Welcome, GO readers, to our revamped weekly roundup of the biggest lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender women’s news and entertainment stories! We’ll be recapping the biggest hits each week and talking to the newsmakers, movers, and shakers behind them.
Rest In Power, Edie Windsor
LGBTQ rights icon Edith Windsor passed away earlier this week at the age of 88, devastating many in the community and beyond. Windsor was the plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act after she was denied a tax refund when her wife, Thea Spyer, passed away. Windsor’s case struck down a provision of the 1996 policy that defined marriage between a man and a woman at the federal level, barring same-sex couples from over 1,000 benefits. The case was a vital step towards legalizing same-sex marriage across the country in 2015.
Though Windsor achieved international notoriety for her winning case, for many of us she was a matriarch of the community. She was regularly spotted at queer bars, tea dances and pride marches (she even marched in the Dyke March wearing a “nobody knows I’m a lesbian” t-shirt) around New York City. For lesbian, bisexual and queer women who are often pushed to the margins of even the LGBTQ community, she made our experiences visible. In the wake of the news of her passing, there was an outpouring of memories on Facebook and Twitter, and even a statement from Obama. Windsor is survived by her wife, Judith Kasen-Windsor.
The Biggest Queer Fashion Show
It’s that time of year… New York Fashion Week has officially been underway for days, but the biggest queer fashion show happens on Thursday at the Brooklyn Museum. For the past three years, dapperQ has featured an array of emerging and established designers that serve the LGBTQ community. This year’s theme ‘R/Evolution’ highlights how fashion — and queer style, in particular — can be a form of protest, according to Anita Dolce Vita, the show’s producer. This year’s designers are Audio Helkuik, Nicole Wilson, Bindle & Keep, Clio Sage, Kris Harring, Sir New York, SDN Brooklyn, Stuzo, The Tailory New York and TomboyX + Clear Coated, as well as models who are influencers and activists themselves.
“Media and art play a critical role in shaping our culture and what society deems as acceptable and worthy. The fashion industry has a history of perpetuating oppressive norms that have devastating impacts on minority communities,” Dolce Vita told GO. “This is even manifested in the profiling of groups within our communities simply based on attire.” Before the show, there will be vendors and designers for a ‘Sip and Shop’; the runway begins at 8pm. ‘R/Evolution’ is open to the public, but you’ll need to get a ticket beforehand for $10.
Justice Department Sides With Colorado Baker
The Trump administration has decided to side with a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for the same-sex couple’s wedding. This fall, as we mentioned last week, the Supreme Court will hear the case of Jack Phillips, who violated the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act in 2012. The Justice Department has now filed a brief on behalf of the baker, writing that “Forcing Phillips to create expression for and participate in a ceremony that violates his sincerely held religious beliefs invades his First Amendment rights.” Though President Donald Trump mentioned the LGBTQ community during the campaign, the move follows efforts by the administration to ban transgender people from the military and walk back the rights of transgender students.
Laverne Cox Is The New Face Of Ivy Park
Beyoncé has answered our prayers. Actress Laverne Cox is one of the new faces for the singer’s active-wear line, Ivy Park. Cox, who stars in Doubt and Orange Is the New Black, looks amazing in what appears to be a leotard from the line.
“It’s so chic and cozy. I would live in this. Today for the [photo] shoot, we’re styling the looks up, so people understand that you can do a high-low thing. It’s not just for the gym,” Cox told the Los Angeles Times about the line. Watch the full video featuring Cox and other models.
Is Demi Lovato’s New Love Interest A Queer DJ?
The singer hinted last year on the song “Cool For The Summer” that she was open to exploring her sexuality, and discussed exploring her sexuality on the show Chatty Man. Over the weekend, Lovato was spotted at Disneyland holding hands with out-DJ Kittens aka Lauren Abedini.
The former Disney star previously dated actor Wilmer Valderrama for six years. Neither the triple threat nor her rumored paramour DJ have confirmed the relationship. Either way, queer lady twitter is rejoicing about this pairing.
Why LGBTQ Groups Are Condemning This Study On Facial Recognition
Does this face make me look gay? GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign are condemning a study where two researchers from Stanford University fed the images of 35,000 gay and straight people into an algorithm to derive the differences in facial features. They had the software identify if random faces were gay or straight based on the information, though the groups have called it “junk science.” According to the Washington Post, the software could distinguish “between gay and heterosexual men 81 percent of the time, and gay and heterosexual women 71 percent of the time.” The LGBTQ advocacy groups say the findings could be used to target LGBTQ people if the technology ended up in the wrong hands. “Let me be clear: technology cannot identify someone’s sexual orientation,” Jim Halloran, GLAAD’s Chief Digital Officer, tweeted.
Honorable Mentions
Can’t get enough of queer women making news? Here are a couple more stories to check out:
Disney Channel Star Marries Her Partner
Jay-Z’s Mom Opens Up About Coming Out
Have something you think we should cover? Tweet @AlexFromPhilly to let us know!
