Questioning our identity through our personal value systems cannot be undervalued, and this isn’t just for young people — everyone needs to take stock of who they think they are in a world that’s changing so rapidly. We don’t know what the answers are, but we know that there are questions, and I think we have to ask these questions of ourselves.
I think my own personal journey moving through this world has governed everything that’s gone into my work and aesthetic. My overarching research is about identity and the self, and I think I’ve always been on a search for the self. I’m filled with memories of being in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and thinking how happy I was to leave and to ‘find’ myself in London. After years of searching, what I’ve discovered is that the self is not found, but created; that you are everything and nothing all at once and that this search only illuminates not a concrete self, but an ever-changing one.”
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Fletcher launched his label in 2016 and recently returned to the LFW digital schedule with his first genderless collection.
“I was a late bloomer, it took me a long time to accept my sexuality. I didn’t feel like I was hiding or pretending, but I had just convinced myself that it wasn’t a thing until I was 20 and I moved to London to study. I met people like me and realised it was time to confront this and be who I was.
I was never afraid to try out a trend when I was growing up: you should have seen some of my emo and nu rave looks in my teens. I can’t imagine the damage that my hairspray consumption has done to our ozone layer! I always went for it when I tried something. As I have grown up, though, and become more comfortable with who I am and discovered my own identity, my style choices have mellowed as I have become comfortable with who I am. I’ve found the older I get the more comfortable I am with sexuality and gender, and in turn I’ve tried to educate myself in queer history. This has undoubtedly fed into my work as a designer. The queer community has had a very definite influence in my design and aesthetic, and the blurring of gender boundaries within dressing has been a recurring theme within my Daniel W Fletcher collections over the past few years. Clothes don’t have gender, a shirt is a shirt, a jacket is a jacket, I don’t see the need to put labels on them.
People should be free to live their own lives, and be who they are without fear of judgement or persecution, the queer community needs to lead the way with this and educate our allies so we can all live in a more peaceful, caring world, where anyone is free to live the life they choose. Don’t worry about what any one else thinks, all it will do is hold you back and stop you discovering your true self. There’s no rush, every person’s journey is different, you have your whole life ahead of you to figure this stuff out, so just concentrate on enjoying your youth, you’ll miss it once it’s gone!”
Reed is a new graduate of Central Saint Martins. Originally from California, they now call London home.
Mashable is celebratingPride Monthby exploring the modern LGBTQ world, from the people who make up the community to the spaces where they congregate, both online and off.
If you’ve been on TikTok long enough, you’re probably familiar with Alt TikTok. If you haven’t heard of that term before, it’s probably because you’re on Straight TikTok.
TikTok is notorious for its viral dances, lip synced “acting,” and uncomfortably horny POV videos in which the user pretends to take the audience out on dates.
But on another side of the platform, which algorithmically recommends content based on each user’s preferences, is “Alt TikTok.” Also known as “Gay TikTok,” “Beans TikTok,” or “Elite TikTok,” the subsect rejects mainstream trends in favor of surreal humor and alternative aesthetics. Shaped by the dredges of emo culture and the heavy Dadaist influence of its millennial predecessors, Alt TikTok embodies all that is queer.
And it’s no wonder that many LGBTQ users find themselves on Alt TikTok; queer culture has been intertwined with alternative aesthetics for decades. Finding community with others rejected by the mainstream is deeply rooted in LGBTQ history.
On Alt TikTok, a stuffed Kermit bathed in red light swings from a ceiling fan as ominous music bellows below it. In another video, a person in stunning green hair clad in leather lip syncs, “Lemme get this straight,” before the TikTok transitions to them wearing a basic tank top and jeans with no makeup. They gag at the sight of their own “normie” appearance as the opening bars of Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know The Better” begins. In a video with 475,000 likes, another user writes, “What straights alt tiktok is” as she mouths altered lyrics to Doja Cat’s “Cyber Sex.” Then the music changes to a cover of “Ameno,” a song generated by virtual Vocaloid artist Hatsune Miku, and kicks off a slideshow of Elmo burning and former president Barack Obama superimposed on a banana.
“Ameno” is now a wildly popular sound on the app, and is often associated with Alt Tiktok’s more surreal videos, including ones poking fun at Elon Musk and Grimes for naming their baby X Æ A-XII.
Una Smoole, a 19-year-old student in San Diego, went viral on the platform for her video imagining what she would look like if she was straight. Her video was viewed more than 2.8 million times, and the sound from her video is used in thousands of videos from LGBTQ users similarly imagining what they would look like if they were heterosexual. The reimagined versions of themselves are nearly all depicted in a negative light: boring, mainstream, and basic.
“We are already alternative,” Smoole said in a Facetime interview with Mashable. “Of course you can be fucking straight and like golf or whatever, no one’s saying you can’t do that. But I think there’s something that goes hand in hand with already not fitting the mainstream in some aspect, so you cling to the non-mainstream.”
She noted that as an adolescent, she often rejected what was popular in her Catholic middle school: brand-name clothing, looking preppy, and listening to Top 40s. Smoole is not the only young person who felt her identity manifest in external expression — that feeling is virtually universal.
In his book Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity, queer theorist José Muñoz reminisces about growing up in the outskirts of Miami as a queer person of color, and how punk music helped him come to terms with his identity.
“Punk made my own suburban quotidian existence radical and experimental — so experimental that I could imagine and eventually act on queer desires,” Muñoz wrote. “Punk rock style may look apocalyptic, yet its temporality is nonetheless futuristic, letting young punks imagine a time and a place where their desires are not toxic.”
“Queer belongings,” as Muñoz phrases it, have long been rooted in punk music. The 1980s not only birthed ballroom culture, but also Queercore, a punk rock movement formed by members of the LGBTQ community as a rejection of society’s expectations of “normal.”
Beyond the music itself, members of the Queercore movement established communities that encouraged anything but the mainstream. The documentary Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution dives into how the movement’s prominent members established the offshoot of punk music. One of the resounding mantras of the movement was, “Heterosexuality is the opiate of the masses.”
“[We were] refusing to be part of the status quo, refusing to accept the mantle of so-called normalcy,” Genesis P-Orridge said in the documentary.
P-Orridge was the lead vocalist of the band Throbbing Gristle who used the pronouns s/he and h/er. H/er presence in the avant-garde scene gained the name “Godparent of Industrial Music.”
So it’s natural that after decades of rejecting and being rejected by the status quo, as P-Orrdige put it, young queer people would reflect that sentiment on whatever platform their generation uses most.
Immersing myself in the alternative…made coming to terms with my queerness feel more natural.
