These are just a sampling of the books targeted most intensely in 2022. Preliminary data for 2023 (From January 1-August 31) is showing a large increase in book challenging or attempted censorship compared to 2022’s original preliminary data. 11 states have already had over 100 unique titles be challenged so far this year, with North Carolina being one of them. Supposed Crimes is based here in NC, and we would be remiss if we didn’t position ourselves in the larger conversation of book banning. The name “Supposed Crimes” comes from the idea that queerness was once (and still is in many places around the world) outlawed. As a publishing company where we are constantly putting out more and more unapologetically LGBTQ+ content, based in a state where books with similar content are being challenged, censored, or banned, the idea that our books are indeed “supposed crimes” is not far from the mark. And so by continuing to publish this content, by uplifting writers to speak out and write stories of underrepresented populations, and by supporting these books as readers, we are fighting against this epidemic of book censorship.
The censoring of these titles holds implications far more sinister than just removing books from libraries; it is removing access to representations of diversity that enhances a person’s world view. Whether this representation is the first time someone sees themself in a character, or the first time someone sees a character they don’t recognize from their own life, diversity in books is integral in breaking the homogeneous landscape those who censor books strive to enforce. Diverse books reflect a diverse world, and therefore break down ideas of a hierarchy wherein the cisgender, straight, white man resides on the top - a notion that frightens a book censor. As a society we are already witnessing the continued marginalization of minority groups, whether it be people of color, disabled folks, queer individuals, other groups pushed to the outskirts, and those who exist within the overlap of these identities. The censoring of these identities in books is further contributing to the marginalization of them in our society, which in turn contributes to the maintenance of the aforementioned harmful hierarchy.
The ALA has noted in their preliminary 2023 report that “a vast majority of challenges were to books written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.” 2023 has seen the proposal of hundreds of bills targeting the queer community; the ACLU is currently tracking the progress of over 500 bills across the country. Though not all of the bills will become law, the harm they cause the community is palpable. The impact of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is seen in the banning of books, in which individuals and censorship groups feel as though the very existence of queer people is inappropriate or a danger to children and therefore needs to be hidden away. Fighting against this legislative push back into the closet is vital for our continued social and physical survival, and as individuals we can resist in a variety of ways. Voting (many states are holding elections this November, so be sure your voter registration is up to date!), protesting, speaking to representatives, and in the particular case of book banning, reading. Read books that are being threatened because by uplifting their stories and their authors, you are ensuring they are seen and heard.
The original discriminatory policy that the Red Cross upheld due to FDA guidelines was established in 1985 in the face of the AIDS crisis. Because the disease was relatively new, doctors barely knew anything about it other than what they saw, which was that it could be transmitted through blood and that it was mostly queer men of color who were showing up sick in their hospitals. This led to the FDA instating a lifelong ban for blood donations on men who have ever had sex with other men. It didn’t matter if you were tested, it didn’t matter if you were in a monogamous relationship, it didn’t matter if you and your partner always practiced safe sex, and it didn’t matter if you had sex with a man once ten years ago. You were dirty. This ban from a federal agency helped enforce homophobia around the country, promoting the belief that all queer men are incurably diseased. Even as screenings for blood donations advanced, this lifelong ban stayed in place for 30 years.
In 2015, three decades after the FDA first instituted the ban, the rules were changed slightly. Instead of a lifelong ban for men who have sex with other men, it was changed to one year. Queer men had to abstain from sex with other men for a full year before they were eligible to donate blood. While it was a step towards progress, technically anything is after a lifelong ban. Policy wouldn’t change again until 2020, in response to national blood shortages due to Covid-19. The ban shifted to even less time, from one year to three months. In the year 2020, facing another catastrophic disease that was not yet fully understood, the FDA was still insisting on limiting who is eligible to donate blood on the assumption that queer men are the exclusive carriers of HIV. Again, it was progress, but still legalized homophobia.
That brings us to today. Three years since the last policy change, the FDA has finally done away with the “Gay Blood Ban” entirely. Where previously, the FDA made regulations based on broad assumptions of queer men specifically, they now focus more on risk factors of each individual donor, regardless of sex or sexuality. The updated questionnaire does not target queer men for exclusion anymore, but rather asks all potential donors if they have partaken in any behaviors that could put their blood donation eligibility at risk. Specifically, it asks a potential donor to refrain from donating if they have had anal sex with a new sexual partner or more than one sexual partner in the past three months. It also asks those who take PrEP, or PEP (HIV preventative medications) refrain from donating blood for three months if the medication was taken orally, or two years if by injection. This is due to the fact that these meds can sometimes mess with the blood screening process and make it harder to detect if a blood sample is HIV-positive. So while there is still room for improvement as screening processes and medication advance, after four decades of blatant discrimination, queer men are finally free to donate blood.
**I want to recognize the fact that this policy specifically targets those assigned male at birth, which may include people who do not identify as men. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, throughout this post I will be using the term "men'' in recognition of the majority of those who have been affected by the Blood Ban historically and today, as well as to reference the exact wording used by the FDA and the Red Cross.
If you want to read further about the issue, you can check out the Red Cross’s page for LGBTQ+ donors here.
And check out the article put out by NPR when the FDA first changed their regulations in May here
]]>Not Exactly the Girl You'd Bring Home by Dan Ackerman
A prequel novel to Ackerman's Sunshine and Specter series, this book is out now!
Wolf Blood by Tyler W.D. Stewart
Survival had a cost...
The city of Fort Thompson was liberated from the claws of The Phantom Woman, Vega, and her bandit force splintered and rendered useless. With the battle won, the Red Dawn military gathers terrifying strength under General Blackwell, a man obsessed with old world ideology, and crushes anything in its path.
