hears the term goes both ways. He said the phrase was first introduced to him in the context of sports and athletics, then compared the question to someone like LeBron James who, at the height of his career, was both a devastating defender and an offensive force to be reckoned with.He then compared that to playing both ends of the floor or going both ways.Later, he mentioned Travis Hunter, a rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars whos already earned top 10 status in this years draft. Russell highlighted Hunters versatility in the sport, saying his value as a player was upped due to his ability to play both defense and offense.Unfortunately, when we talk about bisexual people, we dont see it with that same lens, he continued. As if one day I could be waking up and playing offense, then midplay switch to play defense and ruin my own team.Outside of sports, he said, Or, I could be in a relationship with a man and decide, Hey, actually today, I want to be in a relationship with a woman, which, for some people, thats not an issue.In both sports and queer culture, he said he wanted the idea of going both ways to be seen as a value, as added paint to the diverse canvas that is our society.He closed the video saying, So the next time that you think about a bisexual person going both ways, think about them as the all-star of their team.Check out the full video below:@rkrelentlessSports culture is queer culture. If going both ways is elite on the field, it should be celebrated off it too. Bisexuality is strength, versatility, and heart. We couldnt have said it better ourselves.

The mother of a gay man who was killed in the deadly June 12 Air India crash says she was incorrectly sent someone elses body for burial. Shes now trying to locate her sons body as other victims families have reported similar mishandling of their loved ones remains.Amanda Donaghey, the mother of 39-year-old Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, travelled from her home in France to India to help identify the body of her son, who died alongside his 45-year-old husband Jamie Meek in an Air India plane crash. The same-sex couple had gone to India to celebrate their wedding anniversary and had posted a video on social media hours before their plane crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 243 passengers aboard the Boeing aircraft. Related A mother is someone who stays: How one womans love gave my young queer self the strength to survive In queer life, a mother isnt defined by gender, biology, or tradition. Its a role, a presence, a commitment to someone else. Donaghey travelled to India to provide a blood DNA sample to help identify her sons remains she wished to bury her son in a grave next to his husbands. But while investigators gave her a casket ostensibly containing part of her sons body, a British coroner who had run an additional DNA test informed her that the body in the casket wasnt her sons. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today It was heartbreaking, she told The Sunday Times. We dont know what poor person is in that casket. This is an appalling thing to have happened.Amanda Donaghey has heard from British officials that another one of the coffins returned to the U.K. had been found to contain the remains of multiple people. Since learning that she received the incorrect remains, she has begun doubting that shell ever be able to lay her son to rest alongside his husband.We have spent every day since then on the phone to the Foreign Office, trying to get a response on where Fiongal is, Amanda Donaghey said. All the time, I feel like Im just standing on the edge of a black hole thinking, Has he been disposed of? We would like to be able to do the rites necessary for Fiongal in order for us to move on as a family. And that is what is missing. We dont know what poor person is in that casket, she added. And we would now like the British government to do everything in its power to find out, and bring Fiongal home.Twelve other caskets belonging to British nationals have been shipped to the U.K., even though 52 perished in the crash. Of those, ten contained correctly identified bodies.James Healy-Pratt, an international aviation lawyer representing 20 families who lost loved ones in the crash, told The Sunday Times, Losing a loved one in an air accident is traumatic in itself. These families deserve answers about how this co-mingling of DNA and misidentification of remains occurred. Discussions are ongoing with the UK police and the Foreign Office.Greenlaw-Meek and his husband ran the Wellness Foundry, a health and wellness lifestyle company that offers psychic readings, tarot, reiki, and yoga in the English cities of London and Ramsgate. The couple began dating in 2019 and married in various ceremonies in 2022.