I, a cusper who teeters on the divide between Gen Z and millennials, had Tumblr as a teenager. My dashboard was an eclectic mix of fanfiction, indie music, and reblogs of people sporting gorgeous neon hair and a multitude of piercings. Rejecting the mainstream was subconscious, but I found myself gravitating away from traditional clothing choices and popular music long before I figured out my sexuality. Immersing myself in the alternative, like Muñoz writes, made coming to terms with my queerness feel more natural.
And like the divide between the two sides of TikTok, Tumblr faced its own division between two types of users. In 2013, at the height of Tumblr’s popularity, users were torn between “hipster Tumblr,” dominated by aesthetic edits and music suggestions, and “fandom Tumblr,” which thrived on fanfiction, alternate universe pairings of characters from Firefly and Doctor Who, and artwork depicting scenes from their favorite series. Those on hipster Tumblr detested those on fandom Tumblr, and vice versa. Twitter sees a divide between the “online” and the “locals,” the latter of whom are considered “normie” and bland. Sexuality may not be the dividing factor for these other platforms, but there was still a distinct elitism among those who didn’t align with mainstream ideals. On TikTok, falling on the LGBTQ spectrum and presenting alternative aesthetics swim in the same pool of content.
Much like “local Twitter” or “fandom Tumblr,” Straight TikTok is often oblivious of the fact that it’s ridiculed by its alternative peers. A sound made by a member of Alt TikTok was used for a dance routine by more mainstream TikTokers Ondrea and Tony Lopez. The sound is a mashup of several sounds, including a Spongebob quote and an iPhone ringtone. As TikTok user riotgrrll pointed out in a duet with the Lopez brothers, the sound was made to make fun of Straight Tiktok’s affinity for dancing to “literally anything” and its creator was proven right.
There’s a sense of reclaiming what made them weird from those who were ostracized. The elitism comes from years of not being included.
“Every school has that little community, not that everybody’s gay, but everybody’s a little different,” Smoole continued. “I feel like I’ve observed that for so long, that there was a time of not being able to understand why I couldn’t be a part of [the normal kids.]”
And one doesn’t have to be part of the LGBTQ community to find themselves on Alt TikTok, as one self-identified straight woman in a long-term relationship with a man pointed out in a video from late May realized. TikTok’s shadowy algorithm is something of a Sorting Hat, in determining which side of TikTok users belong to. She likely continued to engage with videos on Alt Tiktok, until her For You Page was only made up of LGBTQ content. In the video, which now has 152,600 views, user squidward_tortellini, playing her TikTok algorithm, asks herself, “Why are you gay?”
“Who says I’m gay?” she responds.
“You are gay,” the algorithm affirms, as she dances under the words, “TikTok continuing to give me that elite shit.”
Nia Stanford, an 18-year-old student and communications intern in New Jersey, had the opposite experience. In an Instagram DM, she explained that while she came out in the eighth grade, she didn’t begin experimenting with her style until her junior year of high school. At the time she wanted to emulate e-girl aesthetics. She attributes that desire to the new content she was consuming online — before using TikTok, she was surrounded by mainstream trends.
“There is a sense of pride in claiming stake in otherness.”
A TikTok she posted describing roller skating sensation Ana Coto as the “intersection” between straight TikTok and Alt TikTok went viral with 72,000 likes because she appeals to both heterosexual and LGBTQ users. There’s a sense of elitism on Alt TikTok, like being in on a secret joke that those who wear Brandy Melville and dance to Doja Cat don’t understand. Those who can laugh at weird humor, like on department store TikTok or beans TikTok, were in on the joke. Like Queercore, Alt TikTok is rooted in a firm rejection of the mainstream.
“Alt culture usually comes with strife — feelings of rejection from mainstream culture, interpersonal struggles, identity issues…This also results in resentment towards the mainstream culture,” Stanford said. “So to be associated with that can feel like erasure or like assimilating into a culture you resent and that has rejected you. There is a sense of pride in claiming stake in otherness.”
No matter where you fall on the sexuality spectrum, there’s probably a place for you on Alt TikTok — at least, if the algorithm decides you’re worthy of it.
Uribe’s fall 2020 show, which was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus, was to be staged in Los Angeles (where he currently finds himself under lockdown) and was planned as something of a homecoming for the designer. “A lot of people went through the same thing, but you just have to find new ways to move forward,” Uribe adds. Undeterred, the Gypsy Sport team are currently scouring social media for new, international faces to be part of a digital fashion show to debut the collection sometime in July, with Uribe spending many hours a day chatting with fans of the label over Instagram Live — a luxury that he wouldn’t usually have time for, and that has only served to deepen the conversation between the brand and its fans.
“Before, we were focusing on locations like New York and Los Angeles, but now we’re opening up worldwide. We’re hosting conversations at times that suit Australia, for example, where we found out that we had a huge fanbase, or Singapore and parts of Asia where we also have a lot of fans.” (Uribe notes that he’s even put up a map in his studio and begun marking parts of the world where there are higher concentrations of customers and supporters.) It’s also served an opportunity for the wider Gyspy Sport community to learn more about the brand, and how Uribe and his team authentically uphold its core values. “I think when people see me and my team, and that we are all different colors, sizes, cultures, sexualities, and genders, it really helps you understand the message of the brand entirely,” Uribe adds.
This increasingly global outlook reflected in the brand’s offering for Pride month. While the rainbow serves as a running motif in his designs all year round, there was a dedicated Pride collection in the works this year that also was abandoned after the brand’s factories were closed. No matter for Uribe. With trademark ingenuity, he and his team have been sourcing artisanal pieces from around the world adorned with rainbow colors, from jewelry to woven baskets, and with all profits donated to youth housing programs at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Instead of selling Gypsy Sport clothes, he’s creating a curated Gypsy Sport thrift store, of sorts, for the occasion—a reflection of his ongoing commitment to welcoming his diverse range of collaborators inside the house he’s created.
“I think we’re only just getting started, and I hope eventually the fashion industry will be completely equal,” Uribe concludes. “There are so many types of people in the world and different types of beauty. Even in representing trans or queer or fat people, you might still be forgetting disabled or indigenous people, for example. One lesson we can learn right now is that maybe not every brand has to be for every person, but that the fashion industry has a whole can still represent everyone.”
This Pride Season, put your money where your mouth is and support LGBTQ+ businesses. And, no, I’m not talking about mega-corporations that play at inclusivity to make a quick buck off our identities. I’m talking about capital Q queer brands owned, operated, and powered by members of our community.
Need help finding a queer enterprise to get behind? No worries, we’ve got you! Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, from gender-free clothing brands to coffee roasters, jewelry purveyors, shoe shops, and more. Check ‘em out and show ‘em some love this Pride and beyond!