Celeste, battle-hardened by crippled with doubt, recovers from her injuries in the lion's den, under the watchful eye of her only surviving family--her uncle. For her valiant effort against the incursion, Celeste is given command over a group of misfits and must learn to navigate through hidden agendas and an insatiable desire for conquest. As she struggles to integrate with the military and repair her fractured relationship with Melanie, conspiracies unravel around her, and a price is placed on her head by the mysterious Disfigured. Dead or alive.
With her wolf, and Melania's unwavering faith, Celeste embarks on a mission that Vega foretold--to become the spark for rebellion that unshackles the land from tyrannical rule.
Meanwhile, in the far-off mountains, a shadowy force has been conducting experiments with horrific results, mutating the sickness and creating something far worse than infected corpses or ravenous creatures. Something bloodthirsty and sinister. Something that hungers for her.
Something beyond human.
I was 13 years old when I got my first cosplay together. I thrifted a plain white button down and a tweed jacket from Goodwill, donned a red bowtie, and was gifted a sonic screwdriver. I was the 11th Doctor, the goofy time-traveling alien with two hearts and the ability to regenerate into an entirely new person from the TV show Doctor Who. One may assume I wanted to dress up like him because of his big hearts, his strong moral compass, or the way that he brings hope to the galaxy—and that would certainly make sense. Or perhaps it was subconsciously because of the Doctor’s fluidity in gender, both biologically and within the character’s presentation. But the real reason I wanted to dress up like him was because he and I had the same hairstyle, complete with a matching “swoosh” of hair on the top, and I knew it would be an easy first cosplay to piece together. As I looked in the mirror, pulling on my jacket and adjusting my bowtie, a wave of emotions rolled over me; I only now realize that what I was feeling at the time was a mix of pride and gender euphoria. I never could have predicted that this decision to dress up as the Doctor would have such an impact on my self esteem, confidence, and journey with gender.
Thinking back on it ten years later, that cosplay not only was the first in a fairly large catalog of cosplays that I made, but it was also the first time I wore a shirt buttoned all the way up to the top. Before then, I hadn’t realized that that option was ever open to me. I felt so comfortable wearing this costume, disguising myself behind a character whom I adored (and still do!) and getting to wear masculine clothing. The 11th Doctor would become the first of many cosplays in which I dressed up as a male character. There was something about it that felt so empowering to dress up as characters that I love while also feeling so comfortable doing so. I was never alone in this “cosplay fluidity;” at conventions, everyone around me was dressed up in characters that didn’t necessarily match their gender, or were creating genderbent versions of the characters. Seeing people dress up however they wanted to, regardless of their gender or sex, encouraged me to dress more fluidly in my every day. It gave me the representation I needed to feel comfortable in my own gender and appearance, and would overall help me on my own discovery of identity. In other words, conventions provided me the space and cosplays the opportunity to explore my own style and comfort.
When I am in public, I am often hyper-aware of how I am presenting myself and am being perceived in regards to my own gender. I typically have a pronouns pin on me and dress androgynously to hint to others that I am nonbinary (though of course one should never assume pronouns, and presentation does not equal identity. However, outside of queer spaces this is a lesson still being learned by many and as such we are often forced into a binary based on perceived gender. This is my way to encourage those who would assume one way or another with me to recognize that I am somewhere within the label of “other.” Okay, stepping down from my mini soap box now.) When I am in cosplay though, I find myself not caring as much what box people assume I fit in. Usually at conventions, people will either gender me “in character”, meaning that they’ll assign the pronouns of the character I’m cosplaying, which is absolutely fine with me, or they’ll assume incorrectly, which is also ok. If a little kid thinks that I’m a “boy Rey” or a “girl Doctor” then maybe that will give them the confidence to dress up as a character that doesn’t fit in with their own gender identity. That’s the beauty of cosplay: it’s for everyone, regardless of what you look like. And maybe it will encourage them, just as it did me, to find what they’re comfortable in, regardless of whether society believes they should be wearing “boy clothes” or “girl clothes.”
]]>Manhattan, 1984.
Sally Rafferty is the only woman employed by the Achilles Cab Company, ferrying late-night New Yorkers across the city from sunset to sunrise. Her status quo is disrupted by the arrival of the company's new mechanic, Elise Herald. Stand-offish at first, Rafferty quickly learns the appeal of having an ally in the garage.
Elise is also grateful to have a friend in a strange new city. She's starting over in her late thirties, running from a life she has no interest in talking about.
When an unexpected crisis arises, threatening Rafferty's career and livelihood, Elise has no choice but to return to her previous life in order to help. Forced to face those she left behind, Elise must choose between the safe security of the past and the exciting possibilities of the future.
First up is An Act of Devotion by A.M. Leibowitz. The book not only features a diverse cast of characters (including an MTF transgender character), but also touches on a variety of topics, such as self discovery, healing from your past, and mental health. Here’s the summary:
Next is The Practical Mage’s Guide to Magic and Mayhem by Dan Ackerman. The story is one of historical fantasy, taking place in the 19th century. It focuses on the unlikely friendship between a mage and a demon, forced together by circumstance. Yet where the story truly shines is in its representation of the nonbinary demon Phaedrus, and the openness with which the character speaks on their identity. Here’s more on the book:
Bond Themes from the Early 80s - Claudia and Ruby are going to have the most unique look at their Year 12 formal.
Clicking - A wedding photographer has a candid conversation with a bride before the ceremony.
Cruising Altitude - This probably isn't how DB Cooper pulled off his famous heist. But maybe...? No. But it's definitely worth thinking about.
Fear Makes the Wolf Bigger - A woman in a Nordic village is accused of being a werewolf. (Underdogs, classical canidae)
Fright Court - Even things that go bump in the night deserve their night in court.
Funny Girl - Stop her if you’ve heard this one. A woman walks into a comedy club...
A Night of Firsts - On New Years Eve in 1979, a cab driver takes a passenger on a detour. (takes place around five years before my novel ZERO CITY)
Open Frame - A former resident of Squire’s Isle returns home and revisits the place where she now believes her life peaked.