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The ubiquity of dating apps means that you can open your phone, swipe right, and easily find a hookup. This can be liberating while simultaneously leading to Grindr fatigue and a frustration with hookup culture. But the fallout from heterosexual dating seems even more overwhelming, as evidenced by the discourse consuming social media and even inspiring a new term for how bad its gotten out there, especially for heterosexual women: heterofatalism. There has been endless discourse about men suffering from the loneliness epidemic, despite straight women constantly complaining about the poor (or even scary) dating behavior of men, that have women running away from the societally prescribed life of straight marriage and toward singledom.Which has us asking, are the straights ok?This widespread dissatisfaction with dating men, known as heterofatalism, may be plaguing straight women right now, but it may also be impacting the dating lives of bi and pan women and nonbinary folks.So to help us define heterofatalism and unpack how its affecting women, and how it comes into play with queer daters, we talked to relationship experts to break it all down.What is heterofatalism?Heterofatalism, a clever term to describe straight womens frustration with the way men behave when dating, was coined by sexuality scholar Asa Seresin, who originally called it heteropessimism.Its that weary ugh, men energy, but laced with deeper grief, licensed marriage and family therapist Melissa Klass tells PRIDE. "More recently, the term has gained traction online through queer creators who use it to describe a kind of psychic exhaustion that comes from navigating patriarchy through intimacy.According to Stewart Parnacott, a nurse practitioner, instructor at Baylor College of Medicine, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, heterofatalism is the frustration that dating men is inevitably going to be disappointing or draining, causing people to use dark humor to cope with this reality.You can usually tell when someone is stuck in it, he says. They talk about dating men with a tone that sounds more like obligation than choice. They joke about itmemes, sarcasm, all of thatbut under the humor, theres burnout and a real sense of why bother?What causes heterofatalism?At its core, heterofatalism grows out of repeated disillusionment. Many womenespecially straight or bi women partnered with menare socialized to expect emotional reciprocity and partnership, only to find themselves doing the bulk of the emotional labor, Klass reveals. Over time, this can morph into a kind of low-grade despair: the belief that straight relationships are inherently asymmetrical, and that men simply cant meet them where they are. Add to that cultural scripts that equate womanhood with caregiving and coupledom with success, and you have a recipe for stuckness.Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, says that having every relationship end in disappointment because of the actions of the men you're dating can lead to overwhelming feelings of heterofatalism. Maybe one has dated a man that took no responsibility, that wasnt able to communicate their boundaries and needs, or that didnt respect yours, or that expected you to be the one making the relationship work out, this is what causes a fatalistic view of dating men, she explains. Parnacott also says that the foundation of the way weve structured straight dating leads to these pessimistic feelings about the whole endeavor. Emotional labor falls mostly on women. Partners avoiding emotional vulnerability. Power or effort feeling lopsided. After a while, it stops feeling like bad luck and starts to feel systemic, as if the way we structure straight dating is part of the problem, he says. The fact that this word exists and resonates suggests that people are questioning those old relationship scripts more openly now.What does this mean about the current state of straight dating and relationships?Seresin may have coined the term back in 2019, but heterofatalism has entered the cultural consciousness once again because of dating fatigue and an op-ed in The New York Times Magazine titled, The Trouble With Wanting Men which documented the dating struggles of the author and her group of girlfriends. The rise of heterofatalism as a recognizable term suggests a generational breaking point. Its a symptom of collective burnoutemotional, relational, even erotic, Klass warns. Many women are waking up to the idea that what theyve been told to expect from men is not just falling short, but actively diminishing them. At the same time, theres often ambivalence: a desire to still want men, even while mourning what those relationships cost. The term gives shape to that in-between space of longing and loss.What are the signs that someone is experiencing it?Heterofatalism can crop up in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that are easy to spot once you know to look for them. You may feel hopeless about relationships, but you are also stuck in an endless cycle of dating because you still desperately want to find a deeper romantic connection. A common sign is that you with a slightly bitter tone often make jokes about all men being the same but still keep dating them, because you so deeply want to find someone thats good for you, Roos explains.Or you may start to feel resigned to the fact that things arent going to change and dating might