dispatch from they're playing bas-ket-ball
and something about a demi moore update
Welcome to this week’s dispatch from the lesbian internet, a mid-week news roundup from Paging Dr. Lesbian. If you like this type of thing, subscribe, and share it with your friends.
Let me start by saying I’ve realized I was absolutely remiss in my duties last week and I forgot to inform you of an important piece of sapphic news. If you hadn’t heard, celesbian pop queens Fletcher and Hayley Kiyoko released a song together last week, and it is called “Cherry.” Like most Fletcher songs as of late it is mostly a chorus a not much else, but luckily, that chorus is quite catchy. They have also hinted at doing a video, which really would be an iconic meeting of the (gay) minds.
Secondly, I was informed that the news I dropped last week about Demi Moore was featured in Autostraddle. Whoever put this newsletter on their radar, I thank you. Having I assume slightly more time and a slightly larger budget than me, Autostraddle staff decided to investigate this news further to test its veracity. (Literally no shade I love Autostraddle and you should support them). They found some evidence that perhaps Demi and supposed girlfriend Masha Mandzuka are maybe not dating and just longtime friends. I think it’s fair to say that this claim has not been totally debunked, but not verified either. Let me know what your hot takes are in the comments.
In nuptials news, WNBA star Briann January apparently married her girlfriend Natasha Harris (who is a very cool and hot professor!) last week. The photos are wonderful. (I particularly like image four, pictured at the top of the page). Also, lesbian musician Mary Lambert (who, not to brag, I’ve met twice) is engaged to her partner, Wyatt. I love good news.
In tragic news, JoJo Siwa did not win Dancing With the Stars. She was beat out by former NBA player Iman Shumpert, who became the first NBA player to ever win the competition. It was a close call in the end, as both Shumpert and Siwa achieved perfect scores in the finale. The night before the finale (does she ever sleep?) JoJo debuted a very grown-up glam look at the AMAs, sans-ponytail and bow. According to JoJo, this is the first time she has ever worn a dress and heels to an event.
In news I was not expecting, Elle Fanning was featured in a vaguely sapphic, slightly NSFW Tik Tok for InStyle. It’s one of their famous “elevator videos.” As someone put it in the comments “something LGBT just happened to me.” In other Tik Tok news, it was reported last week that Disney was up to some homophobic bull****, per usual. After they rolled out the text-to-speech feature for Disney characters on Tik Tok, people noticed that this function was automatically censoring words like “gay,” “lesbian,” and “queer.” This “glitch” has now been fixed, but I just know Walt Disney himself is somewhere cackling in his cryogenic chamber.
To no one’s surprise, Cara Delevigne is in the news again. Cara was at a basketball game with Selena Gomez when they got put on the kiss cam, so obviously Selena kissed her (very close to the mouth, I might add). Cara’s face after this occurred is priceless. (I have no confirmation on the actual status of their relationship, of course). In other news, gay supermodel Gia Carangi (famously played by Angelina Jolie in the HBO film) has received a touching tribute on Instagram from her former makeup artist and girlfriend, Sandy Linter (played by Elizabeth Mitchell in the film). Last week marked the 35th anniversary of her death. If you feel like getting a little sad today, this is your sign to go watch Gia.
Other things this week:
Last week was Trans Awareness Week, which leads up to Trans Day of Remembrance. Read this piece from James Factora, Trans People Deserve So Much More Than Your Awareness, about how empty these discussions of visibility have become.
The trailer for Carmilla star Elise Bauman’s gay Christmas Lifetime movie has been released. I still cannot get over Bauman’s bangs in this movie. Natasha Negovanlis, who I haven’t thought about in years, says “be still, my bisexual heart.”
I have a queer book recommendation for you: Skye Falling, by Mia McKenzie, which is about one of my favorite narrative tropes – found family. (I know all of my fellow Buffy fans can relate). Check out McKenzie’s site, Black Girl Dangerous, for more about her work.
Singer Kehlani was on DJ KITTENS’ YouTube show SHE/HER/THEY talking about her identity journey. Check it out here.
That’s all for this week, folks!
You won’t hear from me this Sunday because I will be spending time with family for Thanksgiving, so I will see you back here next Wednesday.
I will leave you with this relatable moment from Fran Lebowitz, via onyour.knees.