Paved with Bad Intentions - A woman prepares for an awkward, potentially painful confrontation. Inspired by Lana del Ray’s cover of “Buddy’s Rendezvous.”
Playing for Keeps - An innocent game gets a little out of hand. But neither of the players is complaining.
South of Neptune - At a motel in the middle of nowhere, two women wait for a sighting of something unbelievable.
The Squares House - While looking for a new home, Celia makes a discovery about one listing. She has one chance to convince her wife it’s worth the expense.
Ten Thousand Grapes - Two actresses bond when they run into each other at an Oscars afterparty.
Three Blue Hawaiians - A reporter finds a crumb that leads her to a shocking discovery about an actress. (sequel to Ten Thousand Grapes)]]>
NYC Pride Parade - I was leaving the city yesterday after the parade and though I was unable to attend it, it was wonderful to see rainbows all around me on the subway and on my bus back to Philadelphia!
St. Petersburg, FL Pride Parade. A pride parade anywhere in Florida is a protest. St. Pete is both an hour outside of Orlando, where the Pulse Nightclub shooting took place seven years ago, and an hour outside of Sarasota, where FL governor Ron DeSantis is currently taking over a small liberal arts college hailed for its inclusivity and acceptance to turn it into a conservative institution simply for political gain.
Istanbul Pride March, which went on despite pride celebrations being banned in Turkey for nearly a decade. The march ended abruptly with the arrests of 50+ attendees at the hands of Turkish authorities, with some people receiving injuries at the hands of the police. You can read more about Turkey's silencing of LGBTQ+ people here.
Manila Pride March - In the Philippines, a bill promising equality has been stalling in their congress for over 20 years, yet Filipinos remain hopeful that change is coming.
Paris Pride March, called "La Marche des Fiertés LGBT", where this year there was a noticeable absence of floats in an attempt to make the parade more environmentally-friendly. In the marcher's sign in the top-right corner of the picture, you'll see that they wrote "protect trans refugees" in French, utilizing newer gender neutral grammar in this instance to refer to refugees.
Yet just because pride month is ending doesn’t mean the celebrations are! Several pride marches, parades, and protests are to occur in the coming weeks and months, so be on the lookout, take to the streets, stay educated, and celebrate love!
]]>The Turning Together series by Lara Zielinsky
New release Turning In, as well as Turning Point and Turn for Home, are all on sale for $2.99 or less this month! The books detail the relationship between two women as they realize a bit later in life that they are lesbians. Not only do we get a glimpse of the experience of “late in life” lesbians, but we see the struggles and eventual success of the merging of two separate families into one. A beautiful celebration of sapphic love, you can check the books out here.
Notes from Boston 1-4 by A.M. Leibowitz
This four-book series shares various tales of queer life in Boston. The series touches on numerous different topics, such as coming out, self love, and acceptance. The series also features a colorful cast of characters, as you get gay, bisexual, transgender, drag queen, and polyamorous representation. You can check out the Notes from Boston books, as well as Leibowitz’s other books, here.
Endless Days of Summer by Stacy O’Steen
A wonderful story of self discovery, O’Steen’s novel transports readers back to college to follow main character Penelope’s journey through her decision to go to college far from home, find community in the LGBTQIA+ club at school, and uncover aspects of her past she hadn’t known before. Endless Days of Summer features both asexual and wlw representation and can be purchased here.
The Practical Mage’s Guide to Magic & Mayhem by Dan Ackerman
A tale of mages, demons, and enchantments, Ackerman’s novel is the perfect read for anyone looking to escape the real world and dive into a fantastical one. In a world that turns its back on queer men and gender-nonconforming beings, the queer mage and the nonbinary demon find solidarity in their mutual struggle for tolerance. Check it out here.
Upstaged: An anthology of women who love women in performing arts
One thing about pride gear is that most of the time, it’s pretty easy to spot. Pride flags are typically defined by their vibrant stripes of color, standing out in any setting. So when a store puts out their pride merchandise for the season, it’s fairly hard to miss all the rainbows everywhere. This presence demands visibility not just for the merch itself, but for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. Having this visible and accessible representation is really important for youth who are in the closet or aren’t exposed to the community in their home lives. The access to this merch for queer kids, being able to buy the pride gear with cash and hide it away before a homophobic parent or guardian sees, is another really important benefit to having these major chains offering a pride line. Additionally, some stores such as Target collaborate with queer artists in their products, which provides incredible platforming to individual artists. Other stores even go so far as to donate a percentage of the profits from the pride lines to LGBTQ+ organizations, such as the Trevor Project.
Criticisms of these mainstream stores offering a pride line are as numerous as their benefits. Major chains like Walmart and Michaels only have these pride displays up for a few weeks out of the year, and then clearance it off starting July 1st. They’re so quick to roll out the rainbow-covered products, using the month of June to capitalize off the queer community, yet show no other signs of support for the other months of the year. Some brands and stores will even offer pride merch or will turn their logo rainbow during June, while continuing to donate to harmful anti-LGBTQ+ politicians the rest of the year, such as Comcast and CVS. There is also the fact that even if the company is donating a portion of proceeds to LGBTQ+ organizations, it is still a small fraction of their overall profit on the products. It’s more impactful to donate directly to the organizations, or to buy from independent artists or small businesses who are a part of or directly supporting the community.
Personally, I believe that stores should only sell pride merchandise if they’re actually doing something to help the community, such as donating to local or national LGBTQ+ organizations. As nice as it would be to see pride stuff year-round, I don’t think that’s feasible for many stores. But if they were to utilize the month in which they sell rainbow everything to help support and uplift the community, that would shift their allyship from an inconsequential money-grab to real support. All of this is to say, while it’s sometimes disheartening to see massive corporations attempting to capitalize off my identity, I understand the importance and significance of this mainstream representation of pride and equality. I try not to take for granted that not too many years ago, this kind of representation was inconceivable. I appreciate the incredible and important visibility this brings to the LGBTQ+ community, while also hoping that the future will bring forth more positive change in this commercialization.