just not be for you.According to Klass, some women might start fantasizing about queer relationships not as a rejection of straightness, but as an escape from the emotional labor often required in heterosexual dynamics.Is heterofatalism something LGBTQ+ people who date men can relate to?Heterosexual women arent the only ones who date straight men, as tragic as that may be. So how does heterofatalism impact gay, bi, and pan folks who are dating men?Queer peopleespecially bi and pan women and nonbinary folksmay experience heterofatalism with an added layer of complexity, Klass says. There can be grief around choosing relationships that dont reflect ones fuller sense of self, or feeling emotionally let down by men after experiencing more egalitarian dynamics in queer partnerships. There can also be internal conflictfeeling like youve failed queerness by ending up with a man, even if the relationship is chosen freely. The tension between identity and experience is real.Parnacott also says that while these feelings can show up in queer dating, its very different for gay and bi men, Gay and bi men talk about the frustrations of dating men, but without the same gender-role baggage. Their complaints are more about behaviorcommunication, commitment, reliabilitythan the broader structure of the relationship itself. The overlap is the fatigue, but the reasons can differ.How is it different for queer folks, and how is it the same?According to Roos, The similarity is in the feelings of frustration over men's behavior in relationships on a structural level that you as a woman queer or not, feel as if you need to do more of the emotional work in the relationship in a way that doesn't feel fair, but with straight relationships there isnt the added layers of homophobia, gender dysphoria, or the feeling of needing to prove that queer relationships also can work out that people experience if they are queer.For queer folks, heterofatalism often exists alongside a deep awareness that relationships can be differentbecause theyve lived them differently, Klass explains. That contrast can make the disappointment sharper. But queer folks may also have more language, more community, and more tools to name and navigate the dynamics at play. Still, the sameness is in the emotional math: doing the work, holding the relationship together, shrinking yourself to avoid rupture. Those patterns cross identity lines.Can it be overcomeand if so, how?Parnacott says that making changes means setting firmer boundaries, finding partners who value emotional reciprocity, and sometimes working with a therapist or coach to address the belief that all relationships will feel the same. When someone assumes every connection will hurt, theyre more likely to accept unhealthy dynamics because they expect nothing better.While you might be able to make some changes in your own dating life by doing the things, real change is only going to happen if we overhaul the system. Figuring out a way to dismantle the patriarchy would help too.Overcoming heterofatalism means addressing not just the partner, but the system, Klass says. It starts with naming the dynamic without shame, then getting curious: What do I actually want from a relationship? What parts of me have gone quiet to keep this going? What would it take to feel met, not just needed? Therapy can help, but so can conversations with other women, with queer folks, with people outside the bubble of heteronormativity. Heterofatalism thrives in silence. Naming it is the first subversive act.Experts cited:Melissa Klass, a licensed marriage and family therapist.Stewart Parnacott, a nurse practitioner, instructor at Baylor College of Medicine, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist and relationship therapist.

Germans turned out in huge numbers for Berlins Christopher Street Day Pride celebration on Saturday, a rebuke to rising far-right anti-LGBTQ+ activists who have cast a pall over many of this years commemorations of the Stonewall Riots and the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.The turnout was also a warning to German lawmakers hoping to assuage far-right voters by dialing back their support of the LGBTQ+ community. Related Pride marches in Germany brace for violence by far-right counter protesters Events have been canceled as threats and attacks by right-wing groups rise. In May, Bundestag President Julia Klckner of the Christian Democrat party announced she would ban the rainbow flag from flying atop Germanys Parliament building for Pride, calling it a political demonstration, according to Le Monde. