Our hearts are breaking

After having been subjected to watch our LGBT brothers and sisters die on TV week after week, the mass killings in Orlando happened

It's hard not to draw a comparison, since it seems to have been the trope of 2016. "Bury your gays" and "Queer bating" has been in use far more in the first months of this year than the last ten years combined.

 

HeatherHogan has made a list over at Autostraddle, and it is beyond sad to look at this statistic. 

Still, this year just took a reality turn of the truly heartbreaking kind, when 49 LGBT people were brutally murdered at the Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016. 

Right in the middle of our people celebrating Pride month.

Words cannot express the heartbreak and sadness, and yet somehow it feels like we've been experiencing this for months already. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to compare fictional characters with real, flesh and blood human beings.

Still, the fact that we've been watching ourselves get killed on screen has had a real impact on flesh and blood human beings all along. Depression, suicide and overall feelings of being worthless have been the very real and dangerous side effects of showing these LGBT characters dying left and right. Often right after finally finding someone to love.

If that's not a sick and twisted way to tell young LGBT people that our "lifestyle choices" come at a price, then I don't know what is!

While we're coming together as a LGBT family, we're also being subjected to having everyone - including those that have never attempted to hide their contempt and hatred of us - stating how awful this is. And yes, it is truly awful, but every single person who has been preaching hatred of LGBT people is part of this tragedy.

 

This Friday, I'm in love with life for those who no longer have one. 

I will stand with my entire LGBT family as I always have... and we need our allies to do the same. Not just when it's trendy or convenient, but every single time someone makes a joke and talks of hatred or disgust for any LGBT person or issue. And the same goes for gender, race, religion, etc.

 

If you're not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. 

We cannot be nice or pleasant in a world that is still filled with people, who would rather we didn't exist at all.

 

We must be the light in this time of darkness.

Peace and love,

- GayGirl

 

P.S. There's been talk of the killer, Omar Mateen, being a closeted gay man himself, and while I don't know if this is true, I do think it is a beautiful rumor; If you are willing to die to show you hate us, then in death we will make you one of us!

Queerly beloved

Happy Pride everyone of my queerly beloved!

I know, I know, I've already talked about this before, but come on, it's Pride month... I have to mention it yet again.

Statement T-shirts and novelty items (such as an awesome new coffee mug for work or a laptop sleeve to show off) are just my weakness. Well, along with note books!

Anyway, right now, this is my absolute favorite (you can get it here):

Let me tell you, people just can't help but smile, when they see this "Queerly Beloved" statement. And I'm all about bringing smiles to the people. Only light can drive out the dark, so I'm trying to do my part.

Have a beautiful gay - in every sense of the word - day,
- GayGirl

P.S. I also got this... I miss Root way too much!

You can get this one here...

Spring time is Statement time

I love Spring because - even more so than New Years Eve - it feels like everything is starting over and coming to life again

Also, people are coming out (pun intended) a lot more, and seem more open to both life and other people. Yes, even those of us that are actually pretty introverted!

An all-time favorite!

Also, I love seeing all the FABULOUS statement T-shirts out there, and yes, I do own quite a few of the ones I'm about to share with you.


Like the headline says: Spring time is Statement time... and my statements tend to revolve around LGBT puns and jokes.

There's the plain and simple:

 

Ahh yes, Galpals... ;-)

A little something for a gal's best friend:

And do remember to stay hydrated - maybe while matching your dog's bandana?

How about a little something for being out - or just being an ally - at work?

Ahh yes, Spring time is indeed here... and I'm all about being out and proud. 

And honestly, I love the recognition in the eyes of other queer people (or just the acceptance from anyone really).

Have a great day,
- GayGirl

Friday I'm in Love

With horror! Yeah, I know, it's not for everyone, but it also depends on what you consider to be horror.

Classic Stephen King adaptations like Misery, which won Kathy Bates an Academy Award is pretty damn awesome - and don't forget that Stephen King also wrote Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.

What I'm saying is that horror (often combined with the thriller and sci-fi genres) can be storytelling at its very best. Also, women and LGBT people tend to be more represented in these movies and TV shows than otherwise. And yeah, I know, we end up dead, but we end up dead in any genre. At least in horror, the playing field seems more evened out since most people end up dead...

You said it, Katniss!

