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Ricky Martin joins protest against “irresponsibility” of Puerto Rico government, pledges support for earthquake victims

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Singer Ricky Martin is taking a stand about what he calls “an act of callousness, mistreatment and sinister irresponsibility” toward his native Puerto Rico.

The pop star took to Instagram on Tuesday to call out government leaders for failing his homeland in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that shook the island earlier this month. His response is specifically focused on the January 18 discovery by locals in the southeastern city of Ponce of a warehouse full of emergency supplies – FEMA pallets of water, generators, Ready Meals, baby diapers and wipes, with some of the perishable items reportedly showing a 2019 expiration date – that have been seemingly withheld since Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

With thousands of Puerto Ricans are struggling after being displaced in the aftermath of over 300 earthquakes that have struck the island since December 28, the find has led to calls for the resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez.

In his Instagram post, the 48-year-old Martin shared a video of volunteers working to bring aid to displaced Puerto Ricans, captioned with a lengthy comment that began, “What happened in a warehouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico is an act of callousness, mistreatment and sinister irresponsibility. In our people’s greatest moments of need, those who assume they are the leaders have failed again. The most basic human rights have once again been absent: water, roof, education, security.”

The out pop icon lamented, “They did it with evil. There is no other explanation,” before going on to say, “But amidst so much outrage and to everyone’s consolation, I see people again, our people, awake, attentive and above all, standing up. Fighting, defending, caring, protecting and gifting love throughout the treasure that is our Puerto Rico.”

He added that he was pledging to join relief efforts alongside local San Juan non-profit organization Sociedad de Educación y Rehabilitación (SER) de Puerto Rico, writing, “In this video, you can see a united people and I from here, am celebrating such a strong and beautiful alliance with our friends from @SERPuertoRico. We join forces to bring well-being to those who need it most in the aftermath of the earthquakes in the south of my land.”

He also indicated his intention to join protestors on the island, saying, “I’m with you. Feeling the pain and firm in defending what is right, that which is worthy for everyone. I am on my way to Puerto Rico. Very soon I will accompany you again in this call for respect, justice and peace. I’ll see you there, my island.”

He concluded by saying, “And to all the volunteers who, without waiting for anything in return, give everything for the well-being of their compatriots, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.”

 

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Lo ocurrido en un almacén en Ponce, Puerto Rico es un acto de insensibilidad, de maltrato e irresponsabilidad sinigual. En los momentos de mayor necesidad de nuestra gente, los que suponen sean los líderes han vuelto a fallar. Han vuelto a faltar a los derechos más básicos de los seres humanos: agua, techo, educación, seguridad… Lo hicieron con maldad. No hay otra explicación. Pero, entre tanta indignación y para consuelo de todos, vuelvo a ver a la gente, a los nuestros, despiertos, atentos y sobre todo, de pie. Luchando, defendiendo, cuidando, protegiendo y regalando amor a lo largo y ancho de ese tesoro que es nuestro Puerto Rico. En este vídeo podrán ver a un pueblo unido y yo desde aquí, celebrando una alianza tan sólida y bonita con nuestros amigos de @SERPuertoRico. Unimos fuerzas para llevar bienestar a quienes más lo necesitan luego de los terremotos en el sur de mi tierra. Estoy con ustedes. Sintiendo el dolor y firme en defender lo que corresponde, lo que es digno para todos. Voy en ruta a Puerto Rico. Muy pronto les vuelvo a acompañar en este reclamo de respeto, justicia y paz. Ahí los veo, mi isla. P.d. Y a todxs lxs voluntarios que sin esperar nada a cambio lo entregan todo por el bienestar de sus compatriotas, MUCHAS GRACIAS.

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It’s not the first time the Latin pop superstar has gotten involved in political activism concerning his homeland. Last summer, he joined Puerto Rican celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bad Bunny, and PJ Sin Suela at a protest in New York, calling for the resignation of Puerto Rican then-governor Ricardo Rosselló, an issue around which he was also vocal in the media. Rosselló announced his resignation five days later.

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Bars & Parties

Young Miko look-alike contest draws in hundreds of people 

Influencers Eden and Jay Trevino hosted the contest during their monthly Preciosita residency party for queer women loving women

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Young Miko Look-Alike contestants, winner Daelyn Daniloff (fourth individual from left on top row) and Preciosa Night creators Eden and Jay Trevino (bottom row) pose for a portrait during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Look-alike contests are trending, so it was no shock that Preciosita–a monthly residency party from the creators of Preciosa Night–decided to host their own the day before Thanksgiving, otherwise known as “Blackout Wednesday.” 

Preciosita Night, a more intimate version of Preciosa Night that’s hosted monthly at The Virgil in Los Angeles, happens in between bigger Preciosa events to keep the party going, while planning for the next event. For the latest Preciosita night, Eden and Jay decided to host the first look-alike contest. 

To showcase the epitome that is Preciosa Night, they decided to go with one of the most established lesbian reggaeton artists of this generation: Young Miko.

With 7.8 million followers on Instagram, 22.9 million monthly listeners through Spotify and one of the most popular albums in 2024 “att”, Young Miko has become one of the most well-known female reggaeton rappers in the LGBTQ+ community, so it was no surprise that a Young Miko Look-alike Contest would draw in such a large crowd. 

During the contest, six contestants stepped up to showcase their best moves and fashion resembling the reggaeton star. In the end, it was a unanimous vote amongst the crowd who the winner was. 

Young Miko Look-Alike winner Daelyn Daniloff blows a kiss onstage during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Daelyn Daniloff, 27, was the last contestant to get up on stage, making the crowd go wild with applause. She won the grand prize of $20, a trophy and a vibrator.

“People come up to me all the time telling me I look like Young Miko. On the street, at work, even in my DM’s,” exclaimed the winner. “So when my friend Kendal saw this contest, she was like ‘Okay, we’re turning you into Young Miko and going!’”

Eden and Jay shared the guest count jumped from what was close to a sold out event, to the max capacity at the venue, which is 300 people. 

