lgbt arts and culture Archives

From LA To NYC: DragCon With Holly 2017

Published on September 14, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Five months ago, during his Keynote speech at the end of an incredible two days of RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles, RuPaul instructed us to pack up our lashes and tuck tape, as they would be flying to New York City for the first ever East Coast DragCon. After an overwhelming response resulted in an early date change, this past weekend it finally happened, and of course, I flew across the country to be there. After L.A. DragCon completely exceeded all my expectations, the idea of an East Coast Con was exciting, but felt a journey into the unknown. L.A.…

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A Short History on Trans Rights by Laverne Cox

Published on August 15, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Real Talk/Weekly

Best known by her role on Netflix’s Orange is The New Black, Laverne Cox has become a pioneer voice as a transwoman in the LGBT community. Cox has teamed up with the ACLU, producer of Transparent, Zackary Drucker, Molly Crabapple, and Kim Boekbinder to create a short film showcasing the journey of trans history. While gay rights have been touched upon a lot in the last few decades, the story behind transgender rights is not as well known. In a short 4 minutes, the video guides you through the progression of transgender inclusiveness. Starting from the first riot and ending…

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RuPaul’s Drag Race Emmy Nomination: Why It’s Important

Published on August 14, 2017 in Entertainment/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Real Talk/The-Nation/Weekly

RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a favorite of many members of the LGBT community for nine seasons now. The show has won several awards in years past, including those from The Television Critics Association Awards, NewNowNext Awards, MTV Movie + TV Awards, Gold Derby Award, GLAAD Media Award, and a PRimetime Emmy. The Emmy win last year was for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. Now, it has the chance to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, which in years past has gone to The Amazing Race (10), Top Chef (1), and The Voice…

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Queer Blues Queens of the Early 20th Century

Published on July 28, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Real Talk/Weekly

The blues isn’t exactly the genre of the moment, but it sure feels apt for the times. It’s also a style that owes a lot to queer black women. The first blues queen to reach celebrity status, a business woman who marketed herself and organized her own tours throughout the 1920’s and ‘30s, was named Ma Rainey. In addition to possessing a powerful voice, she was a born performer–Charming, funny, and audacious. She was once arrested in Chicago for holding a lesbian orgy in her hotel room. A few years later, she wrote a song called “Prove it On Me…

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Spotlight: Abdi Nazemian

Published on July 24, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

This month, The LGBT Sentinel is proud to present Abdi Nazemian as our spotlight author. His latest book sees him take on the world of Young Adult fiction in The Authentics released on August 8. What begins as an English class assignment transforms into a messy but fulfilling journey of self-discovery for a Beverly Hills teen. The project is simple: the students must present the stories of how they got to where they are today, but 15-year-old Daria Esfandyar gets startling results from a genealogy test she takes with her friends, learning that she is half Mexican and not fully…

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Something Like Summer

Published on July 19, 2017 in Uncategorized

Something Like Summer, an adaption of Jay Bell’s young adult novel of the same name, follows the protagonist Benjamin Bentley as he journeys through life experiencing the joys, mishaps, and struggles of love and being out and openly gay. A combination of love, passion, and a hint of obsession evolve as Ben becomes more engrossed by the very attractive, yet in closet jock, Tim Wyman. Their first encounter in high school would serve as the basis for the rest of the film’s storyline. He falls quickly for Tim and fights to stay with him despite the societal, family,…

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Outfest 2017: Why It Matters

Published on July 12, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Outfest is one of the biggest queer events in the United States, located in one of the biggest film hubs in the world. Since its beginning in 1979, the festival has grown into a powerful institution in LGBTQ+ life as well as in mainstream film. Outfest’s slogan says everything about its role in our culture: “Our Stories Have Power.” In a world filled with stories that normalize the erasure and manipulation of queer narratives, movies and TV created by queer people can act as powerful antidotes. Stories are the conduits through which we understand the world; lessons that teach us…

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Outfest Review: The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson

Published on July 11, 2017 in Uncategorized

Marsha P “Pay It No Mind” Johnson Stonewall Veteran, Performer, Panhandler, Prostitute, Warhol Model. 1945 – 1992 In the early hours of June 28th, 1969, the NYPD raided New York City’s Stonewall Inn. Marsha P. Johnson is credited, along with friend Sylvia Rivera, as being one of the first to fight back against the police raid. This kickstarted the iconic Stonewall Riots and marked the beginning of the gay liberation movement. On July 6th, 1992, just over 23 years later, her body was found in the Hudson River. The police ruled it a suicide, whereas her friends insisted it was…

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Following up on La Femme Bohème…

Published on May 31, 2017 in Blog/Entertainment & LifeStyle/Weekly

Remember “One Company’s Story of Taking on Gender and Sexuality in Opera?” We followed up with Executive Director of MetroWest Opera, William Neely, and listened in on a conversation he had with Julia Mintzer, who is the stage director for the show. Mintzer is also a freelance opera singer who currently resides in Germany. The show wrapped on May 21st, and has since collected wonderful reviews and sold-out shows. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next! 1) How did you end up becoming involved with MetroWest Opera? I met Dana in grad school at BU and worked with…

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