Black transgender artist Nahshon Dion draws inspiration from her ...

Nahshon Dion, a Black trans writer and filmmaker living in the Bronx, knows where to find her happy place — one that unexpectedly reminds her of seeing mountains, waterfalls and horses ... Show more

Nahshon Dion, a Black trans writer and filmmaker living in the Bronx, knows where to find her happy place — one that unexpectedly reminds her of seeing mountains, waterfalls and horses while growing up in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, Calif. For Dion, walks around Crotona Park and Indian Lake bring her back to her youth in Pasadena and Altadena in Los Angeles County. While Dion, 46, said her early childhood was “tranquil and quiet,” her life since then has seen turmoil. For one, it took a few tries over several years for Dion to get and keep a home in New York City — but her home here has always been in the Bronx. She first moved to the borough in July 2013, and now, on her third Bronx apartment, she has finally planted roots here.  “I like the Bronx, I like the excitement” and “all the different flavors,” Dion said. “Living in the Bronx, you’re not gonna be bored.” Dion said she loves having friends of all different backgrounds and almost feels the Bronx is a different country. “There’s no other place where you have this amount of diversity,” she said. “It’s the richness of all the cultures.”  Dion said that for her safety as a Black trans woman, she avoids certain places — especially bodegas — because of the drama that can pop up at these places. But she said she’s “learned how to navigate the Bronx.” “Despite the violence, I still feel the Bronx is a beautiful place,” she said. And even though many Bronxites don’t have material wealth, “These kids don’t seem mad. I see people smiling, barbecuing in the parks.” The people and scenery of the Bronx provide constant inspiratio...

Social housing for queer liberation

As the co-chairs of the NYC Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, it is our duty to uplift our city’s proud legacy as home to world-changing queer movements and longstanding queer communities, and... Show more

As the co-chairs of the NYC Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, it is our duty to uplift our city’s proud legacy as home to world-changing queer movements and longstanding queer communities, and to do our part to help ensure that queer New Yorkers are able to live safe, healthy, joyous lives for generations to come. That’s why we’re fighting for what the policy world calls “social housing” — permanently affordable homes, democratically owned and controlled by the people who live there, in conjunction with the public. That might mean limited equity cooperatives, or maybe community land trusts, or maybe even public housing, but the essence is this: social housing protects residents from price hikes driven by speculators, which can lead to mass displacement seemingly in the blink of an eye. Why is social housing a queer issue? For one thing, queer New Yorkers are disproportionately affected by the affordability crisis. Queer New Yorkers are likelier than our cishet counterparts to have experienced employment discrimination. Since we are also more likely to have experienced family separations, there are more of us cut off from a crucial line of support that helps others build nest-eggs and transfer them between generations. We — and especially our trans siblings — are likelier to work in the sex industry, on which grounds landlords are permitted to discriminate against potential tenants. But there is also another reason social housing is a queer issue: queerness requires affordability. Queer communities’ most important artistic, cultural, and social contributions were born in underground and counterc...

Trans-led scuba diving company caters to queer travelers

Niko Kowell had long given up his dream to spend his life in the depths of the ocean. Then the pandemic happened. The 40-year-old transgender non-profit professional spent his life advo... Show more

Niko Kowell had long given up his dream to spend his life in the depths of the ocean. Then the pandemic happened. The 40-year-old transgender non-profit professional spent his life advocating for the transgender and queer community at San Francisco Community Health’s Trans: Thrive, a drop-in program. After spending 14 years working his way up from program assistant to associate director of health equity — where he managed millions of dollars in city and state contracts — Kowell hit a wall during COVID-19 and quit in September 2021. From there, Kowell pivoted to his other life-long passion: scuba diving. Since childhood, the ocean has been a playground for Kowell and his three siblings during family vacations in the Caribbean and Florida. The Cincinnati native has been scuba diving for more than 20 years. He got certified when he was 18 years old as a high school graduation present from his mother, the Bay Area Reporter reported. “I’ve always just been fascinated and in love with ocean,” he said. “Both of my parents loved the ocean.” After leaving the non-profit world, Kowell took a job working at Bamboo Reef Scuba Diving Centers, San Francisco’s lone dive shop in the South of Market neighborhood, to become a scuba instructor teaching a range of diving classes. He also continued volunteering at the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39, something he has done for 12 years. Recently, he became the dive safety officer at the aquarium. “I’ve always wanted to pursue this path,” he said. “I can always go get another job down the road if I need to, but I’m like, ‘Let’s see what happens if I become an ...

