A Muslim RuPaul At The Dawn Of Islam: Tuwais and the Mukhannathun
The mukhannathun are an inspiration for queer Mulims, and queer non-Muslims alike. They’ve certainly inspired me.
More Than Words: Which Witch is Which?
“[No one can break] the spell laid by language on this word.” Happy Halloween, witchez.
More Than Words: Amped For Camp
Are all camp-related words fun to say? Maybe.
Idol Worship: Selena, Queen of Tejano Music
Selena, the Queen of Tejano Music, bidi bidi bom bommed her way to my heart when I was just a kid and my love for her will never die.
More Than Words: The F-Word (Pt. 1) — Féministes
The first self-defined feminists, boobs, and a lemonade ocean.
Idol Worship: Coretta Scott King
Celebrating the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.
More Than Words: Adjective Invective
In which the hysterical, nagging, irrational Jennifer Weiner won’t take “strident” in stride.
More Than Words: Pronouns Pt. 3 – They Said/Ze Said
The grammatical is political.
More Than Words: Pronouns Pt. 2 — How’d Gender Get In Here?
“I’d skipped a really basic question: why do some languages, including English, have gender woven into them in the first place?”
More Pride, Less Prejudice: 5 More Bitches for the Banknotes
Here are some women – queer, feminist, or courageous long before either of those terms was invented – whose names ought to be common currency, and on it too.
Idol Worship: bell hooks Was Right
After the Trayvon Martin verdict, one particular (12-year-old) bell hooks quote blew up the Internet. It’s not the only part of her philosophy that still makes sense.
More Than Words: So Androgynous
The word that gives “you do you” a whole new meaning.
Idol Worship: What I’ve Learned From Amelia Earhart
“I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried.”
Idol Worship: Brenda Howard, Bisexual Curmudgeon and Mother of Pride
“She could be difficult, she could be stubborn, she could be outrageous and she always stood up and spoke out for bisexual people and challenged biphobia even in the most hostile environments. Blessed Be.”
More Than Words: Notes On (A-)Camp
Sideways oxen, promiscuous Protestants, Susan Sontag and now us.
Eleven Women of Color You Should Know and Admire
Women who inspired us, gave us a vocabulary and taught us how to be ourselves.
More Than Words: Dyke Pt. 2 — Dyke Dynasty
In which some Dykes on Bikes take on the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Start your engines.
Idol Worship: Zelda Fitzgerald, The First American Flapper
On flappers, Zelda Fitzgerald, and sleeping around.
More Than Words: Dyke Pt. 1 — Baby Dykes
Was the world’s first dyke a snappy dresser, a 1st-century warrior queen, or a tiny antelope?
Idol Worship: Janis Joplin Rocks My World and Record Collection
The first album I came to own on vinyl was “Pearl.”