]]>This year - not even half over - has seen the introduction of hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, mostly directed at transgender youth. Just last week, a GOP lawmaker in Florida called transgender people “mutants, demons, and imps.” Equality Florida, one of the most prominent organizations in the state dedicated to eradicating anti-LGBTQ+ hate, declared a travel advisory to the state. It’s the first time in the org’s 25-year history to have ever issued a travel advisory.
Last weekend on Saturday Night Live, Molly Kearney (they/them) took to the stage during the Weekend Update segment to address this uptick in anti-trans hate. They shared words of hope for the trans community, specifically for transgender kids. Weekend Update co host Michael Che brought up the 14 states that have recently passed bills restricting healthcare for trans kids. Molly responded, “Restricting healthcare for kids. For some reason, there’s something about the word ‘trans’ that makes people forget the word ‘kid.’ If you don’t care about trans kids’ lives, that means you don’t care about freakin’ kids’ lives.” Because trans healthcare isn’t just about gender affirmation; it’s also mental health care, suicide prevention. It saves lives. If you want to save children, the threat isn’t from puberty blockers or hormone replacement therapy. It’s from people armed with weapons of war coming into their schools, their places of worship, their movie theaters, their concerts. Trans healthcare saves lives.
This is hard. It’s scary. It’s exhausting to wake up each day to news of more legislation being introduced, more words of hate being spoken against the community, worrying for my friends in Florida and other similar states, and having an ever-present fear for my own safety when I’m in public. But we have to keep fighting, for ourselves and for our community. For trans kids, who are kids first and foremost. Right now, we aren’t fighting for trans visibility, or even trans rights. We’re fighting for trans existence. To be allowed to exist, live, and thrive in an increasingly hostile society. We must protect trans kids - protect kids.]]>As a nonbinary theatre artist, questions like that have lurked in the back of my mind for quite some time. I never realized until this past awards season just how relevant this issue is. What first jumped out at me was how Emma Corrin (they/them) was eligible for a best supporting actress Oscar for their performance in My Policeman. Though they didn’t end up getting the nomination, the fact that they would’ve had to either settle for an award nomination misgendering them or pull their name from the pool is angering. One could argue that a nonbinary actor’s gender nomination could be dependent on the gender of their role, but what does that leave for nonbinary actors playing nonbinary roles? Justin David Sullivan (he/she/they) made headlines earlier this year when they chose to abstain from Tony award nominations entirely. Sullivan plays a nonbinary character in the Broadway musical & Juliet and did not feel as though any of the gendered categories fit who she or the character she plays is (read more about it on Playbill).
The theatre community and the queer and trans community have deep connections that go back decades, and as such it is no surprise that Broadway is attempting to pave the way for a more inclusive awards show. There are already gender-neutral categories in smaller awards shows that honor Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing have promised that they are working to follow suit for the Tony Awards. There has been no word from other awards shows about the possibility of gender-neutral categories.
Critics argue that making judging categories gender-neutral could lead to the ceremonies becoming male-dominated. But if other awards ceremonies can do it, then so can the Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys. The solution to this issue simply can’t be “if you don’t like it, don’t participate in it.” Nonbinary and GNC people deserve a chance to be honored for their work in the arts, and to be honored in a way that respects who they are.
]]>Turning Together: 10th Anniversary Box Set
Enjoy this special edition print only box-set of Turning Point and Turn for Home by Lara Zielinsky celebrating the 10th anniversary of Turning Point's publication. Her award-winning work was an anchor in lesbian fiction and has inspired countless authors and readers.
Buy here!
Turning In
More stories about Cassidy and Brenna after the events of Turning Point and Turn for Home.
Buy here!
]]>Our first release of 2023 is here at last! No Smoke Without Flames by Geonn Cannon will be dropping for all to read on March 1st - read more below!
Six years ago, it was love at first sight when firefighter Tori Branigan met photographer Lea Contreras. It only took a walk around the block for them to know exactly what they wanted.
Three years later, they made things official with a quiet ceremony at the courthouse and settled into their happily-ever-after.
Then they met Janice Kozak.
You can get the book here!
]]>The episode’s story begins as the world is falling apart, with the doomsday prepper Bill as he lives in his abandoned Massachusetts town that he rigged with fencing and traps to keep the outside world away. Seemingly content with this solitary lifestyle, he relishes in his success whenever an Infected “zombie” gets caught in his traps - that is, until a man gets stuck in one of these traps. He goes to rescue this stranger, who introduces himself as Frank. Frank notices something about Bill as soon as he lays eyes on him, and asks to stay for a meal before he goes on his way. Bill reluctantly agrees, and the two share a quiet meal and a gentle moment on the piano. As Bill plays Linda Rondstadt’s “Long, Long Time” on the piano, Frank’s suspicions of Bill reveal to be true. The two share a tender kiss and go up to Bill’s room. The episode jumps through the years, revealing details in Bill and Frank’s relationship as it is tested in their solitary existences. Yet despite the dangers of the outside world and the trials of their relationship, their love survives. It flourishes for about 15 years, until we see Frank in his old age, wheelchair-bound and apparently suffering from some kind of muscular degenerative disease. Bill is taking care of him as always, but Frank finally decides that enough is enough and asks Bill for one last great day to do whatever he wants, and to end it with Bill crushing all of his pills into Frank’s wine glass. Bill obliges and gives his lover the day he desires, going to the abandoned shops in town to pick out new outfits, getting married in the church, having a dinner that is a parallel to their first meal together, and ending with a glass of wine for each of them. Frank downs his poison, and Bill follows suit. As Frank realizes what Bill has done and Bill reveals that he put pills in the bottle itself, he tells Frank that he was his purpose, and the two go off to their room to hold each other as they fall asleep forever.
