How to Lez In July: GO’s Ultimate Sapphic Guide For The Month
From binge-worthy TV and books to the hottest women’s parties, biggest sports events, and songs destined for your lesbian playlist, here’s everything you need to lez out this July.
If you’re feeling the post-Pride Month slump, just know that we hear you, we see you, and we feel you. That being said, gurl, it’s time to get up and get your lez on.
We’ve already done your July homework for you. From can’t-miss TV and movies to books, music, sports, parties, and the advice you didn’t know you needed, here’s everything worth putting on your radar this month.
And yes, there will be a quiz. (There won’t, but you should probably pay attention anyway.)
Lez Watch
Sure, we love to party, but sometimes the hottest RSVP is the couch—or catching a movie with friends. Here are the lesbian (and sapphic-inclusive) movies and shows we’re already seated for. Like, right now. Don’t @ us—we’re busy being seated.
Elle – July 1
We will always have a soft spot for Legally Blonde, but we’ll also always firmly believe Elle (Reese Witherspoon) and Vivian (Selma Blair) should have been endgame. With a new prequel series dropping this week, we’re finally getting some sapphic representation in this pretty-in-pink universe.
The series introduces audiences to Elle Woods during her formative high school years. Enter Liz, the self-proclaimed “Lizbian,” played by Gabrielle Policano. We never say no to a little ’90s-era lez representation.
Elle premieres July 1 on Prime Video.
The Hawk – July 16
Ready for a good laugh? Will Ferrell’s new series The Hawk drops on Netflix on July 16. We love this ally forever, but the real reason we’re tuning in is for the Fortune Feimster of it all.
Ferrell plays Lonnie Hawkins, a formerly great—and now struggling—golfer trying to recapture the magic of his glory days on the green. Meanwhile, Feimster plays his caddie, aka his “golf WAG,” Sam.
Yeah, this is about to be hilarious, and we never, ever miss a chance to have more Fortune in our lives.
Heartstopper Forever — July 17
OK, we’re already pulling out the tissues for this one because we’re about to experience a lot of feelings! In Heartstopper Forever, Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) are madly in love but are faced with the biggest question of their lives: Can first love really last forever?
We’re obviously invested in their journey, as well as Tao (William Gao) and Elle’s (Yasmin Finney) relationship. But let’s be real—we need to know what happens to two of our favorite lezzes, Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell).
We can’t wait to watch when the film drops on Netflix on July 17
Her Private Hell — July 24 (Limited)
This summer, horror has ruled the box office, and it shows no signs of slowing down with Her Private Hell making its way to the big screen. The film follows Elle (Sophie Thatcher), a sapphic woman trapped in a mysterious mist populated by a sinister entity. She embarks on a journey to help a young woman search for her father and ends up on an odyssey to hell.
Sure, director Nicholas Winding Refn’s last lesbian-tinged horror film, The Neon Demon, was controversial—this writer calls it a guilty pleasure—but we can’t help but be seduced by the rich color palette, bizarre vibes, and the prospect of Thatcher and Havana Rose Liu playing former lovers.
Yep, we’ll be there opening night when it arrives in limited theaters on July 24.
Lez Vibe
Confessions II – Madonna — July 3
Pitched as the sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna’s 2005 dance and electronic record, this July release will continue her exploration of electronic music. Seven years after the release of her last album, the pop diva is finally reuniting with her old collaborator, Stuart Price.
New Avatar – Kelela — July 10
Queer R&B artist Kelela is back with her third album, New Avatar, this month. Kelela is known for her unique sound that blends alternative R&B, house, and electronic club music with lyrics focusing on themes of vulnerability, love, and the Black femme experience. This album promises to return to elements of shoegaze, grunge and R&B mirroring Kelela’s earlier sound.
Music, Fashion, Film – Charli XCX — July 24
Can it ever really be summer without Charli? The queer icon’s brat follow-up will hit late this month, and we will all be tuning in to see if it lives up to the hype. While the first singles ‘Rock Music,’ ‘SS26,’ and ‘Wink Wink’ have failed to cross Gen Pop’s desk, we might just not get the vision yet.