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added to the controversy when, in a July interview, he declared that the Bundestag was not a circus tent on which any flag could fly.Thomas Hoffmann, a member of Berlins Christopher Street Day Executive Board, estimated the 2025 crowd for Saturdays Pride march was bigger than in past years.We want to stand up for our rights together here, Hoffmann told the Associated Press.German news agency dpa reported that a right-wing counter-demonstration drew 30 to 50 protesters to Saturdays march. Six people, including the protests organizer, were arrested on their way to the counter-demonstration for alleged weapons and explosives violations, as well as for displaying anti-constitutional symbols, including the Nazi swastika.Police have been vigilant in the face of a concerted anti-LGBTQ+ campaign this year under a banner co-opting the German translation for Pride Month,Stolzmonat, to celebrate straight Pride.The counterdemonstrations are attracting a collection of aggrieved Germans, including neo-Nazis and members of the countrys rising far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who are using the events as recruiting tools for young, disaffected German youth. More than 200 Pride events are scheduled across Germany this year.Stolzmonatis an alternative that seeks to consciously counter the forced change setting an example of traditional values, family ties and stability in uncertain times,reads a statementfrom AfD in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt promoting the anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations.AfD won a state election for the first time last year and became Germanys largest opposition party in the federal parliament in February.The relative calm at Saturdays massive march was in contrast to another local pride celebration across town in the Marzahn district last month, where the mood was tense.There was a massive police presence to shield us from anti-Pride protests. We only felt safe because the police kept us apart, attendee Georg Schmidt told NPR. Police in Berlin reported an attempted attack at that celebration, while the western city of Gelsenkirchen cancelled its Pride event in May after authorities were tipped off to an imminent threat.The largest protest outside Berlins Christopher Street Day celebration on Saturday was an Internationalist Queer Pride for Liberation rally in the Kreuzberg district of the city, where an estimated 10,000 people joined the pro-Palestinian demonstration, German broadcaster DW reported.The gathering was disbanded due to ongoing unrest, including repeated attacks on law enforcement officers and the shouting of antisemitic slogans, Berlin police posted on X.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While some folks may joke about twink-death, the evolution from twink to twunk is one of our favorite journeys to chart. Obviously, its not the only way to inspire thirst in the gay population, after all, we love our Bears and forever twinks, too (shoutout Troye Sivan)!But recent years have seen a growing pipeline in Hollywood, with so many popular twink actors deciding to hit the gym and become the twunks we know them as now. Fans have absolutely loved seeing so many performers share their transformations, especially since they often come with said twunks sharing this impressive journey through thirst traps online.Twink death is coming, but some muscly stars got ahead of the curve and ditched the title all on their own. Keep scrolling to learn which celebrities have transformed from twinks into twunks before our very eyes!Zac EfronNo conversation about twinks turning into twunks is complete without discussing the blueprint: Mr. Troy Bolton himself, Zac Efron. While the mid-2000s featured him mainly as a boy-next-door-styled heartthrob, demanding movie roles brought the twunk out of him, with Efron making waves as one of the most muscular actors in Hollywood by 2012. Hes certainly graduated from twunk to daddy territory nowadays, but that doesnt mean the man shouldnt be appreciated for paving the way for twink transformations.Kit ConnorMost viewers were introduced to Kit Connor as Heartstoppers Nick Nelson, with fans adoring this complete sweetheart of a character, and then getting shocked when they visited the actors Instagram and saw just what a jacked powerhouse he was in real life! Connors path to being a twunk was an unfortunate one; he initially began working out due to fans criticizing him for not looking as buff as Nick from the Heartstopper comics. Luckily, the young performer has turned the gym into a nurturing space, developing a good relationship with his (super muscular) body and spreading a message of body positivity for twunks everywhere!David ArchuletaWhether hes belting his heart out on American Idol or posting spicy pictures online, LGBTQ+ music lovers just cant seem to get enough of David Archuleta. Its why so many were watching intently as the musician began to share progress pictures of himself working out. A love for fitness saw him start to hit the gym more and more, with the Creme Brulee singer quickly abandoning his status as a twink to become one of the music industrys premier twunk artists!Nicholas GalitzineFrom Red, White, and Royal Blue to Bottoms, fans knew Nicholas Galitzine as the cute blonde who couldnt stop starring in LGBTQ+ moviesand then, he got cast in the upcoming He-Man revival. Gone was the floppy-haired Twink, and in his place was a shockingly shredded Twunk ready to fight by the power of Grayskull! It was a total physical shift from anything viewers had seen him in before, and while it may have robbed fans of the