Considering how successful Preciosita’s first look-alike contest was, Eden and Jay have decided to continue the trend for the next and final Preciosa event of the year on New Year’s Eve. This time around, Preciosa will host a Karol G look-alike contest with a cash prize of $500.

Guests getting hyped for the Young Miko Look-Alike Contest during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Preciosa Night, created by healthy relationship influencers Eden and Jay Trevino, is a grass-roots movement dedicated toward combining culture, community, perreo, and queerness as nightlife events for Latinx, women loving women. Their events typically feature drag performances, queer Latinx DJs, photo opportunities and most importantly, they strive for a drama-free environment and embrace unity at every single event. 

“We preach that representation matters all the time at Preciosa Night,” said Jay. “Even though Young Miko is fairly new to the reggaeton scene, she is one of the few artists who’s out and proud and we thought it would be a great way to merge both worlds and have fun with it. Being queer and Latina, we don’t often get the representation we deserve.”

The event will take place at the Teragram Room in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are available now at www.preciosanight.com.

Eden Trevino (left) and Jay Trevino (right) pose for a portrait during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Eden and Jay are the creators of Preciosa and Preciosita Night. (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

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Arts & Entertainment

GMCLA to perform concert filled with holiday magic and sugar

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles heads to the Saban Theatre on 14th and 15th December

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Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles 2023 Holiday Concert (Photo Courtesy of Gay Men's Chorus Los Angeles/ Gregory Zabilski)

When it comes to all-sing-and-dance musical productions, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles never fails to pull out all the stops. The festive shows make the Top Twenty LA Holiday Events List annually and 2024 looks to be no exception.

The SugarPlum Fairies Holiday Concert is set to feature “some of the most magical music ever written, filled with sugar plums, rich chocolate, and pure fantasy.”

Audiences can expect the 200-strong chorus to perform 25 songs ranging from iconic Christmas classics to a modern twist on the festive ballet. The Nutcracker’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s Pure Imagination are among the musical repertoire, while Dolly Parton’s Hard Candy Christmas and Sia’s Candy Cane Lane represent the new holiday cohort. 

“You’re going to hear some Christina Aguilera, you’re going to hear some old school [songs] from the 60s about candy, and you’re also going to hear some traditional music,” said choreographer, Ray Leeper. “Wonka is really hot right now, so you’re going to hear some of the the old Wonka and from the new movie.”

This year’s Christmas show promises to be a particularly special one, with the group celebrating its 45th anniversary of service and community. 

“Everything we do is because of the incredible support we get from our singing members, who have been giving their time, energy, commitment, and activism for over 45 years,” GMCLA Executive Director, Lou Spisto explained. 

The chorus continues to garner acclaim for artistic excellence while remaining deeply rooted in its service. For those who don’t know, GMCLA was founded in 1979 in the midst of the country’s gay rights movement. 

Members spread a message of love and acceptance, with programs like SugarPlum focusing just as much on social justice as they do show tunes. 

“The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles is well known for great music, great artistry, and great concerts that we do in these major venues around town–but it’s far more than that,” Spisto added.“Each year, we do around 43 events in high schools, community centers, and hospitals to be with our communities and support them… those who look like us and those who don’t. I’m so proud to say we’ve grown these projects over the last six years.”

Its award-winning school program Alive Music Project has served over 90,000 young people since its inception. AMP also offers an opportunity to enrich each school’s music education program, with Choral students invited to perform with GMCLA at the presentations.

Their Arts for Healing & Justice program provides introductory music classes for incarcerated youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile correctional system. They join an interdisciplinary collaboration of outstanding organizations, providing exceptional arts programming to build resiliency and wellness, eliminate recidivism, and transform the juvenile justice system.

Concerts such as SugarPlum are helping to raise funds for this vital work on an annual basis. When the chorus isn’t working on ticketed events like their Christmas concert, their yearly free events help to expand community access even further. Past venues include the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 

As for the immediate future, GMCLA’s hope is triumphing over hate. The result of this year’s presidential election is likely to affect California’s LGBTQ+ community in some way, but Spisto is only seeing upsides, not downsides. 

One such upside? Using SugarPlum as the perfect opportunity to celebrate Los Angeles’ vibrant queer community for the loud and proud individuals they are. 

“It’s an interesting time in our world today. GMCLA has been speaking loudly, singing loudly, and standing up for this community and others for decades, and we’re going to continue to do that,” said Spisto.

SugarPlum Fairies will be at the Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills on December 14 at 8pm and December 15 at 3:30pm. Buy tickets now at https://www.gmcla.org/sugarplumfairies. Prices range from $45-$125. If you want to support the Chorus’ ongoing educational work, you can make a donation at GMCLA.org/holidaygiving. Eligible donations of $120 or more–or new monthly donations of $10 or more–will receive an official GMCLA Holiday Sweatshirt as a thank-you gift. Donations must be made by December 31st to be eligible.

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Arts & Entertainment

Comedian Adam Sank knows he’s just as damaged as his ‘Bad Dates’

In his “one-man show about many men” Adam Sank comes to terms with a lifetime spent searching for ‘the one’

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Adam Sank's Bad Dates Tour will tour in Los Angeles and San Diego (Photo Courtesy of Adam Sank)

At 54 and single, comedian Adam Sank is as much a veteran of the gay dating scene and of the stage, so when he was challenged to put together his new show, he did what came natural: he mined his lifetime of hookups and dates gone wrong, for an hour of laughs.

Now he’s bringing that award-winning show, Bad Dates: A One-Man Show About Many Men, to Southern California for a pair of dates in Los Angeles and San Diego Dec 6-7.

“The show opens with me saying, ‘I’m 53 years old and single,’ and fortunately, I haven’t had to change the script in the last year and a half that I’ve been performing this,” Sank said with a wry smile over a Zoom call from his New York apartment.

If that sounds like a hint of bitterness about the single life coming through, Sank is quick to dismiss it. 

