Take a bite out of this week's TBT with Bram Stoker's 'Dracula.' Featured in over 200 movies, read on to learn more about the most-famous vampire in literary and cinematic history.
Tag: queer
Incredibly Moving Coming-Out Stories Inspired by Books
In honor of National Coming Out Day, here are four beautifully candid coming-out stories that were all inspired by readers' literary experiences. Please read them either for inspiration, to learn, or to simply see how important the arts can be in shaping who we are.
Meet Luz Noceda, Disney’s First Bisexual Lead
Regardless of some people’s denial, diversity is everywhere. It surrounds us as we experience it day in and day out. Today, in a world brimming with openness, it has become difficult not to experience it in a normalized setting. On Disney Channel, however, diversity, especially concerning the LGBTQ+ community, has been practically nonexistent. Up to this point, Dinsey has been passive when it comes to showcasing diversity on their channel. With the introduction of Luz Noceda, it seems like Disney is finally giving some of its viewers the LGBTQ+ characters they have been waiting for.
Luz Noceda, a fourteen-year-old Dominican-American girl who identifies as bisexual, will be debuting on our television screens in The Owl House. The show encompasses Luz’s journey to becoming a witch after falling through a portal to another realm. The kicker is, Luz does not have any magical abilities of her own, but that does not stop her from trying to apprentice under the rebellious witch named Eda.
Luz is, surprisingly, not Disney’s first LGBTQ+ character. Greg from the Pixar short film Out took the claim of Disney’s first LGBTQ+ character, but he only received that title a few short months ago.
Image via Deadline
With that said, it seems like 2020 is finally the year Disney shows the world that they, too, can create inclusive characters. Still, despite the barriers Disney is finally breaking, not everyone on the team was supportive of Luz coming out to the world. The Owl House creator Dana Terrance revealed in a tweet that Disney leadership said they could not support any bi of gay relationships on the channel when Terrance proposed Luz’s character. Terrance, who is very persuasive, convinced Disney to keep the television series’ original premise the same and show queer relationships on Disney Channel. Terrance, who is bisexual herself, is proud to say that Disney is now 100% supportive of Luz and her coming out story on Disney Channel.
More now than ever before, it is essential for today’s youth to witness diversity displayed in a positive light, especially on their television screen. The media influences every aspect of a child’s life. If they are not exposed to diversity regularly and positively, they might view the world negatively. Disney is one of the biggest companies in the world, and by them finally supporting the LGBTQ+ community with characters like Luz and Greg shows they are finally ready to support all their fans and acknowledge that there are all kinds of people in this world.
Featured image via Twitter
Black LGBTQ Leaders Share Their Recommendations for the Best Black Queer Books
In honor of Pride month, Black LGBTQ leaders, activists, and writers shared some of their favorite books that discuss the Black queer experience.
7 Books That Celebrate Female Sexuality
It’s officially the month of love, and as we learn from doctor/author Emily Nagoski, our most powerful sexual organ is actually located between our ears (not our legs). That’s why we chose to highlight these stimulating reads that inform and inspire us on a subject that doesn’t get enough attention: female sexuality. So, whether you’ve got a Valentine’s date lined up or plan to indulge in a little romance for one, these books will definitely get you in the mood!
1. ‘Come as you are’ by emily nagoski
IMAGE VIA AMAZON
Years and years of research on the female libido and we still lack a universal answer to the question of “what makes us tick”. Why? As Dr. Nagoski explains in this New York Times bestseller, there isn’t one. Unlike men, all women have unique sexualities that vary and are highly influenced by life’s complications like mood, setting, and body image. Understanding these elements and how to take control of them will transform your sexual wellbeing in ways you may never have thought possible!
2. ‘F*cked: Being sexually explorative and self-confident in a world that’s screwed’ by Corinne Fisher & krystyna Hutchinson
image via amazon
If you haven’t listened to Guys We F*cked: The Anti Slut-Shaming Podcast, then first of all, what are you doing?! Hosts and now debuting authors Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson have tackled every subject under the umbrella of sexuality, from kinks and toys to trauma and shame. The best part? They laugh the whole way through… because let’s be honest, sex can be hilarious. These ladies are not for the faint of heart, so gear up and proceed with caution.
3. ‘She Comes first’ by Ian Kerner
image via amazon
This is one for women who date men (bless our souls). From sex therapist Ian Kerner comes “the thinking man’s guide to pleasuring a woman,” starring one particular act of foreplay that we can all agree deserves a spotlight. Buy this book for your boyfriends, husbands, friends, acquaintances… just any guy, really. Maybe not your coworker.
4. ‘Three Women’ by lisa taddeo
image via amazon
Slightly different from the previous books on this list, Taddeo takes a narrative approach to female sexuality by following the real lives of three American women over the span of eight years. One sleeps with her high school teacher, one cheats on a loveless marriage with an old flame, one has sex with other men in front of her husband: all will make you feel deeply connected to the trials of womanhood. Bold, messy, and real from start to finish, Three Women is an absolute must-read.
5. ‘Fear of flying’ by erica jong
image via amazon
It’s been nearly five decades since the iconic novel was first released and met with controversy typical of the time, but it is no less relevant today than it was then. The story follows fictional character Isadora Wing through a series of sexual fantasies and encounters that ultimately lead to some serious self-discovery. Her “fear of flying” applies both to traveling on planes and to existing free from the confines of traditional femininity, making Jong a pioneer of sexual liberation who paved the way for our modern Hannah Horvaths and Carrie Bradshaws.
6. ‘tipping the velvet’ by sarah waters
image via amazon
You simply can’t talk about lesbian fiction without mentioning Sarah Waters. Set in 1890s England, Tipping the Velvet is the coming of age story of Nan King, an oyster girl who falls in love with a male impersonator and enters an all-consuming affair that severely alters the rest of her adult life. Packed with juicy eroticism, gender-bending, and queer love, you won’t want to put this one down.
7. ‘My Secret Garden’ by Nancy friday
image via amazon
Not to be confused with the classic children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Nancy Friday’s My Secret Garden is a collection of real women’s sexual fantasies gathered through letters and interviews. Originally published in 1973, this book faced its fair share of backlash from the conservative public for its shocking content, female masturbation being at the top of the list. There are some details that may make even the modern reader raise an eyebrow, including one woman’s fantasy about her neighbor’s dog. Have we piqued your curiosity yet?
Light a candle, pour a glass of wine, and crack open one of these exhilarating titles (or stimulate your senses with an audiobook version). Happy Galentine’s, ladies!
Featured image via Everyday Health
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