The Last of Us (HBO Max)
This TV show, based on the massively successful video game series of the same name, is set in a post-apocalyptic America after there has been an outbreak of an infectious disease stemming from cordycep mushrooms. It follows survivor Joel as he makes his way across the United States with the 14-year-old Ellie after she was reluctantly placed in his care. He must deliver her to a research facility across the country in the hopes that scientists can create a cure from Ellie’s seemingly-immune blood. The story is one of survival, love, and forgiveness as the two reckon with their own pasts. Season one will feature a couple of openly queer characters (no spoilers as to who those characters will be!) whose storylines are so beautiful and human, a trend of representation and themes that will continue into season two. Ellie is played by Bella Ramsey, of Catherine Called Birdy and Game of Thrones fame. Ramsey just recently came out as nonbinary, so not only will the representation be on screen but is present off screen as well! I’ve played through The Last of Us games a few times and the story is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and complex ones I’ve come across. The TV show so far is just as incredible, so if you’re looking for something new to try I cannot recommend this show enough.
Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
Ooooooooooh a pirate’s life sounds just right! This show is queer in, quite literally, every single way possible. Though the show focuses on a fictionalized retelling of the real-life pirates Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet (AKA The Gentleman Pirate), Our Flag Means Death is an ensemble piece. The pirate crew is openly and unashamedly queer, from the numerous MLM relationships we see to the nonbinary character of Jim whose pronouns are respected by all of their crewmates. The cast is made up of queer actors as well, including nonbinary actor Vico Ortiz who plays Jim. Season two is dropping later this year and it promises more representation, hilarious high seas hijinks, and possibly even lesbian pirates as hinted at by show creator David Jenkins. I highly recommend this wonderful and hilarious show and am counting down the days until season two is here.
Heartstopper (Netflix)
If you want something a little less violent, Heartstopper season two will be arriving later this year as well! Based on the graphic novel series by Alice Oseman, the TV show follows a group of high school kids falling in love and learning to be their true selves. The show has gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender representation in it, and is honestly just so incredibly cute. You’ll find yourself smiling almost nonstop at all of the fluff in the series, at the acceptance and friendships within the show. The cast themselves are beyond adorable, showing up at pride parades and spreading love and laughter in every interview and interaction. Adorable x1000!
Queer Eye (Netflix)
Season seven of this reboot is arriving later this year! The Fab Five will be back, this time in New Orleans, Louisiana, providing home and lifestyle makeovers for ten lucky “heroes.” While we’re probably going to have to wait until the end of the year to get this season, I think it’ll be well worth the wait. Tan France, the fashion expert of the show, said that this was the hardest season for him and his costars, citing the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina as the reason. As one can imagine, this new season will most definitely be a tear-jerker. I look forward to seeing all the good the Fab Five will be doing for those who need it.
]]>I loved this play. I truly did. The acting was phenomenal, intense, and raw. I was blown away by the story and the storytelling. The thing is, I found it hard to stay in the story with the audience around me. I grew up going to the theatre to see shows frequently, both local and on Broadway. I’ve performed in a number of shows as well, even on zoom when the pandemic took live theater away from us. The thing I’ve always loved about live theater is the energy it creates and the connections it forms in the moment, both between the actors on stage and between the performers and the audience. It’s a special bond that you can’t experience anywhere else. But ever since live theater has returned, I’ve noticed a shift in the audience and how they act. Maybe the pandemic turned people more self-centered, maybe being online consistently for two years ruined people’s social skills, or maybe they just simply forgot how to behave courteously during a live performance. But with nearly every live show I’ve seen since the return of theater, I’ve had a bad audience experience. From having phones out or going off throughout the show, to people getting up and down during the most quiet and tender moments, to those around me having full on conversations or a running commentary during the performance. It’s frustrating, to say the least. All of this came to a head during the performance of Take Me Out that I saw. The show is about coming out, and in such a testosterone-dominated environment as professional sports, it focuses heavily on toxic masculinity as well. Darren is trying to change that attitude amongst his teammates throughout the show, while also trying to change himself and how he responds to bigotry in a given moment. The audience, however, couldn’t seem to grasp this concept and as such behaved in what I felt was a disrespectful manner during the show’s most intimate scenes.
The thing with Take Me Out is that there are full-frontal nudity scenes onstage when the baseball players are in the locker room. Some argue that nudity to that degree is not necessary on the stage, but in my opinion these moments were not gratuitous. The show is about male vulnerability and there are few spaces where one is more vulnerable than in a locker room. As audience members, we understood coming into this show that there would be nudity, from the Playbill stuffers warning against photography and video taking of any kind, to our phones being magnetically sealed in pouches upon entry, to the signage in the lobby. Though there were phones going off and people chattering throughout the show and even snickering during the nude scenes, my main source of hurt as an audience member came from the couple behind me. This couple had been making comments back and forth to each other pretty much throughout the entire show, so already they were ticking me off. But the moment that really stung was when Jesse Williams walked out fully naked for the first time, during one of the more intense moments of the show. As the audience got over the initial shock of a fully naked man walking on stage, the couple behind me did not recover as quickly. The boyfriend leaned over to his girlfriend and jokingly said “Merry Christmas,” to which she responded “I know!” Just a few words spoken by strangers in passing, and yet they left a bad taste in my mouth. It was as if she had only come to the show to see the male actors (or maybe even just Jesse Williams/Dr. Jackson Avery) naked on stage, not caring about the queer story it was telling. In this moment, the character was confronting the bigoted teammate who had harassed him for being gay and biracial, but the couple behind me chose to sexualize a vulnerable man in that moment instead. With the history behind sexualizing queer people, it just made me feel so angry and upset that people would do that during a live theatre performance. It was as if they had taken in none of the play’s messages about tolerance and acceptance, or the overt message about sexualizing gay men in the locker room. I just hope that people remember how to be decent audience members sooner rather than later (an ounce of critical thinking when watching theatre would be nice as well).]]>If you’re looking to start a series, you could try the Chosen Chronicles by Sirena Robinson! The first book is Devil’s Dilemma, available here.