... or we're the murderer, which admittedly is a sad gay trope.

Anyway, what I really wanted to say is that I have a favorite horror website called Heaven of Horror, but it wasn't very relevant to share this information with you all previously, since it only existed in Danish with the website www.heavenofhorror.dk 

Now they've gone global with an international website in English over at www.heavenofhorror.com And let me tell you, this isn't your average horror website, where only men - or mostly men - write the news stories and reviews. Oh no, Heaven of Horror was made by two girls back in 2009. The same two girls are still running the website and write almost all the content... oh and yeah, they're gay. In fact, they're married.

Indeed it is...

So, my point - and I do have one - is that if you love horror movies or TV shows (including the thriller and sci-fi genres), then please support their effort to go international. They're already the biggest horror website in Denmark - which might not sound like a big deal, but they've been doing this for almost 7 years, so it's hardly a fluke.

Girls like horror. Gays like horror. Gay girls like horror and these two gay girls write about horror, so show them some love, please?

With love of Friday - and horror,
- GayGirl

Jason Rothenberg shamed the LGBT community

That's right, I sure as HELL said it. Jason Rothenberg shamed us. Plain and simple.

SPOILER: This blogpost is about 'The 100', episode 7 of season 3. Stop reading now, if you've managed to stay out of the know and want to remain there.

So, last week, beloved gay character Lexa was killed off just minutes after her relationship with Clarke Griffin became cannon. The Clexa shippers were on cloud nine for just minutes before it was all tragically over, and we completely lost our cool. As we should!

At last, Clarke and Lexa had their moment

I feel stupid that I fell for it - and several other people have already made similar statements, including one of my favorite writers, Heather Anne Hogan over at Autostraddle.

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote a segment of "Friday I'm In Love" where I was singing Jason Rothenberg praises and saying the he - unlike other show runners - was not afraid of giving us the story we craved.

In this case, I was comparing him to Shonda Rhimes, who right now seems like the biggest LGBT ally as far as show runners go. I mean, she might kill characters left and right, but at least she's not killing off the LGBT characters the moment they're happy (yeah, I know both Callie and Arizona have almost died, but really, who on Grey's Anatomy haven't had at least one near-death experience?).

Anyway, Jason was different. Jason virtually had us eating out of the palm of his hand with his "I know you've been cheated out of the big and bold love stories in the past, but I'm here to end that".

He was like the evil queen in Snow White. Holding a big, juicy (and sexy as Hell) Clexa apple in front of us, and promising us that unlike all those other lesbian apples of the past - those we knew would surely end up with death and heartbreak - this would most certainly be different.

Did we trust him at first? Oh HELL no. We've heard that song and dance routine a million times before, and it's so very used that it has its own name: Queerbating.

Yeah, Once Upon A Time, I'm looking at you

But this was something different and Jason Rothenberg knew - he fucking knew - that we'd been burned in the past, so he gave us that big, bold and sexy storyline of two badass girls in charge and in love. And then we trusted him and started singing his praises.

So you see, while I absolutely hate the fact that we lost an amazing character and a beautiful love story, it's the fact that he lied and deceived us, so that we'd trust him. Jason Rothenberg shamed us!

Asked us to trust him when he presented the beautiful Clexa apple that we all knew seemed to good to be true, but then he started this whole "Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around"-routine, and we fell for it.

We ate the apple and it was a laced with a poison worse than anything we've ever had in the past. And now we're angry, sad and we want revenge.

Jason Rothenberg's Wikipedia profile has been altered in many different (and to be fair, pretty nasty) ways and his Twitter followers tumbled down within 24-hours:

We don't trust you and won't support you

Good thing is, we're equally good at showing love, so in the same 24 hours, Alycia Debenham-Carey's Twitter count climbed:

We love you and we'll support you

Even the shippers of the heterosexual ship, Bellarke [they ship the female lead Clarke Griffin - aka the LGBT survivor - with the male lead] were out offering support to the Clexa shippers. And this after a pretty nasty shipping war the past few months. They should be rejoicing right now, but even they could see that we had been rudely and crudely dupped.

Oh, and it doesn't end here, because in all his wisdom, Jason Rothenberg was obviously very aware of this potential backlash. That's why he made sure to tip Clexa shippers to watch the filming of the season 3 finale, which sent a slew of behind-the-scenes images of Clarke and Lexa out on the world wide lesbian-loving web before season 3 even aired.