Gender-free activism and fashion meet in the effortlessly cool, New York-based sensibility of The Phluid Project. With an emphasis on community and education, this brand serves up a lot of substance and plenty of style.
Queer folks in search of delectable accessories need look no further than Bianca’s Design Shop. The online store sells a plethora of groovy pins, totes, mugs, and patches that allow its customers to live Pride out loud 365 days a year.
LA-based A Tribe Called Queer sells a ton of awesome t-shirts, hats, and totes. This could be a great brand for any queer politicos out there as many of the products feature progressive slogans, thoughts, and ideas.
Black-, Queer- and Women-owned Stuzo Clothing is a mainstay for queer folks looking to snag fierce gender-free fashions. From graphic t-shirts to stylish joggers, this brand truly has something for everyone.
If you’re looking to buy some rad eyewear, consider shopping at Coco and Breezy. Founded in 2009 by twin designers Corianna and Brianna Dotson, this queer- and Black-owned brand has been featured in Vogue and repped by none other than the late musical genius Prince.
Dapper shoppers may want to take a look at Bowtie Behavior, a self-described “Female Owned Bowtie Company” that creates gender neutral designs for a largely queer clientele. If you’ve been aching to shake up the way you do black tie, this could be an excellent option for you.
Automatic Gold is a queer- and trans-owned jewelry brand that pairs chic gold accessories with deeply radical inclusion, from the models featured in photo shoots to the leaders powering the business. Could be a great fit for folks interested in brands that talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
For some gender-neutral footwear, take a peek at Matriarch. Owned by a pair of sisters, this brand is all about rupturing the binary by designing shoes that can be worn by all gender identities and expressions.
Otherwild is your one-stop shop for all things home, fashion, and beauty. The queer-owned brand sells a ton of different products, all of which are super trendy and cute. So, the next time you need a new face serum and an adorable mug, give this brand a look!
Wanna get your nosh on while supporting a queer-owned business? Then take a gander at Five North Chocolate. This certified LGBT enterprise is all about plant-based snacking chocolate, which is as good for you as it is for Mother Nature.
Queer coffee lovers should definitely take a peek at Maryland-based coffee brand Dublin Roasters Coffee. Though the brand prides itself on being a local favorite, it does ship nationwide, so get into these beans, honey!
The association found that there was a strong desire to resume travel in 2020 once global timelines and safety protocols have been established.
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Two-thirds (66 percent) of global LGBTQ+ respondents said they would feel comfortable traveling for leisure before the end of the year. September was the most popular choice.
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“Previous studies have shown our community to be a resilient and loyal travel segment with a tendency to travel more than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts,” said John Tanzella, IGLTA president and CEO. “We wanted to document their sentiments during this particularly challenging moment in time to remind the tourism industry at large that LGBTQ+ travelers should be a valued part of their recovery plans. Messages of inclusion have the potential to resonate even more strongly with LGBTQ+ travelers now.”
In the U.S., data was benchmarked against MMGY’s research and showed a higher likelihood of those identifying as LGBTQ+ to resume travel activities in the next six months when compared to travelers at large.
The survey also found that COVID-19 has not changed opinions on where and how to travel. Nearly half (46 percent) said they would not change the types of destinations they choose to visit after the coronavirus situation is resolved, reflecting a high degree of destination loyalty amid the uncertainty. While 27 percent of respondents are still undecided, only about 27 percent said they would change their destination choices.
When it comes to flying, LGBTQ+ travelers are more comfortable with traveling on shorter flights. Forty-three percent said they would be likely to take a flight shorter than three hours long in the next six months. Thirty-six percent said they would take a three- to six-hour flight, and 25 percent said they would take a long-haul flight (more than six hours).
When benchmarked against nationwide data from MMGY, LGBTQ+ travelers were more likely to engage in activities such as staying at a resort or traveling internationally and taking domestic trips.
Fifty percent of LGBTQ+ travelers said they would stay at a hotel or resort versus 31-36 percent of U.S. travelers at large. Condos or vacation homes were also more popular among the LGBTQ+ community. Thirty percent would stay in a vacation home or condo in the next six months. Fifty-six percent said they would take a domestic or leisure trip and 24 percent said that they would travel internationally.
U.S. travelers as a whole were more likely to take a cruise than LGBTQ+ travelers. Approximately 13 percent of U.S. travelers said they would take a cruise in the next six months versus 11 percent of LGBTQ+ travelers.
LGBTQ+ were also more likely to take group trips (18 percent vs. 12 percent) and visit an amusement park (16 percent vs. 15 percent).
Thirty-one percent said that they would attend a Pride event or LGBTQ+ festival in the next six months.
A gym in Armstrong is facing backlash over its business cards, which depict a ‘straight pride’ logo on the back.
An image of Fitness 2 Life’s card has been shared on Facebook more than 150 times – but owner Peter Nenasheff says he hasn’t seen the comments because he doesn’t have a Facebook account.
Called on Thursday, he said use of the straight pride logo is “freedom of his expression,” and he didn’t mean for it to come across as hateful.
“I do not have any problems with anyone who comes and uses the gym. All people are welcome here,” said Nenasheff. “It’s frustrating to hear about what people are saying about me online, because I’m not racist or homophobic at all.”
Nenasheff says Fitness 2 Life is inclusive to all, and anyone can sign up to be a member. He views the straight pride logo as an expression of himself.
“I am a heterosexual, and you see everyone pushing gay pride, which is fine,” he says. “If someone wants to put straight pride on their business cards, I don’t understand why that would be an issue. If I had a gay pride symbol, would people get offended?”
While the logo may be perceived by some as a harmless expression of self, those who identify as LGBTQI+ can find the logo discriminatory, and sometimes even unsafe.
“When a business puts up a rainbow sticker, it shows that this is a safe and welcoming place,” says Dawn Tucker, a longtime advocate of the North Okanagan LGBTQI+ community. “A straight pride logo is perceived by people in our community as discriminatory, and it comes across that his gym is not a safe environment for minorities.”
Tucker hopes that the incident is just a big misunderstanding, and that the logo didn’t come from a place of hate or homophobia.
“I hope that the business card logo only comes from a lack of education and awareness of what pride actually means, and the connotations that can come with straight pride logos,” she says. “People can run their businesses how they choose, but I’m not sure if his messaging is coming across how he intended.”
A large number of Facebook users took exception to the logo, sounding off in the comments.
“It’s actually disgusting to me. I’m glad people also see this for what it is,” wrote Joshua Schutte. “It’s not OK to be blatantly discriminatory nowadays, you will be called out… and it’s embarrassing that people don’t know that already.”