Lez Read
Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (July 7th)
If Chuck Tingle isn’t already one of your favorite queer authors, it’s time to course correct. His work is charming, entertaining, and moving in equal measure, and it’s unapologetically and joyfully queer every time.
With his latest, Tingle introduces Poppy Stringer, a lesbian fashion influencer and grave robber (in this economy? Who doesn’t need a side hustle?). But her job becomes even more complicated when she’s hired to steal the body of rock star Eddie Michaels—only for him to wake up. Things get even more bizarre, hilarious, and bloody from there.
This is the perfect beach or poolside read for anyone who likes to keep things a little weird.
Misery’s Wife by Joan Tierney (July 14)
Love a good yarn with a little magic? Then crack open a copy of Misery’s Wife this month. The story is a cli-fi (climate fiction) reimagining of a Portuguese folktale.
In it, Elixane, a young trans woman, embarks on a quest to save her sister from a terrible marriage to the King of Misery. Along the way, she encounters no shortage of magical and terrifying experiences.
Does this fairy tale have a happy ending? We know one way for you to find out… Read it. The answer is: read it.
The New People by Andrea Uptmor (July 21st)
Get ready to tear through this twisty read. In The New People, newlyweds Emma and Rachel move into their new Chicago home, looking for a fresh start after a miscarriage. But their visions of the future couldn’t be more different. For Rachel, it’s about focusing on her career as a tenure-track professor and bestselling novelist. Emma, however, is still determined to start their family and continues her IVF journey in secret.
But that’s not the only thing these walls are hiding. As strange occurrences begin to pile up in the house, the couple starts to suspect they aren’t the only ones inhabiting their home.
Lez Party
Party like it’s Pride month all year long!
NYC
- July 1 – MISSTER @ The Woods (every Wednesday)
- July 2 – Butch, Femme, They, Them, A Sapphic Stoplight Party @ Henrietta’s
- July 3 – LESBOTOMY: Beach Goth Night @ Talon Bar
- July 8 – Girl2Girl @ Mood Ring
- July 10 – Futch @ House of Yes
LOS ANGELES
- July 3 – Lesbian Oil Wrestling @ Catch One
- July 4 – Rowdy Night Out @ Honeys
- July 4 Weekend – LA Black Pride
- July 10 – Futch @ El Cid
- July 12 – Hot Splash @ Hotel Figueroa
- July 18 – Diet C*nt @ Sassafras Saloon
- July 26 – Sapphic Swims: Summer Slam @ Montrose at Beverly Hills
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
- July 1 & 15 – Rebel Kings @ White Horse Bar
- July 11 – Queer Magic @ Temescal Brewing
- July 11 – SAPPHORIA: SOULFUL, SEXY, SAPPHIC @ El Rio
- July 25 – Mango! @ El Rio
MIAMI
- July 18 – SHENiTE @ Rooftop above the Lincoln Eatery
CHICAGO
- July 11 – Lesbian and Sapphic Goth Night @ Dorothy
- July 23 – WNBA ALL STAR WEEKEND @ Nobody’s Darling
Lez Play
NWSL Returns – July 3
After a World Cup break, the NWSL will resume regular season play on July 3 and continue throughout the summer. Keep your eyes out for matchups between clubs heavily loaded with queer stars like NJ/NY Gotham (who are welcoming back married icons Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis) and Orlando Pride.
How to watch: National games air on CBS, ESPN, and Prime Video, with additional matches on NWSL+
Wimbledon – July 1-12
The second half of the iconic Tennis tournament will run throughout early July, with the women’s singles finals on July 11. Keep an eye out for queer star Daria Kasatkina.
How to watch: ESPN, ABC
WNBA All-Star Weekend – July 23-27
In the midst of the playoff race, All-Star weekend lets fans and players celebrate the league that is turning 30 this year. Expect plenty of queer stars, including Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Gabby Williams, Jessica Shepard, Olivia Miles and maybe even Azzi Fudd. Get excited because the StudBudz have officially confirmed that they will once again run their 72-hour livestream of the weekend. Hopefully, we will get just as much chaos as last year.