“I think there’s this notion in our culture, it’s sort of ingrained in us that if you’re not married, if you don’t find your person, you’re somehow lesser. You’re somehow leading a less full life,” Sank said. “It’s taken me a long time to be able to say I truly believe that’s bullshit.”

“Finding your person does not equal happiness and being single does not equal sadness,” he continued. 

Sank has been rising through the comedy trenches for twenty years. He says he got a late start in stand-up at age 32, after getting burned out working as a television news producer. Over the years, he’s competed on Last Comic Standing and appeared as a commentator on shows like I Love the 2000s and Best Week Ever. 

Bad Dates marks something of a departure, with a stronger focus on long-form narrative as Sank goes deeper into what a life spent single means. And it’s a departure that’s won him many plaudits from critics such as two Broadway World Cabaret Awards for the show’s original run at the Stonewall Inn in New York last summer.

“There’s a cost to spending your entire adult life searching for the one, the perfect love story, when we expend so much energy and time and resources into that one thing we neglect everything else,” he said.

But Bad Dates at least proves there’s one benefit to trudging through the dating trenches across decades: the stories. And boy, does Sank have stories. Twinks, injuries, being invited to orgies, not being invited to orgies–Sank’s dating life has proven a goldmine of hilarious material.

“We like hearing about any misfortune because we identify with so much of it and it makes us feel less alone. You know, I think a lot of people out there–especially people who are not necessarily young and single–relate to this show because they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not the only one who has been through these situations,’” he said.

Which isn’t to say Sank doesn’t have those romantic notions. He’s just maybe become a bit more realistic about the pursuit of partnership.

“When I was younger, I don’t think I was ready. I think I had so much work I needed to do on myself, and I had this very false idea about what a relationship should look like and what it would do for me. I basically bought into the whole rom-com idea that you would meet your person and you would live happily ever after. And that’s just not true for anyone. Even if you have the world’s greatest relationship, you have to constantly be doing work on yourself and on your relationship to keep it going,” he said.

If Sank reveals any regret, it’s that he didn’t figure all that out sooner.

“I really need a guy in my age range who’s single and they’re almost always really damaged–which is why they’re still single at my age,” he said. “I’m sure I’m just as damaged as they are, but the point is, it’s a lot harder.”

Adam Sank’s solo show Bad Dates goes on at The Broadwater Main Stage, 1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, on Friday, December 6 at 9pm, and at the Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Boulevard #101, San Diego, on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm. Tickets here.

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Movies

Unconventional 2024 holiday films mostly not for families

Erotica thrillers, ‘Nosferatu,’ and the explicit ‘Queer’ among entries

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Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman embark on a dangerous affair in ‘Babygirl.’ (Image courtesy of A24)

As soon as Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time to look forward to another crop of holiday movies, and this year offers some excellent ones – though most of them seem to have very little to do with the season itself. Unfortunately, after the last year or so, when the number of queer-themed and queer-inclusive holiday films seemed to be increasing, this year’s selection is notably short on queer representation. Of course, with a couple of exceptions, they’re also notably short on seasonal cheer, too. Nevertheless, there are several promising gems headed to theaters over the next month, all of which should be of interest to any movie fan, queer or not, and the Blade is ready to break them down for you.

WICKED (Now in theaters) Our first preview also serves as a mini-review, since it jumped the holiday queue for an early release, but that’s OK, because it turns out we needed it more than we knew. The first installment of director John M. Chu’s much-anticipated two-part adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon, in turn based on the eponymous book by queer author Gregory Maguire’s book of the same name, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the two iconic witches of Frank Baum’s classic “Wizard of Oz” (Elphaba, the formerly anonymous “Wicked Witch of the West” as named by Maguire in his novel, and Glinda, the “Good Witch of the North,” respectively), and, without hyperbole, truly surpasses all expectation. Expanding the stage version’s Disney-ish whimsy (reinforced by its catchy song score from “Pocahontas” composer Stephen Schwartz) by incorporating elements from Maguire’s novel to bring additional gravitas (and timely relevance) to the family-friendly fun while showcasing the amazing, no-expense-spared artistry of the film’s visual design. Played out on elaborate real-life sets by a uniformly superb cast – which also features out gay “Bridgerton” heartthrob Jonathan Bailey, Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, veteran screen eccentric Jeff Goldblum, “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage, and queer “SNL” stalwart Bowen Yang, among many other talented performers – it is that rare stage-to-screen transition that not only captures the appeal of the show that inspired it, but enhances its magic by embracing a purely cinematic expression in doing so. Add the sweet irony that can be found in the post-election success of a musical fantasy about a marginalized woman being persecuted for daring to speak truth to an authoritarian power (who also happens to be an incompetent charlatan), and you have a film that is easily the movie of the year and then some. Something tells us that Baum would be proud of what his clever little satire of American “exceptionalism” has come to inspire more than a century later. If you haven’t seen it already, what are you waiting for? Get on your broom and head straight to the next available showing at your local multiplex.

GLADIATOR II (Now in theaters) Also crashing into the arena ahead of the holidays is Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Oscar-winning original “Gladiator” from 2000, which won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe) among multiple other honors. The queer appeal here lies mostly in the hunkiness of its stars – allies and queer-fan-favorite heartthrobs Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, who join Denzel Washington as the big-name-triumvirate that drives the film – but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of big-budget sword-and-sandal excitement to entertain anybody with an appetite for such things; and let’s face it, as cheesy as they are, who doesn’t love a movie about barely dressed muscle men swinging swords at each other in the midst of Roman depravity? Revered queer British thespian Derek Jacobi reprises his role from the original film, among a cast that also includes Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, and Connie Nielsen.