“Imagine being so bigoted that you think you’re oppressed because others have equal rights,” wrote Abbie Rose Wilson.
While the vast majority were opposed to the cards, there were a few who weren’t so critical.
“It’s out in the open, and you can choose to go there or not if his beliefs aren’t in line with yours,” said Shantelle Juffs. “Go find a different gym. I’m sure there are many that openly advertise LGBT pride.”
Cherry Hill Coffee, a supplier to the gym, had its logo used on the front of the business card without consent and has taken swift action to distance itself.
“We did not give the owner permission to use our logo on his business cards, and since it is a registered logo we may pursue further action,” said president David Bigelow. “The straight pride logo has no affiliation with our company, and Cherry Hill Coffee opposes the use of the logo and what it represents.”
Bigelow says he visited Fitness 2 Life this morning and asked for all the business cards that had their logo on it, and adds that Nenasheff was co-operative.
LGBT Pride is coming to Animal Crossing, as part of the Global Pride, the first worldwide LGBT event, being held at the end of Pride Month.
Animal Crossing is already all kinds of adorable. And now the creative agency We Are Social is bringing queer cute overload to Animal Crossing, with its first Pride:
“With the cancellation of physical Pride events around the world, we wanted to provide a way for people to be able to participate in celebrations wherever they are,” Arnaud Robin, Innovations Director at We Are Social Singapore tells me.
“Pride is an important event for many–often, it gives hope, as well as a sense of community and belonging. There was a thriving LGBTI+ community on Animal Crossing already, so it was the perfect opportunity for this to happen.”
The Animal Crossing Pride festival is hoping to galvanize players to join in the celebrations and host their Pride parades on their own islands.
A notion the company notes will provide particular hope to those who have never been able to join in a Pride celebration for whatever reason. And indeed, many who might have been hoping to attend their first Pride this year.
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“Digital events like this allow us to reach so many people in the safety of their own space. Many of whom may not have had the chance to experience Pride before due to any number of reasons,” Robin adds.
We Are Social have built a Pride island, which has a rainbow march, message board, hall of fame, club and a catwalk, as well as a range of Pride-friendly clothing options that you can wear in the game.
As Global Pride takes to YouTube for a 24-hour broadcast, created with content from Pride events being forced to cancel because of coronavirus, Twitch creators from around the world will be live stream their Animal Crossing game session and host Pride activities on their own island too.
The Twitch streamers will be raising funds for Global Pride and Pride organizations impacted by Covid-19.
“In this period when communities around the world remain separated as a result of lockdowns, #GlobalPrideCrossing provides a common safe space for people of any gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity who are part of LGBT+ and ally communities to celebrate Pride,” We Are The Social adds.
You can get HRC inspired Pride Tshirts in the Pride Inside toolkit
HRC
And they aren’t the only ones who have been bringing together LGBT lovers of the hugely popular game.
The Animal Crossing Fashion Channel YouTube channel has brought together some of the best designs users have created in the game:
To use these custom design codes by other users and HRC, you’ll need to unlock the Able Sisters clothing store to your island.
To do that you’ll need to have upgraded your house from a tent, brought five other neighbours to the island.
Then, iMore recommends you spend 5000 bells on at least five items from Mable’s pop up shop to persuade her there is enough reason for her to open a shop on your island.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll even be able to import designs that allow you to build your own rainbow crossings, or apply them to other customizable furniture.
Beauty expert, plant daddy, and fitness guru Bretman Rock is infectiously hilarious, it’s no wonder why has garnered a huge following for his online videos. The Philippine-born digital creator’s name stems from two of his father’s favorite wrestlers — Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — and the resulting portmanteau is a decidedly Filipino baby naming convention.
We caught up with him between squat reps, science vids, and tending to his growing garden to talk about his love for Crocs shoes, get a bit of fitness advice, and his unique experience growing up as a gay immigrant.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.
Jian DeLeon: What’s up with this insane home gym setup you have?
Bretman Rock: Let me tell you about my fitness journey. If you’ve been following me, you know I’ve always been like skinny. I actually got skinny because track happened in high school, and I would always be running, so I never gained weight. When I graduated, I discovered a little bit of Mary Jane — and sometimes you be craving things. One thing led to another and I got a little thicker, and I was like, “Okay, the fat needs to go somewhere.”
So I started doing CrossFit and hired two trainers. I train Crossfit two times a week, and I do body training, body weights, and Olympic training three times a week. If I’m in the mood — which is honestly never — I try to run on the weekends.
JD: You also showed off your “designer room” which I imagine is full of dope gear. People aren’t really up on Hawaii’s advanced shopping game with places like Ala Moana.
BR: Yes! That’s so funny that you said that. I was looking through my comments and everyone was like: “How do you get like expensive clothes there?” I’m like, “We have shops here. I don’t live in a fucking grass shack, girl.”
JD: Do you shop a lot in Hawaii? What’s the local fashion scene like?
BR: I’ve been living bicoastal, so a lot of my shopping happens in Hawaii, but most of my clothes are in my L.A. apartment. Hawaii people, they don’t care. I could literally be wearing like a Louis Vuitton bag, but no one would really care.
People here, we don’t really dress out. But in L.A., everything is very show-y. That’s really where you wear all of your designer stuff. But honestly, we do have cooler stuff here. I don’t have to compete too much with people when it comes to getting things.
JD: One thing that you are flexing hard, though, is Crocs.
BR: Girl. Period. The Croc thing was honestly like, a joke. I posted a video of me testing out a TikTok viral trend where you see if you have an ass or not. People saw me wearing Crocs and I got so much fucking hate. I’ve never gotten more hate in my life than about wearing Crocs. I was like: “Fuck you, bitches. I’m going to buy all the fucking colors of Crocs.” Now, I have every color of Crocs. These bitches are mad.
JD: Do you have any Crocs grails you haven’t gotten yet? What about the Balenciaga collaboration?
BR: Don’t tell me about it, because I’m going to be up all night looking for them! I also really want to find those strawberry Crocs that all of the fashion girls are wearing.
JD: Moving on to your gardening habit, what are some good starter plants?
BR: I feel like every plant person will tell you this, but you literally cannot kill snake plants. If you kill snake plants, please, do not ever get yourself any plant at all. Just give up. Snake plants are so easy. You literally cannot water for them like a whole month, and they’ll still live. They’ll probably thank you for not watering them. You can keep them in the fucking closet in the dark, and they’ll still thrive. I would say snake plants.
If you really want to flex on these hoes and really act like you know what you’re talking about, I would get some pothos or something like that, because they’re also really hard to kill. They’re like low maintenance. I can go on and on about what plants you need. But I would say snake plants and pothos would have to be my top two beginners plant, if you have a brown thumb.
