Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Via Them \\ A queer Oscar frontrunner is under fire...
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I don’t often write about the same movie twice. But when I saw awards season discourse about La Bola Negra shifting into high gear, nearly a month before most people will be able to view it, I had to say something. | ||
This round of early condemnation appears to have either been sparked by or coincided with a scathing New Yorker review that accuses the queer Spanish epic of “arrogantly and aggressively [insisting] on its own monumentality.” And yet, for some reason, other filmmakers like Christopher Nolan don’t seem “arrogant” when they release three-hour dramas that are clearly aware of their own importance? Interesting… | ||
But double standards aside, I found the review to be a baffling misreading of one of the year’s best films — and one of the finest LGBTQ+ films of the century. La Bola Negra may look like an epic in form, but it deconstructs what it even means to be an “epic,” focusing as much on sensation and touch as it does on history and tragedy. If you’re also following the awards season discourse — or even just interested in the film, which has emerged as a best picture contender — I’d encourage you to check out my response to the New Yorker review. It’ll be fascinating to see what happens to the conversation around this film once more people get to see it. — Samantha Allen, editor-in-chief | ||
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Via FB \\ 555 BL Universe
In a state where LGBTQIA+ rights have faced enormous political challenges, something extraordinary has happened! Alabama has elected its FIRST OPENLY GAY SHERIFF, proving that gender orientation does not determine someone's ability to lead, serve, protect, and earn the trust of a community!
Brett Jones, a former soldier and Democrat who defeated Republican Kevin Turner, a former two-term sheriff, to become the next sheriff of Madison County, Alabama.
But there's another beautiful part of this historic victory: Brett is not walking this journey alone. He is married to Jason White, a local police officer, making their story even more meaningful. Two men who have dedicated themselves to public service, now sharing a moment that represents something much bigger than an election victory.
A gay man is stepping into one of the most important law enforcement positions in his county, in a state where LGBTQIA+ people have often faced discrimination, political hostility, and attempts to limit their rights.
This victory sends a powerful message: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HIDE WHO YOU ARE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SACRIFICE YOUR IDENTITY TO EARN RESPECT. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS BECAUSE OF PREJUDICE.
Brett Jones's victory is about representation, equal opportunity, and the freedom to live authentically while serving the public. His marriage to Jason is also a reminder that LGBTQIA+ people are not outsiders to American communities. We are husbands, wives, parents, veterans, police officers, public servants, neighbors, and leaders.
And to every young LGBTQIA+ person growing up in Alabama or anywhere in the world who has ever been told they cannot become a leader because of whom they love: LOOK AT THIS MOMENT!
Your identity is not your limitation. Your dreams are not less deserving. Your future is not defined by someone else's prejudice.
CONGRATULATIONS, SHERIFF-ELECT BRETT JONES AND JASON WHITE!Vis Bil Browning - FB
Gender diversity didn't begin on Twitter. It existed long before Western culture decided it was controversial.
In traditional Samoan society, fa’afafine have been recognized for generations as a distinct gender. Not as a compromise. Not as a loophole. As a normal, understood part of community life.
Fa’afafine are typically assigned male at birth and live in feminine or mixed gender roles. Families often recognize this early. There is no dramatic announcement required. There is no moral panic. People adjust and move forward.
This is not a footnote. It is everyday life in Samoa and American Samoa.
Fa’afafine are often central to family structures. They help care for children. They support elders. They contribute labor, emotional care, and stability. In many households, a fa’afafine child is seen as a blessing, not a burden.
Here is what unsettles Western observers. Fa’afafine are not required to reject masculinity to express femininity. They are not required to pursue medical transition to be respected. Their gender is not validated by documents, diagnoses, or political approval.
Their identity is social and relational. It exists because the culture makes space for it.
Colonial missionaries tried to dismantle this system. They imposed rigid gender binaries and Christian morality. They labeled fa’afafine sinful or disordered. The culture survived anyway. It survived because it worked. It still does.
Western debates often frame gender diversity as new, experimental, or destabilizing. Fa’afafine history tells a different story. Gender plurality is old. Panic about it is recent.
There is a temptation to ask which Western category fa’afafine fit into. That question misses the point. Not every culture needs to translate itself into Western terms to be legitimate.
Fa’afafine are not symbols. They are not arguments. They are living proof that gender has never been as simple as some people insist.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Via Daily Dharma: Our Precious Lives
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Monday, November 9, 2026
Via Daily Dharma: Compassion in Daily Life
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Sunday, November 8, 2026
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