QUEER (now in theaters) From Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino – the man responsible for “Call Me By Your Name” and this year’s earlier bi-triangle tennis romance “Challengers” – comes this eagerly anticipated adaptation of a semi-autobiographical novella by queer “beat generation” icon William S. Burroughs, set in 1950, in which an American expatriate (Daniel Craig in a reportedly career-topping performance) trolls the local bars looking for connection and becomes enamored with a former soldier (Drew Starkey) who is new in town. Already controversial (in some circles, at least) for its explicitness and its unapologetically raw perspective – an unsurprising element, considering that Burroughs’s legendary status as an author and personality has more to do with his countercultural radicalism than his queerness – this one is probably the standout must-see title of the season for LGBTQ audiences, or at least those not completely transfixed by “Wicked.” And although Craig (who is no stranger to “playing gay”) has said in a recent interview that his character’s sexuality is the “least interesting thing” about him, we’ll wager that millions of queer fans will disagree. Also featuring the incomparable Lesley Manville (most recently an MVP in Ryan Murphy’s “Grotesquerie”), Jason Schwartzman, Henrique Zaga, and Omar Apollo.

MARIA (in theaters 11/27, Netflix 12/11) For the opera-loving crowd comes this widely touted biopic starring Angelina Jolie as legendary soprano Maria Callas, which covers the diva’s final days when she was living in Paris. The third and final film in Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín’s cinematic trilogy about the lives of important 20th century women (after 2016’s “Jackie” and 2021’s “Spencer”), this one competed for the Golden Lion prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival, where it sparked Oscar buzz for Jolie’s tour-de-force turn as the operatic icon.

NIGHTBITCH (in theaters 12/6) Queer viewers can dive into their feminist allyship with this horror-ific drama about an artist (Amy Adams) whose role as wife and mother (to a towheaded toddler) triggers a canine-esque transformation, complete with an enhanced sense of smell, unexpected body hair, and extra nipples on her belly. A metaphoric exploration of discovering personal power and transcending cultural expectations defining womanhood around traditional roles of homemaker and mother, it will undoubtedly spark complaints from the anti-”woke” crowd, which obviously scores points with us, every time.

THE ORDER (in theaters 12/6) There’s nothing specifically queer about this one, which stars Jude Law as a veteran FBI agent who confronts a zealous white supremacist rebel leader (Nicholas Hoult) in a “war for America’s soul,” but there are obvious points of connection in its fictionalized “what-if” fantasia based on 1980s headlines about the Aryan Nation spinoff group “The Order” and its campaign of robberies, bombings and murder. If you’re not a fan of Nazis (because no matter what they happen to call themselves, a Nazi is still a Nazi), this one is probably for you.

Nickel Boys (in theaters 12/13) Allyship is also the draw from this lengthy adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-winning bestseller, starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as a hotel housekeeper whose grandson (Ethan Herisse) is unjustly incarcerated in a reformatory during the “Jim Crow” era. Directed by Peabody Award winner (and Emmy and Oscar nominee) RaMell Ross, this anti-racist drama is based on a true story.

The Room Next Door (in theaters 12/20) If any upcoming movie deserves a spotlight it’s this one, the first English-language feature by iconic queer Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, in which a pair of former New York magazine colleagues (Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore) reunite after many years when one of them is faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis and asks the other to help her “die with dignity.” With three such transcendent artists uniting to collaborate, our confidence level is elevated enough for us to suggest that this might be the highlight of the season for lovers of pure cinema.

Better Man (in theaters 12/25) If you’ve never heard of Robbie Williams (and you’re an American), you can be forgiven, since the phenomenally successful pop singer-songwriter from the UK is a relatively unknown sensation on this side of the Atlantic, but this unorthodox musical biopic from “Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey looks to be an introduction you’ll never forget. Depicting the well-publicized ups and downs of Williams’ personal life as it traces his rise to fame and beyond, it also depicts him as a chimpanzee – voiced by Williams himself and portrayed through CG motion capture by Jonno Davies – because, as the pop star puts it, “I’ve always felt less evolved” than other people. It sounds odd, sure, but its September debut at the Telluride Film Festival was met with enthusiastic critical acclaim, and whether it works for you or not, it surely boasts the most unusual premise of any film this year that we’re aware of.

Babygirl (in theaters 12/25) Another unusual choice for Christmastime is this provocative erotic thriller from writer/director Halina Reijn, starring Nicole Kidman as a CEO who has become sexually bored with her husband (Antonio Banderas) and pursues an affair with a much-younger male intern (the incandescently beautiful Harris Dickinson), which weaves a steamy cautionary tale about the treacherous dynamics of power and sexuality within a professional setting. Another Golden Lion contender at Venice, it’s garnered heavy praise both for Reijn’s direction and Kidman’s performance; so while it may not be the kind of family-friendly holiday film you’ll want to see with mom and dad, it’s definitely one worth sneaking out for on a solo excursion while the rest of the family is sleeping off that holiday meal.

Nosferatu (in theaters 12/25) Even less appropriate for the holiday season (well, at least this one) but eagerly awaited nonetheless, this remake of F.W. Murnau’s venerable silent classic – a 1922 German Expressionist masterpiece based on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” that is widely seen as the “granddaddy” of all vampire films – from always-buzzy filmmaker Robert Eggers (“The Witch,” “The Lighthouse”) is probably the perfect refresher after a month of cheer, festivities, sweetness, and light. Starring Bill Saarsgård as the sinister Count Orlok, with Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp as the couple whose lives he infiltrates and Willem Dafoe as the professor who becomes his nemesis, it brings the gothic tale “into the 21st century” (says Eggers) and emphasizes the twisted obsessions and infatuations that tie its characters together. Long-delayed and much-anticipated, this one is already a guaranteed must-see for anyone who loves the genre – so if you need a seasonal connection, you can always think of it as a holiday gift for horror fans.

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Events

Botitas World: the business brand aimed at building community

Cafécito and Comunidad, the event to gather in QTBIPOC community

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Zizi Bandera (they/them) and Ty Curiel (he/him), co-founded this brand as a trans and 'cuir,' movement of interdependence to invest in collective healing and well-being (Photo credit Gisselle Palomera)..

Zizi Bandera and Ty Curiel, came together to form what is now Botitas–a small business brand and organizing space for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color to celebrate and embrace identity, ethnicity and community. 