JD: Of course. June is Pride Month in many places, and May was Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. One perspective we don’t see represented a lot is the experiences of gay immigrants. Were there any challenges you faced in finding your niche and being your best self?
BR: To be honest with you, when I moved to America, I was almost ashamed of my culture. It’s as if I almost didn’t want people to know I was Filipino. I was trying to be whitewashed so bad because I felt like that’s what was needed for me to be accepted in America. I didn’t want to speak my native tongue or be called a FOB.
Then on top of that, I was gay as hell. Growing up, I realized that it was like a superpower. Knowing a language is one thing, but knowing multiple is another. I said this before, and I will say it again: English is the easiest language to motherfucking learn. My ass moved here in third grade speaking more fluently than bitches that grew up in America!
JD: One of the reasons your fans love you and people appreciate you is because you’re so confident and live your life in a way in you don’t really give a fuck what other people think. What’s some advice for people to fully embrace who they are?
BR: I’m this confident because of the environment that I grew up in. My parents were so accepting of me being gay at a very young age. I remember I was four years old and my mom and dad bought me this toy truck, and inside the truck were like Barbies in it. It makes me so emotional when I get comments from other queer kids saying: “Oh, my parents didn’t accept me,” because I only imagine what that’s like.
My biggest advice is — and I hate saying this, because I feel like it’s so cliché — you just genuinely have to be yourself. Everything takes time. I was fortunate enough to have parents and a family that loved me and encouraged me to be myself.
Stay tuned for new episodes of Vibe Check every Tuesday and Thursday.
Creating a community of strength athletes for yourself when you’re a queer lifter can be… complicated. Transphobia and homophobia in strength sports, well, it’s not non-existent. There’s the gendered competition categories that often exclude trans and nonbinary lifters, the occasional ableism, and the kind of “old fashioned” views that tend to fester in spaces where traditional “men should be big and strong” ideals prevail.
Figuring out your place on the platform can be tough. But you can definitely tap into LGBTQ+ communities in strength sports, and not just during Pride Month. If you’re a queer lifter, you’ve got resources and community available to you 365 days a year.
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Benefits of Strength Sports for LGBTQ+ People
Strength sports are an excellent source of joy, empowerment, and confidence-building for so many people, not to mention the physical and mental health boosts a solid lifting session (or several) will give you.
But for LGBTQ+ people in particular, getting your barbell on can be an extra-important part of your athletic adventures.
Mental Health
The more LGBTQ+ people experience interpersonal and structural queerphobia, the worse LGBTQ+ mental health becomes, according to The Trevor Project’s 2019 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. As fitness lovers have long-since known, working out can be very useful for improving your mental health (despite those paradoxical days when your mental health makes working out feel impossible).
As an LGBTQ+ lifter, you’ll give yourself all the mental health benefits of working out, which includes reduced stress, better sleep, and increased serotonin — not to mention that lift (see what I did there?) in confidence when you pull a heavy deadlift.
The more satisfied you feel with your own body, the less other people’s transphobia will take a toll on your mental health, according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.(1) By studying the mental health of over 200 trans women and their experiences of transphobia-based violence, researchers found that making sure trans people have access to body-affirming care (including gender confirmation therapies) helps mitigate some of the mental health effects of structural transphobia. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can confidence your way out of oppression — but it does suggest that developing a better relationship with your body can help improve your mental health as a trans human in a transphobic society.
As a transmasculine powerlifter — with a bunch of trans friends who lift — I know that the empowerment that comes from getting under a barbell that weighs much more than you is… immense. If you’ve lifted and have loved it, no matter your gender, you probably know the sensation of literal empowerment I’m talking about. For me and a bunch of trans lifting pals, strength sports create a connection with your body that is more about what you can do than what you can look like or what gender people assume you are. For me, lifting has massively decreased my dysphoria, which is another great advantage of lifting for trans folks.
Sure, you step onto the platform alone and meet your competition commands by your lonesome. But training is rarely a solitary endeavor. Think your training buddy, your coach, your spotters, and if you make use of the resources below you’re even more likely to find your community — and finding others who live and lift like you do is super likely to make you laugh more often and add a couple plates to the bar.
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LGBTQ+ Strength Sports Organizations
If you’re trying to figure out where you fit into the great big world of LGBTQ+ strength sports, there are a bunch of organizations you should check out. These aren’t federations to compete in (more on those later) but they are excellent repositories for information and community. When you’re starting to dip your toes onto the platform as a queer athlete, pop by these websites and see what opportunities they’ve got for you.
Decolonizing Fitness
The innovation of Black, nonbinary trans personal trainer Ilya Parker, Decolonizing Fitness offers body-affirming, trauma-sensitive fitness services for folks who are marginalized in most lifting spaces. If you (or your clients) are queer, live with chronic pain, and/or are transmasculine strength athletes, Decolonizing Fitness has resources for you.
OUTWOD
If you’re into functional fitness and CrossFit, OUTWOD is definitely an organization you should be in tune with. The organization’s mission is removing barriers that keep LGBTQ+ individuals from participating in health and wellness and they also have a foundation that funds gym memberships for LGBTQ+ young adults. The org also has a neat (if understandably incomplete) Inclusive Gym Locator and regularly hosts meetups and workouts all over the world. (They were credited with helping to get CrossFit HQ to allow trans athletes at the CrossFit Games.)
Pull for Pride
Founded to advocate and fundraise for trans powerlifters, Pull for Pride is dedicated to encouraging all lifters and federations to #ShareThePlatform with trans athletes. When you love deadlifting and equity in sports — and how could you not? — Pull for Pride has got you covered.
Athlete Ally
One of the most empowering moments when you’re a strength athlete who feels alienated in your sport is realizing you’re not alone. Athlete Ally educates and advocates for trans and queer inclusion in all types of sports, from LGBTQ+ student-athletes all the way up to the pro sporting leagues.
Women’s Strength Coalition
If you like your lifting with a side of social justice — and why wouldn’t you? — the Women’s Strength Coalition works to increase access to fitness in every way from operating a nonprofit gym in Brooklyn (it’s called “Strength for All”) and helping athletes find safe spaces to train.
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LGBTQ+ Lifting Federations
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many lifting federations that are truly inclusive of LGBTQ+ lifters. Almost all bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions (sanctioned and otherwise) have only two gender categories, which often explicitly exclude trans and nonbinary lifters from competing. Still, you’ve got some options if you’re a queer lifter and want to leave it all on the platform.