Supposed Crimes mostly carries novels, but we have some poetry books as well! If you’re looking to branch out from the novel format, try Christopher Michael Carter’s book of poems called Loose Lipped Secrets and Twinkling Lights, available here.
Maybe you want to try a novel rooted in history? Queen and Bandit by Geonn Cannon is sure to transport you back to 1940s Hollywood. Get it here!
Can’t decide on one specific story to read? Try one of Supposed Crimes’ anthologies! Forest Seclusion, available here, is the perfect collection of fairy tales to read this cold winter.
Last week, President Biden signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act, ensuring that the basic rights of same-sex and interracial marriage can never be taken from us.
I remember the day that same-sex marriage was legalized in North Carolina, about seven or so months before it was legalized nationwide. I feel very fortunate that I grew up in a safe and inclusive household that taught me from a young age to love and accept everyone. That day in October, my family celebrated the major victory for our southern state. At the time, I worked in the teens troupe at the Carolina Renaissance Festival, and that very weekend I was fortunate enough to witness what I’m guessing was one of the earliest legal same-sex marriages in the state. It was just the two men and their officiant, and my troupe and I watched on. When they said “I do” and kissed, we cheered “huzzah!” and I cried as I held my friend close. I had not only witnessed history, but love - true love - in action.
When it was made legal nationwide, I was not as lucky to be in a safe space to celebrate. It was the summer and I was with my friend and her family in Florida, who I knew were not accepting of my “lifestyle” (their words, not mine). When I saw the headlines, I remember getting my phone and hiding in the bathroom, taking a moment to myself to feel the emotions. I saw the pictures of the White House lit up rainbow, of people celebrating in the streets. I remember posting about it on social media, and my friend who I was staying with saw it. She asked me what it meant. Fear rushed through me as I explained it to her, unsure how she would take it given her strict Christian upbringing and her parents’ beliefs. But she said “that’s great!”, understanding just how important the decision was for me and those I love. I knew at that moment that this person I had known since we were both 3 years old loved me all the same, even if her parents did not accept me.
It’s weird to think about the fact that we need to protect such a basic right as marriage through legislation. But when Roe v. Wade was overturned and people began discussing the possibility of overturning Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges and leaving it up to the states, I really began to fear for my future and the future of millions. While I hate that we live in a world where we must create such legislation to protect human rights, I am grateful that as a country we were able to get (somewhat) bipartisan support in passing the Respect for Marriage Act. I’m disgusted that anyone would vote against it - but that is not what I am focused on. Right now, all I care about is that we were victorious. The work is not done, and we are still far from true equality, but in this moment, love won.
]]>It first began in 2010 when FIFA voted to give Qatar the 2022 World Cup - a decision that the then-president of FIFA has since openly said was a mistake. Looking beyond the corrupt and shady politics within FIFA that brought the Cup to Qatar, the decision to give Qatar the tournament has led to the deaths of well over 6,000 migrant workers. Qatar is a small country that simply lacked the required infrastructure - stadiums, highways, hotels - to accommodate something as massive as the World Cup. And so over the span of 12 years their workforce, composed almost entirely of migrant workers, shouldering the massive undertaking of World Cup preparations. During this time, the workers faced exploitation and death as a result of workplace accidents, heat exhaustion, car crashes in company cars, suicide, and other unexplained ways, according to NPR. Qatar, of course, denied these numbers and claims, and FIFA did nothing to punish Qatar for these human rights abuses.
The human rights violations did not stop once the World Cup kicked off. In Qatar, same-sex relationships are effectively criminalized, leading international players and fans to worry about their safety when traveling to the country. Yet despite Qatar’s promise that all fans would be welcomed to the games, the government has been very strict about censoring any symbols of LGBTQ+ pride both on the pitch and in the stands. When captains from several different European countries wanted to wear armbands that said “OneLove” on them and were adorned with a rainbow of colors, FIFA threatened them with yellow cards. Fans coming into the stadiums wearing any symbol of pride on them are being told they must remove the symbol or change.
The World Cup comes at a time when there is a global protest showing support for Iranian women and the Iranian people who are facing severe backlash, imprisonment, and death for opposing the Iranian government. The protests were sparked after the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, at the hands of Iranian police in September. Fans and political activists have been coming to the World Cup games bearing Mahsa’s name and other phrases of support for Iranian women on signs and donning the Iranian flag without the symbol of the regime in the center. These fans have been forced to hide their symbols of protest by World Cup security, and those who have refused have been removed from matches. The protests were not contained to the stands, though. In their first game against England, the Iranian team stood silently while their national anthem played, a seeming act of solidarity with the protesters. However, they sang their anthem for the rest of their matches in the tournament, most likely due to threats on them or their family by the Iranian government. The support for Iranian women on the field was not limited to the athletes though. During the November 28 Portugal v. Uruguay match, a protester wearing a shirt bearing support for the women of Iran on one side and the people of Ukraine on the other ran onto the pitch, waving a pride flag with the Italian word for “peace” printed across it. The protester was captured by security and taken into custody, but not before the world saw his message of protest and peace.
So what does the FIFA World Cup have to do with Supposed Crimes? It may not seem like much at first, but as an LGBTQ-focused publishing company, it’s important to bring attention to these issues. We must look at the intersectionality of human rights, where in the case of the World Cup there is an overlap of queer rights with migrant worker rights, women’s rights, and free speech. To ignore these issues is to tell those in power that how they are treating minorities is okay. What better way to grab their attention than through a tournament where, quite literally, the whole world is watching?
A missing baby, a boss with a vendetta, and a case to solve.
Grace is thrown into chaos when her life seems to fall apart. She’s been handed her biggest case yet and must work with Homicide Detective Link Abrams in order to solve it. As Peter prepares to go back to seminary and Kit prepares for graduation, Grace must face the fact that her relationship with Amya is falling apart.