The co-founders of Saturday’s Botitas event Cafécito and Comunidad, say they had to close the RSVP’s because they reached capacity and were afraid of having issues with the Parks and Recreation Department that issues parking permits and sets a limit for the number of people allowed to gather at Elysian Park in Los Angeles. 

“It’s our first event here and it’s an amazing turnout,” said Bandera. “TikTok blew us up.”

Bandera referenced the TikTok video they posted announcing the event and says that they woke up the next morning to see that they had well over a hundred RSVP’s for the event that they expected would only have a couple dozen people. 

@botitas.world

🔗 IN BIO TO RSVP! We cannot wait to meet y’all!! #trans #gay #queer #latine

♬ La Danza de Los Mirlos – Los Mirlos
Video courtesy of botitas.world

“We had someone who is part of our community call up the councilmember for this district and was able to talk to whoever is in charge of Parks and Rec to OK more capacity,” said Bandera. “[Eunisses Hernandez, Councilmember CD-1] also got us the tables and permits.”

Bandera stresses that the amount of people who reserved a spot for the event comes to show the need for space like Botitas. 

“I thought it was going to be maybe fifteen, twenty people,” said Bandera. 

The space is held intentionally for the BIPOC community within the broader LGBTQ+ community, with the intention of centering BIPOC voices that can otherwise be erased, marginalized, sidelined or silenced in broader community conversations. 

“Our focus is to have these community spaces and to serve our trans Latine community in Los Angeles and beyond,” continued Bandera. “We thought about making this project a nonprofit, but we wanted to really have full agency and control over, in terms of the needs of our community.” 

Bandera says that going the nonprofit route has its own challenges and obstacles because of different stakeholders. They stress the importance of their community being the stakeholders in this business journey. 

Though the day was a bit gloomy with some light rain, many people gathered to mingle, chat and yap, along with some coffee at Elysian Park in Los Angeles this past Saturday (Photo Credit Gisselle Palomera).

“I’ve been working in community organizing, mobilizing around LGBTQ and immigrant issues for almost fifteen years now and I’ve always wanted to create something that was for us, led by us–queer, trans, Latine and intergenerational.” 

Bandera says that they were inspired to create this space for QTBIPOC because of a report released earlier this year pointing to a loneliness epidemic that disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ people over their heterosexual peers. 

The report states that ”…LGBTQ+ youth exhibit higher rates of loneliness, social isolation, and depressive symptoms than their heterosexual peers. Moreover, LGBTQ+ youth grappling with loneliness are less likely to reach out for help regarding their mental health concerns.’

The other co-founder of Botitas has different reasons to have started this business journey. 

“Botitas is one day today and another thing tomorrow,” Curiel said. “Our idea came from wanting to create a brand–something that you can wear when you’re out and about in the city. A brand that is backed by people who resonate with you as Latine folks, queer, trans and that’s what we are.” 

Curiel also states that the current state of politics also plays a major role in his idea to create Botitas. “We want to [create these spaces], especially in this time and age where there’s a rhetoric of people spreading hate.”

This event is in a public space, encouraging people who show up, to gather in a space that supports sobriety. The offerings included cafécito, pastries and games. 

Earlier this year during pride month, Curiel says he and Bandera were looking at historic news articles and photographs of LGBTQ+ life in Los Angeles during the 1950s and 60s, from an exhibit at the Central Library in DTLA, and that’s when it hit them both that none of the people in the photos looked like them. They did not feel represented. 

This moment urged them to reconsider what it means to them to feel represented, heard and seen–thus bringing about the idea for Botitas. 
Follow @Botitas.World on Instagram and TikTok to get more information on upcoming events.

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Arts & Entertainment

Uncovering the remarkable trans representation in Netflix’s ‘The Secret of the River’

Trinidad González stars as a transgender model, alongside La Bruja De Texcoco, a muxe elder

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(Screen capture via Netflix/YouTube)

“El Secreto Del Río,” or “The Secret of the River,” has made history as Trinidad González became the first transgender actress to star in a series by Netflix. 

The eight-episode series handles trans and gender nonconforming representation in the most beautiful and impactful way I’ve seen to date on any show or film–especially in a Spanish series, considering the gender identity and sexuality taboos that exist in Mexican culture. 

In a time in history where trans, gender nonconforming and intersex people are under attack and continue to face oppression when they demand basic human rights, this show beautifully and tactfully represents the true trials and tribulations that trans and gender nonconforming people experience throughout their lives–especially as children. 

Throughout the first four episodes, we get to know Manuel (Frida Sofía Cruz) and Erik (Mauro Guzmán). The two children–whose ages are not disclosed in the series–become friends, and after they experience a traumatic event that shifts their lives forever, they become even closer. 

The person who is involved in the traumatic event, is a cisgender, straight, man who proves to be the real villain of the show. He’s not only proudly an alcoholic, but he also tries to take advantage of one of the children. The way this unfolds, shows a side of Latin American culture that is hardly talked about. Many young children experience sexual assault at the hands of family members and close relatives and this issue is especially prevalent in Latin American and the Caribbean. According to a report by the National Library of Medicine, ‘… an estimated 58 percent of children 0 – 17 years of age in Latin America and the Caribbean (more than 99 million) experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse each year.’

When the series begins, Manuel, or Young Sicarú, is new to town and immediately faces rejection because of how feminine he presents. Seeing his femininity, his grandma encourages Manuel to learn about the muxes (pronounced MOO-shay‘s), who are feminine people that exist outside of the male or female gender binary in Zapotec culture and who are deeply respected by many–but not all. 

They are often the subject of scrutiny as a third gender, and this series clearly shows that the misogyny that exists in this culture is deeply embedded in the Western European concepts of gender binary and gender roles that are upheld at all costs even in Mexico. This involves a deeper discussion of colonization and imperialism that has forced these systems and ideologies on the indigenous communities that, prior to colonization, accepted third and even fourth genders.