Pretty damn smart, since most Clexa shippers - and expecially Lexa fans - want nothing more to do with Jason Rothenberg's creation, but obviously, we all need to know how this dead character can still be in the season finale.

Doesn't this just take your breath away?

Meanwhile, Fear The Walking Dead is set up to have the most awesome season 2 premiere of any show, since the Alycia Debenham-Carey (Lexa) fans are migrating towards her other show.

Also, in one of the healthiest and most productive coping mechanisms, the fanbase created a new character for Fear The Walking Dead - which has been renamed Queer The Walking Dead - where Eliza Taylor will play Elyza Lex and be the romantic interest for Alycia Debenham-Carey's character on this show, named Alicia Clark. 

I would love to watch that show!

The new shipping name for these two is Lexark. Oh yeah, there are story boards, comics and fanfiction written already. And the Lexa-gate of The 100 isn't even a week old yet. It is truly beautiful.

Anyway, I just needed to vent... We shall overcome, people! Stick together and fight for what is right, then they cannot ignore us - and when ratings drop, they never do.

Much love,
- GayGirl

Friday I'm in Love

Springtime is here! 

Yeah, I know, the weather might not have gotten the memo - depending on where in the world you are - but with the passing of March 1st it officially became the first month of Spring. And I do love this time of year.

I mean, forget New Years, this is when the world really seems to have hit the reset button (at least in the Northern hemisphere) and everything is coming into bloom.

Good Lord, that's a gorgeous gif

You could also say that everything is coming out, which makes it the most queer time of year, so I dedicate this Friday I'm in Love to Springtime... and all my LGBT+ people out there. You rock!

Ellen Page, you rock!

Also, I do love the sunshine so very much. Sun is life! So is water, and colors and variation... so you'll probably come to realize that I love all the seasons, but what I love most is sunshine. Every season is beautiful, when the sun is shining.

I always welcome the sunlight

With love of Friday - and sunshine,
- GayGirl

Person of Interest: Shoot me, please!

I know, I know, I'm a little late to the party, but I've finally surrendered to the amount of 'Person of Interest' gifs on Tumblr featuring Shaw and Root - or Shoot, if you will, though that shipper-name it not good for searching anything, anywhere!

Regardless of the less than searchable shipper-name, it has been a pleasure getting into this show, which has had the added bonus of becoming one of my all-time favorite shows. I mean, I absolutely adore the storylines and ALL the character. Even the (very few) episodes that seem like complete fillers, are still a good source of entertainment.

And while I must admit that I do LOVE Root and Shaw's interactions with the awesome flirtatious and sarcastic ways, I'm also crazy about their individual characters! I mean, I really like these characters. So much so that I enjoy their separate storylines as well, which honestly isn't the case very often.

How can you not love these two idiots?!

Anyway, because I've had the extreme privilege of binge-watching 'Person of Interest' on Netflix, it's a complete and welcomed overload. The first 4 glorious full seasons have left me completely enamored and now I'm jonessing for some more. Badly! Obviously, I'm thrilled that Shaw and Root will be back on, when the show returns for a short season 5, but the REAL hope is that Netflix will pick up the show and continue the journey that CBS have started us all on.

Who would have thought that what is essentially a mainstream - albeit very intelligent and creepily relevant - crime show, would end up having it's two main female characters falling for one another. Finally, someone who sees the chemistry and just goes there! Lord knows the two actresses certainly did and played it that way from their very first scene together...

And the fact that these two ladies are already fan favorites with cult followings from other shows doesn't hurt. We have Sarah Shahi from 'The L Word' fame (Carmen de la Pica Morales was actually one of my favorite characters on the show) as the tiny kick-ass lethal weapon Sameen Shaw and Amy Acker from Joss Whedon's 'Angel' and 'Dollhouse' (among several other shows) as the super-intelligent human computer Root - her name is Samantha Groves, but you should definitely call her Root!

We understand, Amy, but control the gay!

I guess maybe I also just love the show because Root and Shaw's relationships reminds me of how Wifey and I started out - I'm Root in this analogy, by the way. Oh no, there was no violence, but the overt and over the top flirting, when we were one supposed to be friends, is definitely the same.

