“Montero” Review: Lil Nas X Introduces Himself for the Second Tim...

Back when reality TV became popular, it was common to hear complaints about celebrities “becoming famous for being famous.” What this really meant was that they hadn’t proven themselves... Show more

a respected field of endeavor, like acting or music. If they did pursue those fields, they were seen as secondary. Paris Hilton’s “Stars Are Blind” has stood up well as a dance club bop, but it’s not the reason we still remember her. Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” is the main reason we’re still talking about him, so it’s not exactly true to lump him into this category. But while he’s a rapper and singer, his music has often seemed secondary to a multimedia art project encompassing videos, his social media feed, and even stunts like limited-edition “Satan shoes” containing a drop of human blood. Those shoes didn’t seem intended merely to promote his song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” If anything, the song and shoes were on an equal footing, no pun intended. Lil Nas X made history by coming out in the middle of his historic 19-week run at number one with “Old Town Road.” His “7” ep felt rushed, leaping from genre to genre with no real sense of passion for any of them. “Old Town Road” proved more durable than its meme-rap origins suggested, but I didn’t expect him to have a career beyond it. “Mambo #5” and “Gangnam Style” were huge hits in their times, but do Lou Bega and PSY still have any audience in the US? When Lil Nas X came out, I thought that his open gayness would allow him to reach a second act. (On “One of Me,” he speaks from the voice of his critics to worry “I don’t see you lasting long and t...

LGBTQ-Friendly Senior Housing Complex Opens on Long Island

Long Island leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating what they described as “America’s first suburban” LGBTQ-friendly affordable senior housing complex and LGBTQ community cen... Show more

. The project, spearheaded by the LGBT Network, will feature 75 one and two-bedroom apartments and an 8,000-square-foot LGBTQ community center at 34 Park Avenue in Bay Shore, Long Island. The in-house LGBTQ center is slated to connect queer seniors with case management, health services, and other offerings. LGBT Network President and CEO David Kilmnick said the building fills a void for many LGBTQ seniors who often feel unsafe in other housing facilities. “When you think about someone who’s now in [their] 60s or 70s, saying that for the first time in their lives… they have a home where they can just be themselves — we need to do a lot more,” Kilmnick said. “Our elders, while being remarkably resilient, have faced a lifetime of stigma and discrimination.” Kilmnick noted that LGBTQ seniors experience marginalization in all areas of their life when compared to straight elders, including higher rates of poverty, mental health issues, and an overall lack of support. Earlier this year, a report from Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders (SAGE) and AARP revealed that 17 percent of queer New Yorkers over the age of 50 are experiencing mental distress, and at least 13 percent are suffering from depression. The findings also highlighted that nearly half of bisexual older women and transgender older adults live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, while bisexual older men face similar poverty rates...

Men Charged in 2019 Murder of Lesbian Journalist Lyra McKee

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection to the killing of out lesbian journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot to death while covering a riot in Northern Ireland two years ago. ... Show more

Police Service of Northern Ireland apprehended the men, ranging from the ages of 19 to 33, on September 15 under the country’s Terrorist Act, authorities said, though the 19-year-old was released. The busts follow last year’s arrest of 53-year-old Paul McIntyre, who was charged with murdering McKee. Peter Géaroid Cavanagh, 33, and Jordan Devine, 21, were charged with murder as well as other charges, including possessing a weapon and ammunition with the intention of endangering life, rioting, possessing and throwing gasoline bombs, and arson, according to the BBC. Another individual, 20-year-old Joe Campbell, was charged with rioting and possessing and throwing petrol bombs, according to the BBC. Cavanagh, Devine, and Campbell were released on bail and are slated to appear in court again on October 7. Police in the Creggan area — on outskirts of Derry, or Londonberry — were searching for guns and explosives in April of 2019 after they suspected that the new IRA, a militant group, had planned terrorist attacks. The police were met with rioters who threw petrol bombs and set bombs on fire — and a masked gunman who was shooting at police wound up shooting McKee. “These arrests are the culmination of a detailed two-year investigation into Lyra’s murder and the events which preceded it,” Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Superintendant Jason Murphy said in a written statement. “The local community...