International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters (United States)
If you’re a trans bodybuilder or powerlifter in the US, the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters is a lifting community and annual competition in Atlanta, Georgia designed just for you. The world’s first trans bodybuilding competition was hosting by IATBP in 2014, and (with a gap in 2020 because of COVID) hosts both bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions every October.
There are also several powerlifting federations that allow trans lifters to compete in untested divisions (so those taking exogenous hormones need not fear disqualification) or apply for exemptions to compete.
If you’re not based in the United States (or if you are and can travel), you’ve got some more opportunities to lift on a competitive platform as a trans or nonbinary lifter.
If you’re US-based, lifting with the LGBT Powerlifting Union will cost you an international trip across the proverbial pond, but this trans-inclusive lifting experience isn’t one you’ll want to pass up. An unsanctioned event, the next LGBT International Powerlifting Championship is going to be held in Blackpool in July 2021.
Federation of Gay Games (Various)
In 2022, Hong Kong will be hosting Gay Games 11, which will include a feature a wide array of sports and athletes — including physique bodybuilding and powerlifting. This federation hosts their Games every four years, just like the Olympics.
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Queer Sports Education
If you can’t get enough of LGBTQ+ strength sports, you’ll want to tune into some key sources of news and education. Maybe you’re trying to educate your kid’s school about trans-inclusive sports, or maybe you just want to know the latest about queer athletes in all kinds of sports (or both). Whatever your situation, these sources are well-worth exploring.
Outsports
Whether you’re into strength sports, collegiate athletics, or plain old professional sports, Outsports has got you covered for your LGBTQ+ athletics news. From testimonials from queer athletes to fun stories like that of a lesbian weightlifting couple — who deadlifted in full bridal gowns at their wedding — Outsports will definitely give you some athletic feats to aspire to.
LGBT SportSafe Inclusion Program
The LGBT SportSafe Inclusion Program is dedicated to educating administrators on the needs of LGBTQ+ student-athletes — yes, including strength athletes. Queer coaches and administrators, too, need support in athletics, and LGBT SportSafe is meant to provide both education and community for all these folks.
GLSEN’s Transgender Inclusion in High School Athletics
GLSEN, an education and advocacy organization for the inclusion and safety of LGBTQ students in K-12, has a project that focuses on educating about and advocating for trans and nonbinary students to be able to participate fully in high school athletics. Whether you know an athlete in high school or just want to be more educated about equity in athletics, GLSEN’s Trans Inclusion In High School Athletics is a helpful place to go.
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Support & Training Groups for LGBTQ+ Athletes
Okay, so you’re a queer strength athlete. You know where you can compete if you want to, and you’ve looked into a handful of different organizations that provide education and advocacy around LGBTQ+ issues in sports. Now, you’re ready to start forming your own community and supporting yourself in your athletic journey. These services, groups, and grants can hook you up with everything you need off the platform to support you on the platform.
The OUTFoundation
The OUTFoundation isn’t a gym itself, but the LGBTQ+ fitness org can help you find inclusive gyms (and trainers) near you — both IRL and online. If you want to learn from and work out with LGBTQ+ trainers during the pandemic, The OUTfoundation is featuring Zoom fitness classes by different LGBTQ+ instructors each week (as part of a campaign that is called, naturally, #werkfromhome). The OUTFoundation’s inclusive gym locator will also help you find a queer-friendly gym near you, so you don’t have to take those terrifying first steps into a potentially queer-phobic club without having your homework done for you in advance.
If you’re looking for one-on-one personal training, there are also plenty of LGBTQ+ fitness coaches to choose from!
OUTAthlete
If you’re a queer young adult and can’t afford to get involved in strength athletics or pay for your local CrossFit box, The OUT Foundation’s OUTAthlete program provides financial support for LGBTQ+ young adult strength athletes, as well as goal coaching and nutrition counseling.
OUTHealth
Another project of The OUT Foundation, OUTHealth is dedicated to the health and wellness and LGBTQ+ folks. Getting gender-affirming surgery and worried about what your post-op care will look like? OUTHealth has workshops that will support you and help you recover well so you can get back to lifting as soon as possible.
Share The Platform
A project of Pull for Pride, Share the Platform is a grant for trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and nonbinary athletes to participate in the expensive endeavor that is strength athletics. From gym membership and lifting equipment (think lifting belts, shoes, knee sleeves, etc.) to federation membership dues and competition fees, if you’re a trans powerlifter, this grant is definitely something you want to apply for.
Fantastic Beasts Atlanta
Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ powerlifting club is LGBTQ-inclusive and absolutely delightful. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or have never met an actual barbell — the Fantastic Beasts Atlanta will welcome you with open arms, both the metal lifting kind and the fleshy human kind.
(Some) LGBTQ+ Athletes To Follow
As long as there have been athletes, there have been LGBTQ+ athletes. You can follow thousands of folks on Instagram and never come close to putting together a comprehensive list of queer folks in strength sports. That said, if your Instagram feed is sorely lacking in LGBTQ+ lifters, these folks are great people to start following.
Marybeth Baluyot
Marybeth Baluyot (above) is a powerlifter who won her weight class in the 2015 UPSA Nationals. She’s also the founder of the fitness podcast Disabled Girls Who Lift. DGWL, which started as an online resource center, maintains extensive resources for athletes with disabilities.
Maria Darbouze
Maria Darbouze is a powerlifting strongwoman and partner alongside Baluyot and fellow powerlifter Chloe Lansing in Disabled Girls Who Lift. Darbouze is also a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Janae Marie
All-time powerlifting record holder and trans legend Janae Marie is definitely an athlete to look up to for her raw strength on and off the platform.
Shawn Stinson
Shawn Stinson is a two-time trans bodybuilding champion and personal trainer whose offerings include online training that you can access from anywhere.
JayCee Cooper
Powerlifter and co-director of Pull for Pride JayCee Cooper is responsible for extensive advocacy for trans and nonbinary powerlifters, as well as some pretty badass lifting.
Rob Kearney
Pro-strongman Rob Kearney also dubbed the World’s Strongest Gay, just broke the American Log Press Record by smashing through 475lb during Pride Month (recorded in front of fabulous rainbow lights, I should add). He’s the first openly gay pro strongman and has competed at World’s Strongest Man numerous times.
[Related: Rob Kearney talks competing against giants on the BarBend podcast]
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LGBTQ+ Fitness Podcasts
If you’re anything like me, you like learning about fitness… while you’re doing fitness (#HowLiftersRun). When you’re figuring out what strength sports podcasts to listen to, navigating the terrain can be tough — there’s some low key transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny out there. The following podcasts will give you excellent strength sports stories and tips, all while providing your daily dose of queer joy.