Within a Christian and Western ideological framework, muxe’s are part of the LGBTQ+ community, which is actually quite inaccurate because that gender classification is not based on sexuality. According to an article on the subject, ‘individuals who identify with a cultural third gender are, in fact, acting within their gender or sex norm.’ 

This topic is explored in the episode where decades later, Gonzalez’s character returns to her hometown as Sicarú, the transfeminine model who returns not only to mourn the death of a close friend, but also to tie up the loose ends of her late grandmother’s abandoned property where another subplot unfolds. 

Going back to the first 4 episodes of the series, where Manuel and Erik are still children, we see the development of fear that unfolds for the two, as they attempt to navigate life after the traumatic experience they shared. 

Because of the nature of the events that unfolded, we learn why the 2 children feel as though they cannot trust an adult and be honest about what they witnessed. The children fear the justice system working against them, criminalizing them, rather than seeing them as the victims of the traumatic event. This intense fear is very real for Erik and it causes him to become withdrawn and somewhat depressed. This is a good learning point for parents and any adult in the lives of young children. Adults need to be a safe space for children, because if not, children are left alone to deal with the consequences and repercussions of situations that were most likely out of their control. They need to confide in adults and trust that we will keep them safe at all costs. 

The adult in Young Sicarú’s life who becomes this sort of fairy godparent, is Solange (La Bruja De Texcoco). She is a muxe elder and well-respected member in the Zapotec community. Outside of the series, she is also a musician and an activist for human rights. Young Sicarú takes guidance from Solange and the other muxe’s, who keep Young Sicarú safe from the people in town who cannot come to terms with the femininity that she later embraces. 

Jacinto (Jorge A. Jimenez), Erik’s father becomes the one of the series’ villains as he punishes his son for being friends with Young Sicarú, who the town perceives as a muxe, even before she is able to accept that identity. This show does a spectacular job at showing the various faces of machismo that is deeply embedded in Mexican culture and also the difference between muxe’s and transgender people. 

In the following 4 episodes of the series, decades pass and as mentioned before, Sicarú returns to the small town as a transfeminine woman who makes it clear to her muxe community that she does not identify as muxe. She identifies as a trans woman and has a conversation with her muxe community about the distinction between the two identities. 

She comes in hot. Both in looks and in character. Her character development is incredibly thought-out as we see her go from being a shy, scared child–to a confident woman who is so free in her identity, that she decides to use her freedom to help free others.

This is important to see unfold on-screen because this type of representation is hardly ever seen, much less on the level of discussion that actually has substance and depth. 

Trans people are hardly ever portrayed in a positive way that shows how they develop strength and courage as a survival mechanism and use that to enact positive change or leave behind a legacy of progress. 

Meanwhile, the case that had been closed for decades regarding the traumatic event that unfolded for Young Sicarú and Erik, is reopened by their childhood bully–who unironically becomes a crooked police officer as an adult. 

He reopens the case and comes to find out that Sicarú and Erik were involved in the death, making it his mission to harass Sicarú. 

Another villain. Another cisgender, straight, man with anger issues and deeply rooted misogyny. 

The fourth and final villain of the series, is the cisgender, straight, man who is keeping a young boy captive in the abandoned home of Sicarú’s late grandmother.  It turns out that he is involved in a sinister business with the town’s police force.

Here, we see the very intentional representation of what real groomers look like and they’re not trans.

Sicarú sees herself in the young child and feels as though it is her sacred duty to save him from the abusive and neglectful situation he is in. 

Another aspect of the series that was deeply moving and impactful, was the way that muxe’s deaths are handled in Zapotec culture. Because of Western European religious frameworks enforced on the indigenous communities, they believe that Muxe’s must go into the afterlife as either male or female and not a third gender. 

This brings up a very deep theme of afterlife and spirituality in relation to gender identity. This is a struggle for trans, gender nonconforming and intersex people as they exist in an identity their friends, family, society, culture or religion might not understand or accept. 

Finally, the more-than-platonic relationship that develops between Sicarú and Erik when they are older, is a great conversation point that was also handled with care. 

Erik is genuinely confused about his feelings toward Sicarú and the years of misogyny that were forced on him as he grew up, continue to shape his view of gender identity. In some scenes, we see Erik reflecting on what his father would tell him as a child.  Alberto Barrera, creator of the series, gives us a unique perspective into Erik’s internal battle by interchanging young Erik and adult Erik in the scenes to help visualize his internal battle. In this scene, we hear Jacinto reinforcing his machismo in the form of homophobia and transphobia toward young Erik. 

When they were both younger, they had a third friend in their friend group, Paulina (Yoshira Escarrega), who later becomes Erik’s fiance. She welcomes Sicarú back to town with open arms, only to feel betrayed by her when she finds her and Erik sharing a somewhat intimate moment. 

In that moment, Erik confesses his confusion toward accepting Sicarú’s transition and she doesn’t know what to do to make him understand that she is still the friend he’s always cared for. The two navigate a difficult situation in a way that provides the audience with a realistic view of the journey toward acceptance. 

There won’t be any spoilers here, but the ending suggests that there is more to come from this series, as a major problem comes to light that brings turmoil to the entire town.

Overall, this series touches on very serious subjects in a way that can begin to build bridges in the discussions about transfemicide, human rights, misogyny, violence toward children and what the journey toward healing our inner child looks like.

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Books

New book examines queer behavior among animals

‘A Little Queer Natural History’ reminds us of the facts of life

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(Book cover image courtesy of University of Chicago Press)

‘A Little Queer Natural History’
By Josh L. Davis
c.2024, University of Chicago Press
$16/128 pages

When you were a small child, someone taught you about the birds and the bees.

It might’ve been a parent or other adult who explained where babies come from, or another kid who filled your head with scary, exciting things that you believed until you learned better. However you learned the facts of life, it changed you forever and in the new book, “A Little Queer Natural History” by Josh L. Davis, there’s more to the wild story.

You are not alone. Just look around.

