Outward - Slate's LGBTQ Blog

This month, we take a break from talking about the hostile legislation q***r and trans people are fighting against to talk about what we're fighting for. A kindergarten teacher joins us to share what it looks like when teachers are free to speak about LGBTQ lives in the classroom. Then we discuss the q***r family drama at the heart of Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This month, we respond to the anti-trans attacks coming out of state legislatures across the country with a look at how they might shape the rest of a trans kid's life. Then we're joined by Michael Waters to discuss his recent piece about trans pioneer Barbara Ann Richards, who went to court in 1941 to legally change her name—and succeeded.

Today, trans Americans face many attacks on their legal rights. But back in the 1940s—before an organized opposition developed—some trans people were able to win in the courts. Barbara Ann Richards was one of them.

Whenever there is a moral panic involving children, homophobes see an opportunity.

This month, we take on Florida's new "don't say gay" bill and the insidious rhetoric of "parental rights." Then we revisit q***r film classic Shortbus, which just got a 4K restoration and re-release. Could such a daring movie get made today? (Was it really that daring?) Tune in!

The bill would empower parent vigilantes to sue school districts over LGBTQ content.

The first Outward of 2022 has dropped, and with it, some fantastic news: We have a new co-host, Jules Gill-Peterson! If you don’t already know Jules and her work, she’s a writer and professor of trans history and culture at Johns Hopkins, author of Histories of the Transgender Child, and just an all-around brilliant voice on trans and q***r issues. We are SO excited to have her join the show. Recording our first ep together was DELIGHTFUL, so we hope you’ll tune in to check it out!

In addition to our usual Prides/Provocations and updates to the Gay Agenda, we are joined this month by Kevin Guyan to dig into his new book, Q***r Data, about the power and perils of counting q***rs. Then we explore (and generally lose it) over the trans storylines and general weirdness of And Just Like That, the most recent installment of the S*x and the City cinematic universe. Listen here:

I had an out-of-body moment when I heard it.

“I have le***an friends who have identified Anybodys as a le***an, and trans friends who said that Anybodys is the first trans character in American musicals,” Tony Kushner told us.

Grindr's "s*xual" policy change is drawing jeers, jokes, and at least some approving notices from tech experts.

For our Nov. episode, we welcome guest host Carolyn Bergier, co-host of the podcast Dyking Out, to explore the ups and downs of the Amazon le***an reality TV show Tampa Baes. Then we talk about Billy Porter’s fashion beef with Harry Styles, what q***r fashion and signifiers actually mean, and whether they matter anymore. And finally, q***r burlesque, DJ sets, and butch d***s for our Gay Agenda. Join us!

For our annual Q***r History Month episode, we're joined by Adam Zmith, author of "Deep Sniff," a book on the q***r history of poppers, and writer Jude Doyle, who talks about what we missed in the recent documentary about transmasculine Black feminist icon Pauli Murray. Join us!