The Queer Fitness Podcast
So much that you need to know about powerlifting while trans, body acceptance in sport, and creating safe spaces for queer lifting, you can get from The Queer Fitness Podcast.
Disabled Girls Who Lift Podcast
From strongman training and the potential of losing gains during COVID, to lifting with chronic illness and ableism in sports, the Disabled Girls Who Lift Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in forming a sense of community while unlearning ableist tendencies you might bring on the platform with you.
The Queer Gym Podcast
If you’ve ever contemplated becoming a personal trainer or tried to figure out the most effective way to motivate yourself (without beating yourself up), there’s probably an episode of The Queer Gym Podcast for you.
Outsports Podcast
Topics ranging from anti-racism in queer sports and all-around LGBTQ+ athletics are what you’ll get from the Outsports Podcast — if you want to learn your queer sports history and keep up with the most up-to-date news about trans athletes, tune into this one.
LGBTQ+ Lifters, Unite
LGBTQ+ communities in strength sports are abundant — you just have to know where to look. The lists above are by no means exhaustive, so keep searching for more and keep creating queer lifting communities of your own, wherever you are.
Featured image via @king_dillon on Instagram
References
1. Klemmer, C L et al. Transphobia-Based Violence, Depression, and Anxiety in Transgender Women: The Role of Body Satisfaction. J Interpers Violence . 2018 Mar 1;886260518760015.
I played college basketball for Dominican University of California, so fitness was always part of my life. But when I stopped playing, I gained 70 pounds. I went from a college athlete to weighing 250 pounds by graduation.
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but I did know I wanted to lose weight. So the following summer, I started working out at a local gym. I became friends with the manager, who asked if I’d consider being a trainer there—I had a degree in exercise and sports medicine and I spoke Spanish, which were two things they were looking for. He said, “I can hire you, but you have to show weight loss in three months” (which, yes, was absolutely crazy).
In the beginning, I had no clients. But as I started to lose the weight I had gained—and transform my body in front of everyone at the gym—suddenly, there was a two-month waitlist to train with me.
When I was training at that gym, I was already out as a gay woman, but I “passed” as straight. And I had the same shitty experience most femme-presenting women have with creepy guys at the gym. But society tolerated it, so I tolerated it. I figured I’d deal with the dicks at the gym, and that’s just how it is.
The “gayer” I looked, the weirder the gym got.
As time went on, I cut my hair and started to present more masculine. The weight room started to feel like a pissing contest with the guys, and I didn’t feel welcome with the women in the locker room. I was uncomfortable because of how uncomfortable people were being around me.
It finally reached a point where I just stopped going to the gym to work out. I would go in to train my clients, then I would work out at home or play basketball at the park. I thought, “I can’t be the only queer person having a shitty gym experience.”
I mean, think about transgender people: They’re proven more likely to experience physical or sexual violence. For them, it’s not even about being uncomfortable at the gym—it’s, “Am I going to get jumped or raped in the locker room?” No one is more committed to transforming their body than a trans person is, and they don’t have anywhere to do that safely.
I thought there had to be some sort of option for queer people—but there wasn’t.
When I started searching online for an inclusive, safe space to work out, all the search results that came up were related to porn. That was where the seed was planted in my mind to start my own gym.
As my career developed at the gym and I was working my way up to district management, I got to learn more about the business side of things. I quit my job during the 2008 economic crisis and went back to school to get my MBA. I knew I wanted my business to be some sort of gay gym—something tailored to us. When I opened The Queer Gym in Oakland, California, during my second semester of grad school, it was the first LGBTQ gym in the nation.
Our mission at The Queer Gym is to create “happy, healthy homos.” There are gender-neutral bathrooms, no mirrors, and all of our trainers take LGBTQI+ sensitivity training. We offer tailored training specifically for trans people preparing for gender confirmation surgery, and host social events for our community to get to know each other.
From Left to Right: Alana Guth, Emily Fotiadi, Erik Camacho, KJ Kelsch, Alessandra Nicholson, JT Laurin, Todd Trumbull, Shaleena Reyersbak
Kane Andrade
My next calling is to make sure we’re not the only LGTBQ gym.
As The Queer Gym comes up on its 10th anniversary this month, I’m thinking about the next 10 years. One thing I’ve realized is that you’ve got to be batshit crazy to start a business—and in order to keep it open, you need vulnerability. In any business, you grow the business by growing the people, and to grow the people, you need to not be a dick. So my goal is to help other queer or trans trainers who want to replicate what we do get started.
When the COVID-19 crisis hit, we transitioned all of our clients to an online format—and now that our community is more accessible, we have nearly doubled in size. Going digital allows us to expand our mission beyond the 4-mile radius of the gym and to start coaching others to do this, too. I want to start creating “happy, healthy, wealthy homos”—because economics is a part of wellness, and it’s something that often the queer community gets excluded from.
I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished, but the coolest thing is that now, when someone Googles “queer gym,” they don’t get porn. We made it a thing.
This article is part of Women’s Health 2020 Pride Month Coverage. Click here for more.
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Between June Pride month and the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a federal law protecting LGBTQ workers from discrimination, there’s a lot to celebrate in the LGBTQ community right now. But based on a new study ranking the best and worst US states for gay-friendly travel, there’s still work to be done. The travel company OutOfOffice.com has created the US LGBT+ Travel Index, which ranks the states, revealing the best—and worst—destinations in America for gay travel.
“We want to be known as thought leaders in the LGBT travel sphere and so it’s important we conduct original research,” says Darren Burn, director of the UK-based OutOfOffice.com. “With so many customers of ours being based in the USA, we wanted to make sure that we gave them safe domestic travel options.”
To determine the best and worst states for gay travelers, the site analyzed a number of factors including legal protection for LGBT+ people, LGBT+ population, cost of travel, things to do and overall happiness.
A new report has ranked the best and worst states in the US for gay travelers.
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Topping the US LGBT+ Travel Index as the best state for gay travelers is California. “It was not too surprising to see California come out on top,” says Burn. “The state is generally considered one of the most progressive US states and it is home to LGBT travel havens such as San Francisco. It’s also packed full of beaches and fun things to do, so it’s an ideal holiday choice for everyone.”
Washington state and Minnesota came in second and third on the list. According to Burn, all of the top three ranking states have crime laws in place to protect against hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “They also have some of the highest levels of LGBT population, though Oregon is actually the highest at 5.6%,” says Burn. “Unfortunately, all three of these states are some of the more expensive travel options.”
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Burn says he was surprised by New York’s ranking. “Before we conducted the research I thought New York would rank higher,” says Burn. “But including happiness was important for us and some other states just have better wellness ratios than New York because of its hectic way of life.”