All kinds of creatures share the planet with us but, in the same way that you shouldn’t judge a person at first glance, you can’t jump to conclusions about those creatures. That’s especially true with sexual behavior. While we can’t rightly attribute human feelings or intentions to them – animals likely don’t understand gay from straight – we may assume “that most species of animal probably exhibit some form of queer behaviour.”

Take birds, for instance: early 20th century explorers noted the Adelie penguin for its male-male partnering activity. Female Western gulls often raise their chicks with female partners. Female pheasants may “present as males” if their estrogen is depleted.

As for mammals, Western lowland gorillas and bonobos both engage in sexual activity with either sex. Domestic sheep, hyenas, and giraffes also “could be considered to have a sexuality that we would define as homosexual or bisexual.”

And “When it comes to sex in plants,” says Davis, “all bets are off.”

Komodo dragons can reproduce through parthenogenesis, or without fertilization. Parrot fish are able to change sex if they need to. Morpho butterflies are gynandromorphs, having “both male and female tissue within… a single individual.” Castrated male cane toads will develop egg cells due to a “Bidder’s organ.” Even dinosaurs are included in this book.

“Despite sex often being viewed as a fundamental for life on Earth,” says Davis, “there is still a lot we don’t know about it and scientists are constantly learning more.”

When you first get “A Little Queer Natural History” in your hands, you’ll notice how whisper-thin it feels. Don’t let that fool you; the pages may be light, but what you’ll find is not.

Author Josh L. Davis stuffs each entry tight with real scientific information, and he uses actual scientific terms to do it. There’s zero dumbing-down in that, but Davis is quick to explain terms and ideas, which helps readers to completely understand what’s here. For sure, you’ll feel like a smarty-pants as you make your way through this book.

Readers, however, may scratch their heads and wonder why some of the entries are included – it may be a stretch to include fossilized creatures or male animals that care for their offspring, for instance. Chances are, though, that you’ll be so captured by the knowledge contained in each short chapter that you won’t mind.

“A Little Queer Natural History” is a smart book, perfect for quick reads at random at this busy time of year. If that’s what you need now, enjoying it’s a fact of life.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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Celebrity News

Ricky Martin to headline World AIDS Day concert in Miami

AIDS Healthcare Foundation event to take place on Dec. 2

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Ricky Martin (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Ricky Martin on Dec. 2 will headline the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s annual World AIDS Day Concert. 

The event will take place at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.

Every year, the AHF, the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, hosts its World AIDS Day Concert to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS, and bring attention to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The organization will host the concert one day after World AIDS Day, which takes place on Dec. 1. 

Ricky Martin — known globally as the “King of Latin Pop” — has long used his stardom to shed light on issues, having used his platform to advocate for and bring awareness to HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and LGBTQ rights. The Puerto Rico native came out as gay in 2010. 

“Ricky has shown a deep commitment to breaking stigma, educating youth, and empowering communities to take action,” the AHF said on a post on Instagram.

The event will also feature a performance by DJ Spinderella, a DJ and rapper, and the AHF Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Dr. Julio Frenk, the University of Miami’s outgoing president and chancellor-designate for UCLA. 

In the past, performers from Janet Jackson to Diana Ross to Mariah Carey have taken the stage at World AIDS Day events. Last year, the AHF presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to actor and activist Blair Underwood.

The concert is taking place in Miami, which has been at the center of the HIV epidemic. 

A 2019 study found Miami had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. Southern states in general continue to be disproportionately impacted by an increase in new diagnoses. 

“This concert isn’t just a celebration of lives saved and advances in treatment, it’s a call to action,” AHF said in a statement. “Together, we can raise awareness and support those affected by HIV/AIDS in Miami and beyond.”

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Movies

5 films about queer resistance to inspire you for the fight ahead

Lessons on activism and resilience that seem more crucial than ever

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An unlikely alliance leads to triumph in ‘Pride.’ (Photo courtesy of Pathé/BBC Films)

In times of trouble, movies can offer us a chance – temporarily, at least – to escape our worries. Sometimes, though, escape is not the answer. When the political climate turns stormy, they can also be a lifeline, connecting us with our history and helping us to clarify where we’ve been, where we need to go, and how we might manage to get there. With that in mind, here’s a list of great movies about LGBTQ activism, each with particular relevance to the cultural challenges we face as America braces itself for another round of Trumpism – because besides educating us about our past, they have the power to inspire us as we prepare to fight for our future.

Pride (2014) 

Perhaps ironically, the first title (and only non-documentary) on our list is not an American tale, but a true story from the UK, a fictionalized chronicle of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) – a group of LGBTQ activists who allied with striking coal miners in Thatcher-era Britain. Directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Stephen Beresford, it balances humor and gravitas as it follows a young, still-closeted student (George MacKay) and his involvement with a group of queer activists who decide to raise money to support Welsh miners impacted by the British Mining Strike of 1984. Despite initial hostility from the miners, a coalition is forged that lends strength to both causes, ultimately leading to the incorporation of gay and lesbian rights into the official Labour Party platform. An infectiously thrilling portrayal of the transformative power of solidarity, it’s a film that exemplifies the importance of intersectionality and the need for diverse marginalized communities to unite and take collective action against oppression. The message? We are stronger together than we are apart. Also starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Andrew Scott, it’s as entertaining as it is inspiring, a “feel-good” movie that also fires us up to stand firm against the forces of bigotry and repression.