What to do in queer NYC April 18-21

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our roundup of events in the days ahead: Queens World Film Festival Thursday, April 18 through Friday, April 19; various times  Kaufm... Show more

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our roundup of events in the days ahead: Queens World Film Festival Thursday, April 18 through Friday, April 19; various times  Kaufman The Zukor Theater, 74-15 35th Ave #6f, Queens, NY Queens World Film Festival spotlights 7 LGBTQ+ films from, for, and about community, including “Ambrosia” by Amy Northup, “Unlucky in Love” by Catriona Rubenis-Stevens, “Check Please” by Victor Mignatti and Scott T. Hinson, and more. Tickets and full-schedule via QueensWorldFilmFestival.org. Queer Country Swing Party Thursday, April 18, 6 p.m. 9 Bob Note, 270 Meserole StreetBrooklyn, NY Copperhead Meg and Elia Lara host Queer Country Swing Night at 9 Bob Note. No partner or dance experience needed. Learn how to confidently follow or lead at your next Cowboy Carter dance party. Tickets via SeeTickets.us.  Souvenir Residency Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m. C’mon Everybody, 325 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Queer synth-pop artist Souvenir continues his residency at C’mon Everybody. This month he will be joined by special guest Mark Dylan. Tickets via Dice.fm. Haute by Day, Hot by Night Friday, April 19, 6 p.m. SoHo Project Space, 127 Prince St Unit B, New York, NY Join the SoHo Project Space for the opening reception of their new exhibit featuring the erotic works of fashion illustrator William Donovan. On display through Sunday, April 28.  The Lesbian Agenda is Back Friday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY Sophie Santos’ Lesbian Agenda returns, featuring some of the best queer comedians of all time – including Jessica Henderson, ...

Do not normalize transphobia in New York

The proliferation of anti-trans legislation across America has led to the normalization of transphobia in many parts of the United States, but New York — which boasts robust LGBTQ prote... Show more

The proliferation of anti-trans legislation across America has led to the normalization of transphobia in many parts of the United States, but New York — which boasts robust LGBTQ protections — has been somewhat insulated from that culture of hate. Several developments in the first few months of the year, however, have threatened to upend the status quo and inject transphobia into New York City and the surrounding area. In January, the anti-LGBTQ group known as Moms for Liberty, which has promoted book bans targeting queer content, hosted an event in Manhattan, drawing a crowd of LGBTQ activists who denounced the group’s presence in the city. In February, the county executive in nearby Nassau County, Bruce Blakeman, issued an explosive executive order seeking to ban trans athletes from participating in sports in accordance with their gender identity, setting off a firestorm of criticism and immediate action from New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who insisted that the policy was unlawful. Then, in March, Manhattan’s Community Education Council District 2 shocked the city when its members voted for a resolution calling for a new committee to review and potentially oppose trans inclusion in school sports. As it turns out, a member of that council — Maud Maron — is already known for spouting anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and has ties to Moms for Liberty. Most recently, queer activists who attended a Manhattan Community Board 5 meeting on April 12 called on its members to denounce the education council’s resolution and expressed fear that the wave of transphobia could spill into other corn...

Understanding the SCOTUS order on Idaho’s ban on gender-affirming...

The Supreme Court issued an order on April 15 granting a stay of a trial court’s preliminary injunction that was intended to block enforcement of Idaho’s statutory ban on gender affirmi... Show more

The Supreme Court issued an order on April 15 granting a stay of a trial court’s preliminary injunction that was intended to block enforcement of Idaho’s statutory ban on gender affirming care for minors. The court’s order provided no explanation of why the stay was granted, which is typical of orders issued by the court without an opinion on their so-called “shadow docket.” However, the court’s order only partially granted Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador’s “Emergency Application” for the stay, stating that the preliminary injunction was stayed “except as to the provision to plaintiffs of the treatment they sought below.” The court’s order also said that the stay would remain in effect while the case was being litigated. Understanding the meaning of this, and what the court actually decided, requires some background. Idaho Governor Brad Little signed the “Vulnerable Child Protection Act” into law in April 2023, but it was not due to go into effect until Jan. 1, 2024. The law prohibits medical professionals from providing puberty blockers, hormones, or surgical alteration to minors for gender transition, although it uses different terminology to describe its prohibitions. Medical professionals who violate the statute can be found guilty of a felony and may face up to 10 years in prison. Thus, the law would make it nearly impossible to get a medical professional in Idaho to provide gender-affirming care to persons under age 18. The legislative history shows that the law was premised by the Republican-dominated legislature’s conclusion that any gender-affirming care for minors was harm...