How to watch: Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest will air on ESPN, All-Star Game will air on ABC, StudBudz stream will be on Twitch
Lez Thrive
The post-Pride Month crash-out is real. You’ve just spent a whole month being your best sapphic self, and now you’re packing away the rainbow gear, trying to make sense of your situationship, or simply shaking off your Pride-fueled hangover.
That’s why it’s so important to prioritize a little self-care to help you get over the hump. So GO turned to therapists and mental health experts specializing in queer care for their five hottest self-care tips to help you survive July—and hit August running.
1. Stay connected to community. “Finding a way to keep community can help them feel re-centered because it allows continued being with their authentic identity and expression in queer-affirmed safe spaces that carry on from what pride means to them. This can be joining queer-identified social events that meet monthly, whether that is a sports league, hiking group, or any activity they find enjoyment in.” — Ligia Orellana LMFT, a Los Angeles anxiety therapist.
2. Crack open that journal. “Journaling is another method of allowing ourselves to slow down and quiet our minds after so much celebration. Journaling helps us be more in touch with the thoughts and feelings that we are often too busy to let ourselves really sit with. Externalizing our thoughts onto a page allows us to sit back and observe them more, helping us gain more clarity on how we really feel and how we want to move forward.” — Dr. Jeannette R. Craigfeld, practices clinical psychology at her own private practice and is licensed in both Maryland and Washington DC.
3. Get back to routines that ground you. “After a month with a lot of events, being around more people, travel, noise, or disrupted routines, the body often needs simple grounding anchors. My favorites are to go outside and get some morning light, put my bare feet into the grass/earth, listen to birds, lay down in the grass and watch the sky, and connect to the trees. Give yourself time to process everything you’ve taken in and felt.” — Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a queer, neurodivergent psychotherapist, founder of the Sensitive and Neurodivergent Community, Podcast, and Blog, and author of the forthcoming book Autistic Women: A Clinician’s Guide to Neurodiversity-Affirming Identification and Support.
4. Soothe your mind by taking care of your body. “Our bodies are closely intertwined with our minds, and taking care of our nervous system is a key part of our overall mental health. This means in even basic ways: getting enough sleep, drinking water, eating regular nourishing meals, and good overall hygiene. You may even want to consider getting a massage, acupuncture, facial, mani-pedi, etc. Whatever feels like it could help your body feel restored and rejuvenated.” — Dr. Craigfeld
5. Slow it down and check in. “Slow everything down, even your movements, and throughout the day, put your hand on your heart and check in with your inner child, in a loving and curious way. Ask yourself, ‘How am I doing? What do I need?’This is effective because many of us have been taught to override our needs, so when we listen early, we can hear the whispers and meet our needs sooner, before we move into depletion, shutdown, or burnout.” — Julie Bjelland
Monitoring the Situation
Here in the sapphic community, we love a bit of discourse. So naturally we thought we’d cue you into some of the hot topics to keep an eye on throughout the month.
Is Melanie from Love Island USA secretly queer?
Okay, yes, this is purely speculation…but…she has kissed quite a few girls in the villa this season. If you haven’t been watching, Melanie has been going through it in the Villa this summer, and honestly, queerness might be the answer she’s been looking for. Melanie, if you can hear me, ditch Mr. Insincere and look towards Kayda! We all saw that Casa Amor challenge kiss! I’ve got my eye on you, girl.
Who is going to win I Kissed A Girl Season 2?
Everyone’s favorite cancelled reality show is back for its second and final season, and things are heating up. Unlike the first season, we are ditching the wholesomeness and getting straight to the drama. Right off the bat, the first pairings were seemingly not a success as everyone quickly started looking elsewhere for connections. Will literally any of these current couples stay together? Will Elise continue to live up to the messy masc label?
What is the song of the summer?
While not necessarily a queer question, as the official arbiters of taste, it is our responsibility to crown the annual song of the summer. Could ‘Girls Like Girls’ re-enter the charts after the movie’s success? Is it the new, surprisingly upbeat Phoebe Bridgers track? Could it be an Olivia Rodrigo track? Slayyyter? Meg Stalter? Please God, just don’t let it be Sombr y’all.
