Category: Writing

Dr. Tyler Titus: Forging New Paths for LGBTQ Candidates

QBurgh: Erie, Pennsylvania might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of groundbreaking political change, but Dr. Tyler Titus would be quick to challenge that perception. In 2017, Titus sent shockwaves through Pennsylvania when they became the Commonwealth’s first out trans person to be elected to public office, serving on…
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March 15, 2021 0

The Future of Horror is Queer

CinéSPEAK: Let’s face it: horror is a queer genre. While it’s important to note the genre hosts some of the most problematic depictions of queer and trans people in film, true horror fans are hard pressed not to see how much the genre has built itself around LGBTQ+ stories and themes. Yet, the majority of…
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October 31, 2020 0

We Need To Talk About “Coming Out” Headlines For Classic Characters

CinéSPEAK: If you have been paying attention to LGBTQ news media in the past three months, then you might have noticed LGBTQ “coming out” headlines have been having a moment. First High School Musical director Kenny Ortega “confirmed” Sharpay’s brother Ryan is gay, then Nickelodeon made headlines for including Spongebob from Spongebob Squarepants in their…
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August 20, 2020 0

Don’t Just Mourn Black Trans People, Celebrate Them: A Tribute Watch List

CinéSPEAK: When we see only pain in a community, liberation can feel so distant. It is because of this, celebration and appreciation are some of the most powerful tools against oppression. In Philadelphia, we have come together to mourn the tragic murder of Dominique Fells, a Black trans woman who lived and died here in…
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July 2, 2020 0

Queer film and the community that empowered me

Temple News: I started the Queer Film Collective in the fall of 2017 to create a community of LGBTQ and allied filmmakers at Temple who felt passionately about queer stories. I kept saying to myself, “There is no reason we couldn’t create a space like that here.”  A year later, we hosted DiamondQ, Temple’s very…
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October 8, 2019 0