Pulling overtime hours to find her missing baby, Grace wonders if Missing Persons is the department for her and if she can continue to work with a supervisor who won’t respect her boundaries. All she wants in the moment, however, is to find Andrew and stay off Paige’s radar.
And be sure to grab a copy when the book is released tomorrow!
]]>NaNoWriMo doesn’t just encourage authors to open up their laptops—or pick up the pen, if you prefer the more traditional or old-fashioned method of writing. Through their work, the organization promotes writing fluency and education, according to their site. Authors can sign up to be a part of NaNoWriMo, and receive support, encouragement, and advice from the community. They even provide youth programs for kids and educators to encourage and improve writing.
I don’t know about y’all, but November has been about three months for me. If you’re feeling the same way, maybe feeling a little exhausted from writing nonstop, I get that. But keep on pushing through! The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words this month, but the great thing is after those words are on the screen (or the paper), you can read and review and edit as much as you like! Getting words out is the first step to writing a novel, and once that’s done the hardest part is over. So don’t give up on yourself or your book. Maybe take a break, revisit an abandoned project, or go on a walk to look for inspiration. You’re doing great. And you’re not alone - the NaNoWriMo community is filled with hundreds of thousands of people who are doing the same thing you’re doing, and want to offer support and encouragement to all those who need it. So keep on writing!
]]>A Lady Who Knows What She Wants by Dan Ackerman
As Sunshine and Specter navigate the changes to their relationship, fall comes to New York City. Their paranormal detective agency is thriving. Specter is fretting over Halloween costumes--a little too much, which leads to trouble.
An old friend asks them to investigate a haunted bed and breakfast in the Cape. And really, they could use a vacation after the mess they cleaned up on their last case.
Only a few bumps come in the night and the ones that do aren't the ones they expect from ghosts. Before they have their answers, an unwanted visitor shows his face, one that's much too familiar. Sunshine and Specter scramble for their lives. Suddenly, the world they know is far behind.
We Fit by Lara Zielinsky
Following the events of We Three, Jess hasn’t been in touch since Elena invited her to move in with them.
For Elena, Jess, and Eric, attempting to reconnect reveals how much they all still have to learn about each other and making relationships like theirs work.
Facing obstacles at work and play, can they each achieve the happiness they want?
]]>When considering the classics we are taught in school, it is easy to find the similarities amongst them. The books were usually talked about quite a lot when first released, either in a positive or negative light, and in such a manner that the conversations around the books continued long after their respective releases. Oftentimes, the negative commentary around the books leads to the censorship, challenging, or outright banning of the books at various schools and libraries. Yet still, the debates and arguments surrounding these books continually bring in new readers, allowing the books to live on and maintain their status as classics. These books are a product of their time, giving a glimpse into that moment of history and the beliefs or fears of those living in it. And finally, the books often carry messages or themes that are universal, reaching out beyond the time in which they were written and telling an eerily relevant tale to a modern audience.
So what comes next for the classics genre? What books will be added to the evolving and growing list for the next generation to study and discuss in their English classes? For me, two books in particular come to mind: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The Hunger Games series is inherently timeless, taking place in a dystopian future while utilizing names, theories, and philosophies from ancient times. The themes within the books are universal, including issues of just war, class, tyrants, desensitization, loss, trauma, and rebellion. With heavy messaging such as this, the books are unfortunately frequently challenged, censored, and banned throughout the country and the world. The educational value of the books is immense, as Collins breaks down the intense and oppressive themes within the series in a way easily digestible for a YA audience. One does not have to look too deep to find similarities between the goings on in Panem and just about any moment in the history of the world, as well as the possible trajectory for the future.
As for The Hate U Give, in my opinion it’s a must read - and then reread - for everyone. It takes the intense issues of racism and police brutality and makes it understandable for a broad audience. The book is a tribute to the Black and Brown lives that have been stolen by a broken system and honors the work that community organizers are doing to stand up and make a difference. Since its release in 2017, the book has been challenged and banned all across the country for the subject matter. Yet despite this attempted censorship, it is continually talked about and brought up and reread by many every year. Just as classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Fahrenheit 451 allow us to understand the fears and issues faced by society in the 50s and 60s, They Hate U Give will provide future generations with an accessible and understandable grasp of the important issues and fears that have persisted into the 21st century.
So what do you think are the next books in line to be classics?
]]>Coming out can look like so many different things to so many different people, For some, coming out is a moment of celebration - baking a rainbow cake, having a gender reveal party, bringing your romantic partner home, running out of your room with a pride flag tied around your neck like a cape just days before a major hurricane is set to hit your town (okay, maybe that last one is just me…) Some people even come out several times as they learn more about themselves. For a lot of people, it’s a big deal. You’re sharing a part of yourself and trusting - hoping - that those you’re telling will accept you and continue to love you. And that is worth celebrating.
But not everyone is comfortable with coming out - and that could be for a whole host of reasons. The most obvious one is safety; for so many, to be honest about who they are could mean opening the door to abuse, harassment, unemployment, houselessness, or disowning. These threats are more present in some lives than others, and it is up to the individual to assess the level of danger they might be putting themselves in before coming out. Sometimes, coming out just simply is not a safe option.
Another reason a person may choose to not come out is because of how exhausting it can be. For many in our community, coming out is often accompanied with explaining the meaning of our identity, sometimes in more detail than we’re comfortable with. And while I want to educate everyone around me on labels and identities, it’s tiring to have to do it every single time I share a piece of myself with another person. And usually what accompanies the definitions and answers to the seemingly never ending (and far too personal) questions is defending. Having to defend myself, my identity, and other queer people from those who don’t understand, is exhausting. And so rather than officially coming out, one may just choose to not share that part of them with others. For whatever reason a person may choose not to come out, and that does not invalidate their identity or make them any less queer than a person who has come out.