DOJ Probes Treatment of LGBTQ Inmates at Georgia Prisons

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the treatment of LGBTQ inmates in Georgia as part of a broader investigation into conditions at prisons in the state after dozens of ... Show more

ncarcerated individuals died due to homicide and other forms of fatal violence dating back to last year. The department is investigating whether the state is neglecting to protect inmates from cruel and unusual punishment, including “physical harm at the hands of other prisoners,” according to the DOJ. This investigation builds on a 2016 probe into whether the state provides queer prisoners “reasonable protection from sexual abuse” by other prisoners and by staff in the prisons. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who works in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said shedding light on the issues would bring attention to the disparities facing inmate populations. “Ensuring the inherent human dignity and worth of everyone, including people who are incarcerated inside our nation’s jails and prisons, is a top priority,” Clarke said in a written statement. “The Justice Department’s investigations into prison conditions have been successful at identifying systemic constitutional violations and their causes, fixing those causes, and stopping the violations.” Officials established the probe under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the department to investigate whether the alleged constitutional abuses stem from a “pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights.” Acting US Attorney Peter D. Leary of the Middle District of Georgia...

Lil Nas X Drops Debut Album “Montero”

Out gay rapper Lil Nas X dropped his much-anticipated debut album, “Montero,” at midnight on September 17. The 22-year-old star hosted a goofy pre-release show in the hour before the al... Show more

’s release during which he highlighted some of his existing music videos, including new hits like “Industry Baby” and older songs such as “Old Town Road.” In a one-minute video released at midnight, the rapper unveiled a snippet showing him getting wheeled into an emergency room and pushing out Baby Montero, a controversial symbol of his long-awaited album. BABY MONTERO IS HERE!!! pic.twitter.com/9TzhXDuyPE — MONTERO (@LilNasX) September 17, 2021 Upon the album’s release, Lil Nas X unveiled a new music video for “That’s What I Want,” where he sings about hooking up and falling in love with a down-low football player portrayed by Colombian dancer Yai Ariza. The song delivers a notable message about safe sex when Lil Nas X is seen opening a condom. The other songs on the album include “Dead Right Now,” “The Art of Realization,” One of Me” featuring Elton John, “Lost in the Citadel,” “Dolla Sign Slime” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, “Tales of Dominicana,” “Void,” “Don’t Want It,” “Life After Salem,” and “Am I Dreaming” featuring Miley Cyrus. The star’s album comes on the heels of several high-profile moments leading up to the big release. He dazzled fans with three designer outfits at the 2021 Met Gala, including a gold Versace cape, a gold armor suit, and a skin-tight jumpsuit. Just one day before that, Lil Nas X made headlines again for taking home the top prize of Video Of The Year at the 2021 MTV M...

Western New York Sees Increase in HIV Diagnoses Among Young Black...

The New York State Health Department warned doctors, clinics, and other organizations in Monroe and Erie Counties that it was seeing increases in new HIV diagnoses among young Black men... Show more

o have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in those two counties, with most of the new diagnoses occurring in and around Rochester and Buffalo. “Among the new diagnoses from the Buffalo Region in past 18 months, there was an increased proportion of young (below the age of 25), non-Hispanic Black individuals and those who report a history of MSM,” an August 30 state health department advisory said. “Of the total new diagnoses, approximately 37 percent were below 25 years of age, 69 percent reported history of MSM sexual contact (sic), and 47 percent were non-Hispanic Black individuals.” New HIV diagnoses in Buffalo went from 68 in 2018 to 79 in 2019, and 104 in 2020. New diagnoses in Rochester went from 66 in 2018 to 61 in 2019 to 79 in 2020. Among all new diagnoses in Rochester, “approximately 26 percent were among individuals below 25 years of age, 54 percent reported history of MSM (sic) and 45 percent were non-Hispanic Black individuals,” the advisory said. The state health department noted earlier increases in new HIV diagnoses in Monroe County in an October 2020 advisory. Among transgender people living in both counties, a “total of 13 individuals of transgender experience were diagnosed in the past 18 months across both regions, compared to only one in the 18 months prior to the increases,” the advisory said. The individuals who were newly diagnosed reported having “condomless sex, sex with ...