Washington is the second-best state for gay travel. Pictured here: Seattle’s Elliott Bay with … [+] rainbow Pride lights on the ferris wheel.
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At the bottom of the US LGBT+ Travel Index is Alaska. “Alaska ranked low with particularly poor scores for safety. The safety element was based on hate crime protection as stated in the State Equality Index,” says Burn. “Alaska does not have any laws in place to protect people against hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Alaska also ranked low as it is an expensive state for travelers to visit based on the Cost of Living Index.”
In the contiguous states, Alabama was the worst on the list. “Alabama has one of the lowest LGBT populations in the US and also does not have the relevant hate crime protection in place,” says Burn. “Alabama also ranked low for things to do, according to the Most Fun States Index, and ranked low for overall happiness in the World Population Review happiest states data.”
Burn points out that the lowest ranking states don’t have laws to protect against LGBTQ hate crimes and they also have some of the lowest levels of LGBT population in the country. But whether LGBTQ travelers should avoid visiting the lowest-ranking places entirely is very much a personal decision, says Burn. “Whether an LGBT traveller chooses to visit such a location is a personal choice for them to make,” Burn says. “In terms of precautions we would simply advise being sensible and taking the usual safety precautions.”
Here, Burn gives his thoughts on the five best states on the US LGBT+ Travel Index and the five worst states on the list. You can see the entire ranking of all the states here.
A new report has ranked the best and worst states for gay travel. Pictured here: San Francisco City … [+] Hall washed in the colors of the rainbow for Pride Month.
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The 5 Best States for Gay Travelers
California: It’s not too much of a surprise the Golden State is in the top spot. The city of San Francisco has the highest LGBT population across US cities, and it is well known as an LGBT travel hotspot—pulling in visitors from around the world. California is generally considered one of the most progressive states and it has hate crime protection in place to protect against hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Washington: Washington has one of the highest LGBT population rates at 5.2%. The state has full LGBTQ+ legislation in place. The city of Seattle is the city with the second highest LGBT population, following San Francisco in top place. The city is well known for its LGBT equality and pride, having celebrated the city’s LGBT culture at Gay Pride Week since 1977.
Minnesota: Minnesota has the lowest LGBT population within the top 10, at only 4.1%, but in spite of that, Minnesota is known for being liberal and accepting, which is one of the reasons it is a great choice for LGBT travelers and why it ranks as the third happiest state in all of the US. The city of Minneapolis is known for pioneering LGBT equality. In 1975, Minneapolis was the first city in the US to pass a non-discrimination ordinance.
Colorado: With an LGBT population of 4.6%, we may have expected to see Colorado more mid-table, but its cheap costs and its scores for being one of the most fun and happiest states in the US, alongside its equality laws, landed it in fourth place.
New York: Ranks as the third most fun state in the US and 14th for overall happiness. New York is known for being a smorgasbord of people from all different walks of life and is generally viewed as one of the most open and liberal states, which of course makes it a good choice for LGBT travelers. The state has all relevant hate crime laws in place and has and an LGBT population of 5.1%.
Despite its beauty, Alaska ranked as the worst state for gay travelers.
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The 5 Worst States for Gay Travelers
Alaska: As with all of the lowest-ranking states, Alaska does not have hate crime protection in place to protect LGBT people. The state has a low LGBT population rate of 3.7% and the state is not generally well-known for its LGBT acceptance.
Alabama: One of the southern states, Alabama has one of the lowest LGBT population rates at 3.1% and doesn’t have hate crime laws in place to protect LGBT people. Alabama has often come under negative headlines in relation to LGBT rights, such as the comments from one of the state’s mayors in June 2019. In some ways Alabama is seeking equality through rights such as LGBT adoption and the right to change gender.
West Virginia: West Virginia has a surprisingly high LGBT population at 4%, but sadly these people are not protected by hate crime laws. Perhaps this is one of the reasons this state has the lowest overall happiness levels.
Arkansas: Arkansas has a low LGBT population of 3.3%. In January 2019, the proposed LGBT protection put forward by the state’s most liberal city, Fayetteville, was overturned by a state judge. Arkansas does not provide protection against LGBT hate crime and bias.
Montana: Montana does not have hate crime protection in place for LGBT people, which can present challenges for LGBT travelers that others wouldn’t face. At just 2.9% Montana has a very low LGBT population.
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Blue City Holdings Ltd., the company behind China’s gay dating app Blued, filed its application on Tuesday to offer shares on the Nasdaq exchange.
Why it matters: Blued, which boasts 49 million users, is the largest social dating app for China’s LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community, according to a report by consultancy Frost & Sullivan.
The company’s application to list on a US exchange bucks the current trend of Chinese tech companies showing increased interest in Hong Kong listings.
US government agencies are pushing for more stringent rules on foreign companies including those from China, following a string of accounting scandals led by Luckin.
Still, a listing in the US may garner more interest than one on its home turf, which holds less progressive views on LGBTQ communities.
Blued’s global expansion may challenge US counterparts Grindr and Hornet.
Details: The company used a placeholder amount of $50 million as a fundraising target, according to the filing. A September Bloomberg report cited a source that said the IPO was expected to raise around $200 million at a $1 billion valuation.
China, where the LGBTQ population is still a controversial and highly regulated group, remains the Beijing-based company’s primary market.
But the app is also building a global presence with nearly half of the company’s 6 million monthly active users from outside of China including India, South Korea, and Thailand as of March 2020, the company said.
Blued is still loss-making, but its net loss attributable to shareholders has narrowed to RMB 27.9 million ($3.9 million) in Q1 2020 from 195.9 million from the same period a year earlier, according to the filing.
Besides its core dating feature, the app also runs livestream content and surrogacy matchmaking service Bluedbaby, as well as healthcare service He Health.
Livestreaming is the company’s primary revenue source, generating RMB 670 million or 88.5% of the company’s revenue in 2019. The company earns its remaining portion of its revenue from membership services, advertising, and others.
The founding team holds 37% of the company through Blue City Media. Shunwei Ventures, the venture capital firm started by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, owns 12.3% of the firm, and is the largest institutional investor. Other shareholders include CDH entities, Liberty Hero, and Crystal Stream Fund.
AMTD Global, CLSA Limited, Loop Capital Markets, and Tiger Brokers are joint bookrunners on the deal.
Context: Launched in 2012, Blued has received a total of RMB 130 million of venture capital in seven financing rounds.
Beijing Kunlun Tech, the Chinese owner of Grindr, in March sold 99% of its stake in the US gay dating app, a year after US regulators pressed for disposal over national security concerns.