Maybe the person isn’t ready to come out just yet, and that’s okay too. There’s never any rush to come out. Besides, no one ever comes out just once. As queer people, we spend our whole lives coming out as we meet new people and make new friends, as we continue to grow and learn more about ourselves. Coming out is regarded as an achievement in the queer community, and while it should absolutely be celebrated we should also keep in mind that it is not one everyone can or wants to reach. But regardless of whether or not you’ve come out to every person in your life, celebrate yourself on NCOD. Because even if you aren’t out to others, you’ve come out to yourself, and sometimes that can be the hardest thing to do. The journey of self discovery is not always easy or clear, and discovering more about who you are is worth celebrating. So happy coming out day, even if you haven’t come out to everyone for one reason or another. You are still valid, you are seen, and you are queer enough.
]]>Faye gets in trouble…again.
Unable to keep herself from feeding her addiction, Faye tries a brand new drug that’s on the streets. She discovers rather quickly that even with her vampiric DNA, it affects her drastically.
As the city comes under fire with new problems arising daily, Molly and her crew need to figure out the cause. With Faye taking a deep dive into her addiction, Malek sniffing around the house still, Molly must rely on what she’s known best over the years. Her gut instinct. She has to uncover the truth of what’s going on. Teaming up with Faye for a very special project, they go to work on pulling a secret from Malek while they put out fires in town.
Will Molly’s team be able to save more lives than they lose?
Still need to catch up on the Quarter Life series? Here are the first three books:
Unbound (Quarter Life #1)
De-Termination (Quarter Life #2)
Release (Quarter Life #3)
]]>For one, fanfiction keeps a story alive, even after the creator has ended it. Take a tv show like Lost, for example. The series ended several years ago, but fans can still enjoy new stories set within the Lost universe through fanfiction - perhaps one where everyone doesn’t die in the end, or a retelling of the series through the eyes of Walt’s dog Vincent. Whatever the story may be, fanfiction allows the story to live beyond its set episodes, pages, or film runtime. It keeps the fandom interested in the world the author created, while allowing for infinite possibilities for the characters and universe the reader loves.
More importantly (in my opinion), fanfiction can create a space for representation and diversity that was lacking in the original story. Last month I wrote about Disney’s lack of quality queer representation in their media, which is disappointing but not the least bit surprising given its history. I mentioned how in Star Wars IX, there was a background wlw couple that was on screen for three seconds. These female characters were applauded as “groundbreaking representation” for the franchise, yet Disney refused to give anything to the two male leads who shared several scenes and chemistry (chemistry that their actors even alluded to in interviews). Though Disney and Star Wars did not allow for main characters to be queer on the big screen, there are countless fanfictions on the internet about these two characters as a romantic couple. Where the canon fell short, writers filled in with moments of adventure and intimacy through fanfiction. This idea expands far beyond sexuality; where there was no representation, now there can be for the trans community, the disabled community, the BIPOC community, and so many more.
Not only is fanfiction a channel for representation, but can also be used as a form of protest. Take JK Rowling for example: she is not only a blatant transphobe online/in real life, but put this transphobia, as well as racism and antisemitism, throughout the Harry Potter books. In fanfiction, we can read a one-off about Ron being transgender, give Cho Chang an actual first name, study Hermione through the lens of her being Black, or create new characters that give insight into Jewish life at Hogwarts. All of these ideas, and so many more, go against what the author had originally pictured when she created the story. Through fanfiction we can appreciate the base world that was handed to us by the original creator and stand up to their hurtful beliefs, creating a new world that is entirely our own.
]]>Disney has been around for decades, and though it has definitely evolved past “Uncle Walt’s” extremely close minded (let’s be honest: outright racist, sexist, homophobic, antisemitic) views, there is still ample room for improvement. But what has always gotten me about Disney is how it always pats itself on the back for its “first” queer representation. The company is so proud of itself that they do it with just about every piece of media they release featuring a queer person! Honestly at this point, it’s just amusing to me to see all of Disney’s “firsts.” Here are just a few of my personal favorites - be careful though! Blink and you’ll miss these characters, as their queerness on the screen tends to last approximately three seconds.
First up is Lefou from the live-action Beauty and the Beast. In the final number of the film, there is a group dance scene in which all the characters are dancing with each other, switching partners in time to the music. For a brief second Lefou switches partners and finds himself with another man. Lefou looks momentarily confused, and then the camera cuts to another couple. All in all, the clip is barely three seconds long and yet had homophobes reeling and media outlets applauding Disney’s “representation.”
My second favorite is definitely the two celebrating women from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Gotta love the space gays, right? These two Resistance fighters kiss in the background as everyone is celebrating a victory, and was celebrated as the first gay kiss in the Star Wars franchise. Yet once again, we barely know who these characters are. The irony of this is that there were two male characters - Finn and Poe - who were central to the sequel trilogy and had chemistry together. Fans of the saga, as well as the actors themselves, were very vocal about how the two should have ended up together; however, Disney’s censorship and fear of backlash would never allow for such a thing to happen.
The last one I’ll mention are these two women from Pixar’s Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding Nemo. This one really gets me for a couple different reasons. For one, the women are just pushing a stroller together for a brief moment. There is nothing explicitly queer about that. They don’t hug, kiss, or call each other “babe.” So why was this applauded as groundbreaking representation? Which brings me to my second point: people actually protested the movie because of that moment. Which is deeply ironic, given the fact that the voice of Dory is none other than Ellen DeGeneres. I distinctly remember seeing petitions to get the scene removed and others demanding that the film not be shown in theatres.
While at this point it’s just exhausting to see that Disney continually censors their creators for fear of backlash and hurting their own profits, it’s also somewhat amusing to see the lengths at which the company will (or won’t) go to earn a spot in the queer community’s good books. They happily capitalize off us during pride month, selling rainbow-clad mouse gear, but refuse to acknowledge our existence any other time of the year.
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