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  Pride and the Art of Realness Filmed throughout the 1980's, director Jennie Livingston's seminal documentary about a group of disenfranchised young people of color finding their community in the face of formidable opposition feels as important today as it did when it was first released in 1990. Paris is Burning  introduces us to a world of drag balls where gender-non-conforming members of various "Houses" vie for awards and titles that temporarily allow them a means of escape from the precariousness of their daily lives.  Mostly African-American and Latino (or some combination thereof), these young people--all LGBTQ+--spend their days scrounging for food, shelter, money and acceptance. But, on some late nights, they are members of an elite group of "children" belonging to the Houses of Xtravaganza, LaBeija, Ninja, Corey, Pendavis, Saint Laurent, and Dupree. Each house functions as a sort of sanctuary that provides support, and a measure of safety, for run...
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  Pride and a Pair of Showgirls Until a few days ago I completely forgot that this is Pride month. June also happens to be Marilyn Monroe's 100th Birthday. Since Marilyn was an outspoken champion of gay rights decades before it became socially--and professionally--acceptable for celebrities to do so, I decided to feature her as one of our 2026 Pride cover girls. Even though she died in 1962, Marilyn is an enduring icon for gay and straight audiences alike: there's a radiance and vulnerability about her that continues to fascinate us today. My other cover girl is Jane Russell, Marilyn's co-star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes . Russell also happened to be a (lower key) gay ally who celebrated her birthday in June--this month would mark her 105th birthday. Jane Russell's impact was never as phenomenal as Marilyn's but, at one time, she was one of Hollywood's highest paid stars. My grandpa--the John Wayne western-loving cowboy/rancher/dedicated hedonist--certainly ad...
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A few days ago, I was thumbing through a magazine and noticed a list someone made of the 100 best TV shows of all time. This was not a universally acknowledged compilation based on ratings or reviews, but only the opinions of a writer for that specific publication (and, presumably, his fellow co-workers). Admittedly, it's not a bad list, but it does reflect the age of the people who put it together. With that in mind, I decided to make my own list, partly because I don't have anything better to do with my time this week, and partly because I just wanted to make a list that isn't a grocery list. First, and most importantly, there will not be 100 TV shows* on my list, although I originally considered it. Now that I've narrowed it down to a more manageable 25, I can proceed, adding a nominal (but not really) bit of commentary with regards to each show. These are my personal favorites, and not based on critical opinions, awards or overall popularity. Also, I have not seen...
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