twink we all know, it gave them the superpowered twunk Galitzine is now.Tyler PoseyWolfpack, rise up! Because nobody transformed from a twink to a twunk like Tyler Posey after the first season of Teen Wolf; in that inaugural installment, Posey had none of the muscles and abs hes known for today. He initially looked like your typical twink, but the rising demands of the series pushed him to basically become a werewolf in real life. Funnily enough, he wont be the only shapeshifting twunk to show up on this listJonathan BennettWhile many fans fell in love with him as Aaron Samuels in Mean Girls, Jonathan Bennett has spent the past decade making his mark in countless other ways including the steamy workout pictures that fill his social media. The gay actor/author has been completely open about his personal life with his husband, which includes treating fans to the intense transformation he went on from lanky leading man to the mature twunk he is now.Elliot PageElliot Page is a talented actor, an absolute trailblazer, and a fierce advocate hes also one of the poster boys for twinks turning into twunks! Fans have been in awe of the physical fitness journey the man has been on recently; hes shared how transitioning has not only boosted his mental and physical health but has allowed him to engage in fitness like he never has before. Its a legitimately beautiful reason for his departure from twink to twunk, and it just so happens to come with some truly stellar thirst traps!Will PoulterFew moments in the film industry have been as shocking as watching the awkward guy from Were The Millers become the buff twunk that Will Poulter is today. The man has explained that his physical transformation is all due to one company: Marvel. Becoming a part of this cinematic universe seems to require an extreme amount of muscle, a requirement that Poulter completely exceeded to play the shining Adam Warlock and leave his Twink self in the dust!Russell ToveyFew twunks have garnered as much global attention as the UKs Russell Tovey. Originally gaining fame as the timid Twink werewolf George on Being Human, the past decade has seen the man get more and more beefy (to the delight of his many fans). Hes discussed how fitness is actually a coping mechanism; a brutal attack at 18 left him traumatized and feeling weak. The Gay actor uses the gym as a way to feel more secure and confident in his body, a transformation that has not only helped him become an international advocate, but has also made him one of the leading figures of the Twink-Twunk pipeline!Tom HollandA list of former twinks could never be complete without your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Tom Holland! The lovable superhero has made comic fans swoon ever since he first entered the MCU, an entrance that coincided with the young man deciding to ditch his Twink identity for a ripped Twunk one. Like others on this list, this was due to the physical demands of being a Marvel superhero, a title he doesnt take lightly. Its a commitment that not only makes him one of the best Spider-Men cinema has ever seen, but has created the twunk appearance fans are obsessed with now!Taylor LautnerMost people decide to become a twunk simply because they want to other times, its because they want to keep their job! Such was the case of Taylor Lautner, who was told he wouldnt be able to return as Jacob Black in the Twilight franchise if he didnt bulk up. Its safe to say the man wanted to keep his job, because by the time he returned in New Moon, gone was the twinky Jacob of the first film. In his place was a bulky werewolf who broke ground in terms of twunk representation (and acted as a gay awakening for countless fans!).

Gabby Windey is teaming up with Miracle-Gro for a delightfully euphemistic ad campaign encouraging everyone to indulge in "full bush summer."Our favorite Faithful donned a shirt that reads, "Nobody knows I'm growing a full bush rn," for her appearance in a video posted to the company's social media accounts over the weekend."I'm going full bush this summer. I'm talking big, bold, unkempt, and beautiful," Windey said, deploying the enunciation and speaking style that's already spawned memorable lip syncs. "No more telling me to tidy up. I want it wild. And free and lush. And what if I said I want to grow it even bigger, healthier, and fuller? Sue me."As long as you're aware that Miracle-Gro sells plant food to help greenery grow, you can more or less guess how the remainder of the ad plays out. But with Windey front and center, it's worth watching her cook.See on InstagramThe comments on the video have been just as enjoyable, from the jokery ("I like big bushes and I cannot lie") to the applause."As a social manager, I have never been happier that their marketing team got this greenlit," one person wrote. "this is so good.""Whoever thought of this deserves a raise...stock in the company...a parade!! Truly brilliant," said another.And one thing everyone seemed to agree on is that opting to pull Windey in for this particular campaign was an inspired choice."Dream partnership," reads one comment. "I'm gagged and gooped."