So basically, I'm just saying they would be perfect for one another and should live happily ever after.

Also, if you're not watching Person of Interest yet, then you really need to start now before season 5 takes over the world - online anyway. Oh, and when you've finished bingewatching and need something to tie you over while you wait for the new season, then I highly recommend fanfiction. You won't be disappointed with Caged Animals by BlondeQ, so I suggest you start there - though of course, it's always dangerous to start out with the best, so do try to pace yourself.

Prepare to fall in love. Also, you're welcome!
- GayGirl

Bob Harper comes out on The Biggest Loser

It's (finally!) official: Bob Harper is gay - and not just in the old happy meaning of the word, but in the wonderfully sexual and romantic way. Bob Harper is one of us! Welcome to the family, you awesome human being... and he's HOT too!

Now, this may not come as news to many of us LGBTQ people, but to the mainstream public this is quite a surprise for many people. And in recent years he got into cross fit, which means he's even more of a "real" man - though to those of us in the know, he's obviously just an insanely gorgeous bear.

When they look at him, they see a gorgeous manly man - which he certainly is - but they manage to ignore his wonderfully femine ways that I LOVE. Jillian was always the tough one, while he was the big ol' softie on "The Biggest Loser"... and now they're both out and proud almost 10 years after America got to know them on show.

But really, I'm just happy it's finally official even if many are surprised. Though I have a hard time understanding why... I mean, the man had a dog named after a fashion designer (Karl Lagerfeld) and was Ellen DeGeneres' personal trainer before "The Biggest Loser", which - at least combined - gives a pretty good indication.

I've always loved the show and BOTH Jillian and Bob. And as much as I was upset and disappointed with Jillian Michaels while she was in the closet, I was also thrilled and ready to cheer her on, when she came out in May 2012. 

"The Biggest Loser" aka "The all-american gay boy next door and his lesbian partner get America in shape".

First Jillian and now Bob, which means I can FINALLY say “I told you so” to all the people, who were shipping them romantically for years. They are the greatest reality brotp though!

Welcome to the family

I've always thought she is all kinds of brilliant (and I love her tattoos), and even if I'll never really understand her relationship with Marilyn Manson (though I have nothing against him and find his androgyny fascinating), I can certainly admire the fact that he has been dating some very strong and wonderful women. However, I am also happy she has moved on - it didn't seem like the best match for her, since she is too big a personality to be reduced to "Marilyn Manson's girlfriend", which often happens because - of the two - he would always be the most extreme and different.

In any case... my point is this: I don't know that she was ever really "in", but now she is definitely "out", and even though it surprises only a few (I actually thought it was common knowledge and that she had spoken of this before), it's still great when someone officially and without a hint of drama comes out, so I'd still want to take this opportunity to officially welcome Evan Rachel Wood to the LGBT family.

We're very happy to have you!

- Gaygirl

QAF Mama and Mrs. Madrigal both go gay

OH... MY... GOD!!!

So, as always, I make sure to spend my Friday reading the latest installment of AfterEllen.com's "Best.Lesbian.Week.Ever", and then on page three there's a story on upcoming movie called "Hannah Free" starring Sharon Gless as a lesbian!

And I LOVE Sharon Gless... though the movie sounds like a pretty sad and tough lovestory, it's in a "The Notebook"-sorta way, and I ADORE "The Notebook" (makes me cry every single time).

Anyway, I'm all excited about this fantastic woman from "Cagney and Lacey" and "Queer as Folk"-fame playing a lesbian, in a lovestory type deal, when I get to page six and now it's Olympia Dukakis playing a lesbian in the upcoming movie "Cloudburst", which is a roadtrip type movie along the line of "Thelma and Louise"... Could you die?! I am SO excited by this... Mrs. Madrigal (from Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City", in you're uninitiated) will play a lesbian.

Oh, and her lover of 30 years will be the brilliant Irish actress Brenda Fricker.

I have really high hopes for both of these movies, and simply relish the idea of having movies with lesbian lovestories that don't revolve solely around 20-something girls. I'm a 20-something girl, but I want movies portraying what I'll have with my Wifey 30 years from now - as well as portraits of our lives now, of course. I'm not giving up on that. ;o)

Movie-loving-lesbian,
- GG

Image of Monday: Rainbow kisses

Have a great one! :o)
- GG