The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)

No, we’re not dissing Gus Van Sant’s excellent 2008 biopic “Milk,” featuring Sean Penn’s star turn in the title role and Dustin Lance Black’s eloquent screenplay (both of which snagged Oscars), but for our purposes here, this documentary from director Rob Epstein – which won an Oscar itself – provides a less romanticized account of Milk’s life and work. The first openly gay elected official in California, he successfully fought against the discriminatory “Briggs Initiative” (famously championed by beauty-queen- turned-OJ-spokesmodel Anita Bryant), which sought to ban gay teachers in public schools, something that feels particularly relevant during a time when conservative American politicians are aggressively working to remove LGBTQ content from schools and erode queer representation in politics. Though his 1978 assassination alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone (by fellow City Supervisor and political rival Dan White) is probably a more familiar piece of history in the public imagination today, it’s the groundbreaking LGBTQ advocacy he spearheaded that forms the centerpiece of his enduring legacy, something that the tragedy of his martyrdom should not be allowed to overshadow. This moving, intimate documentary – which weaves archival footage and interviews into a compelling narrative about the intersections of politics and identity, reminds us of the stakes when marginalized voices go unrepresented by our legislators, and features narration from queer icon Harvey Fierstein – provides a more detailed and authentic look at the great work he accomplished during his short tenure than Van Sant’s fictionalized historical drama.

How to Survive a Plague (2012)

If any film on our list should be considered a “must-see,” it’s this widely acclaimed documentary from filmmaker David France, which chronicles the activism of ACT UP and TAG during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Through archival footage and testimonials, it follows the real-life activists who fought for medical treatments and government accountability in a time when their community was suffering a devastating loss, highlighting key figures like Peter Staley and Larry Kramer and providing a powerful portrait of a relentless advocacy effort that turned despair into action. With its themes of grassroots activism and equitable public health care, France’s auspicious directorial debut resonates deeply in today’s world, as queer communities face challenges in access to gender-affirming care and reproductive rights; seeing the tactics used by organizations like ACT UP to hold institutions accountable, modern activists can gain valuable insights about how to conduct strategic resistance against legislative attacks and discriminatory policies in public health care.

Call Me Kuchu (2012)

Not as well-known but equally resonant as the other films on our list, this doc from directors Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall follows LGBTQ activists in Uganda, a country where homosexuality is criminalized, centering around the story of David Kato – the self-proclaimed “first gay man in Uganda.”After returning home from South Africa, where he “discovered gay life” for the first time, he started a non-profit LGBTQ organization  (Sexual Minorities Uganda) to “spread the word about homosexuality” and track instances of homophobia in his country; he went on to became a fearless advocate for queer rights, facing immense personal and legal persecution before ultimately losing his life to anti-gay violence. The film also tracks efforts by the Ugandan government to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was partially orchestrated through the influence of U.S.-based Christian conservatives at a workshop funded by the American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, and was condemned internationally as the “Kill the Gays Bill,” due to its inclusion of a death penalty clause. Though its focus is on an African nation, the film has clear relevance to the global struggle for queer acceptance, warning against the advancement of anti-LGBTQ ideologies by hate groups “protecting traditional values” under the guise of religion, and reminding us of how the fight for queer rights is interconnected worldwide.

Paris Is Burning (1990)

Jennie Livingston’s documentary delving into New York City’s drag ball culture of the 1980s is now iconic, a celebrated queer classic that immortalizes a deeply influential social scene and illuminates the lives of Black and Latino queer individuals as they try to navigate systemic racism, homophobia, and poverty, with an emphasis on their artistry, their resilience, and the “chosen families” they gather around themselves. Featuring a host of ballroom legends (Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, Venus Xtravaganza, and more), it reveals stories of both triumph and tragedy while amplifying the experience of queer joy; it would later provide inspiration for Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking series “Pose” – but more importantly, this essential LGBTQ classic highlights the inequities that persist in society today, when drag culture faces legislative attacks and trans women of color continue to be disproportionately targeted by violence,

Each of these films offers essential insights on queer resistance, illuminating the ongoing struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ communities. As we face a reinvigorated attack on queer rights under a hostile administration, they offer us lessons on solidarity, activism, and resilience that suddenly seem more crucial than ever.

Watch and learn, children, because you might now be our only hope.

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Celebrity News

Illinois Supreme Court overturns Jussie Smollett’s conviction in hate crime hoax

Ruling cites due process violation, did not address actor’s guilt

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Jussie Smollett (Photo by Starfrenzy via Bigstock)

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction on charges that he staged and lied to the police about being the victim of a homophobic and racist hate crime in 2019. 

The court ruled the actor should not have been prosecuted again after he had already reached a deal with prosecutors to resolve the case. 

However, the ruling did not address whether Smollett was innocent of staging the hate crime, as he has continued to claim, overturning the conviction on the grounds that the second prosecution was a due process violation. 

“We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust,” Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the court’s 5-0 opinion, referring to the initial deal Smollett had reached. “Nevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the state was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.”

In 2019, the “Empire” star claimed he had been physically attacked by two men in a homophobic and racist hate crime. He told Chicago police that they had put a noose around his neck, yelled slurs, and told him that he was in “MAGA country” during the attack. 

He initially received an outpouring of support, particularly from the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. But police soon charged him with filing a false report, alleging he had staged the attack as part of a hoax. 

Prosecutors controversially dismissed the initial charges in exchange for community service and the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. After public outcry, a special prosecutor recharged Smollett with the same offenses in 2020. 

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday found this second prosecution violated the deal initially reached by the state, as well as Smollett’s due process rights. 

In 2021, a Cook County jury found Smollett guilty on the charges the special prosecutor had brought against him, and he was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of probation, along with a $120,000 restitution payment to the city of Chicago for the overtime costs incurred by police investigating his initial hate crime claim.

He only served six days in jail before he was released upon appealing his case. An Illinois Appellate Court upheld his guilty verdict last year, after which he appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. 

In a Washington Blade interview in September, Smollett addressed his conviction, denying that he had staged the attack.

“I know what happened and soon you all will too,” he told the Blade.

Asked to address the concern among some in the LGBTQ+ community that his case would discredit victims of hate crimes and make it more difficult to report future such crimes, he responded, “If someone reported a crime and it wasn’t the truth, that would actually make it more difficult [to report future crimes], but I didn’t. Any belief that they have about the person that I’ve been played out to be, sure, but that person is not me, never has been. So I stand with my community. I love my community and I protect and defend my community until I’m bloody in my fist.” 

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