Gender & Sexuality

Niko Santos, Jake Choi and Vincent Rodriguez III. Three Asian men in black and white and red and brown clothing pose in front of orange and brown background and grey text that spells "THE ADVOCATE"
Sameer Rao  Jan 9, 2019 5:01PM EST

3 Rising Asian-American Actors Cover The Advocate

Jake Choi, Vincent Rodriguez III and Nico Santos talk about being young, queer and Asian-American in Hollywood.
Grey text spells "SURVIVING R. KELLY" on black background with scrambled video
Sameer Rao  Jan 9, 2019 1:01PM EST

'Surviving R. Kelly' Boosts Ratings and Donations, Inspires Possible Legal Action

It looks like Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office were among the millions who watched the Lifetime docuseries last week.
NJ Gov Christie Campaigns For CA Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Whitman
Ayana Byrd  Jan 8, 2019 1:11PM EST

Second Black Man Found Dead in Major Democratic Contributor's Home

Ed Buck is not currently under investigation for either death.
Black woman cries while holding yellow flower and yellow and blue funeral program while wearing black dress in crowd of Black families in black and white clothing
Sameer Rao  Jan 7, 2019 3:13PM EST

New Website Maps Systems That Oppress Black Women and Girls

Color of Change launched BlackWomenToo.com in tandem with the airing of “Surviving R. Kelly.”
Cyntoia Brown
Kenrya Rankin  Jan 7, 2019 1:55PM EST

Sex Trafficking Survivor Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency

Brown: “With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.”
Lincoln Mondy. Black man in brown patterned shirt speaks in front of white wall with black and orange and blue shapes
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2019 12:48PM EST

'Kikis With Louie' Gives LGBTQ Community Tips for Surviving Police Encounters

Creator Lincoln Mondy also shares his most traumatic encounter with police.
Tarana Burke. Black woman with black hair in gold and silver dress holds glass awards statue and speaks into black microphone in front of black and orange background
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2019 11:33AM EST

Tarana Burke Offers Advice to Survivors Watching 'Surviving R. Kelly'

The organizer and founder of the Me Too Movement appears in the docuseries about the R&B singer’s alleged sexual abuse of Black women and girls.
R. Kelly. Black man in black jacket and pants and hat in front of black and blue background
Sameer Rao  Jan 3, 2019 12:54PM EST

Producer dream hampton Demands Justice With 'Surviving R. Kelly'

She hopes the Lifetime docuseries breaks the systems that insulate the R&B star from the consequences of decades of alleged sexual abuse.
Garnet. Ruby-hued alien reclines in a beach chair, legs crossed.
Kenrya Rankin  Dec 31, 2018 10:00AM EST

Colorlines Favorites of 2018: 'Steven Universe,' Future Vision and the Value of Freedom Dreaming

The Colorlines team is sharing our favorite shows, books, hashtags, movies and more of 2018. Here, deputy editor Kenrya Rankin reflects on the power of “Steven Universe.”
Janet Mock, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Billy Porter. Group of Black actors and filmmakers and one White producer on stage with a purple light and purple curtain behind them and a black banner that reads in purple letters "Pose FX"
catherine lizette gonzalez  Dec 27, 2018 9:00AM EST

Colorlines Favorites of 2018: The Messy Humanity and Community of 'Pose'

The Colorlines team is sharing our favorite shows, books, hashtags, movies and more of 2018. Here, editorial assistant catherine gonzalez discusses why the FX series “Pose” is her favorite TV show of the year. 
Social Media Site Twitter Debuts On The New York Stock Exchange
Ayana Byrd  Dec 19, 2018 11:59AM EST

New Study Confirms That Black Women Are Most Abused Group on Twitter

Amnesty International hopes Twitter will use the findings to make women safer online.
U.S. Supreme Court Expected To Issue Major Rulings
Ayana Byrd  Dec 14, 2018 2:27PM EST

Ohio Passes Nation's Strictest Anti-Choice Bill

Opponents argue it essentially bans the procedure—and is a direct threat to Roe v. Wade.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Meagan Good and Debbi Morgan. Black girls and women and man pose in dark clothing on black background with white text; Adam Beach, Irene Bedard and Evan Adams. Indigenous woman and men smile under blue sky with red text
Sameer Rao  Dec 12, 2018 11:29AM EST

1990s Black and Indigenous Coming-of-Age Stories Added to National Film Registry

Their induction coincides with the NFR’s 30th anniversary. 
Cyntoia Brown
Ayana Byrd  Dec 10, 2018 1:21PM EST

How to Support Cyntoia Brown

Sentenced to life in prison at 16 for killing her would-be rapist, Brown is not eligible for parole until she is 67.
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Two Black men in black tuxedos and white shirts smile at the camera
Kenrya Rankin  Dec 7, 2018 12:23PM EST

Who Should Replace Kevin Hart as Oscars Host?

The comedian dropped out after people criticized him for homophobic tweets.
Lena Waithe and Black Women Who Brunch. Group of Black women in multicolored clothing sit and stand on or near white blocks on white floor in front of white wall
Sameer Rao  Dec 5, 2018 12:37PM EST

Hollywood's Black Women Who Brunch Are Ready to Step Into Their Power

More than 60 members of the entertainment networking group gathered to discuss how they navigate racism and sexism for The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100 issue.
Glory Edim. Black woman in grey shirt with black text that reads "WELL-READ BLACK GIRL" surrounded by green plants; Illustrated book cover with Black woman rendered in blue on light orange background with white stars and text
Sameer Rao  Dec 4, 2018 12:33PM EST

Glory Edim On Reading as Activism

The woman behind the “Well-Read Black Girl” anthology discusses how she built a community around Black women and literature.
Gabby Rivera. Latinx woman in black shirt and glasses and grey baseball cap speaks into black headset microphone in front of blue background and multicolored comic panels
Sameer Rao  Nov 30, 2018 12:56PM EST

Gabby Rivera Talks Writing the Pioneering America Chavez for Marvel

In her TED Talk, the Latinx writer explains how her Puerto Rican roots and queer identity informed her development of Marvel’s first LGBTQ Latina superhero.
Mj Rodriguez. Black Latinx transgender woman with black hair and red lipstick in beige clothing in front of blue wall with white text
Sameer Rao  Nov 29, 2018 5:21PM EST

Mj Rodriguez Uplifts Trans POC Health on 'Kikis With Louie' Premiere

The “Pose” star is the first guest on the new series, which features frank conversations about issues facing LGBTQ youth.
Anti-Abortion Activists March In Washington
Ayana Byrd  Nov 21, 2018 11:49AM EST

Federal Judge Overturns Mississippi Law That Banned Abortion After 15 Weeks

In his decision, Judge Reeves said state lawmakers’ claims to be interested in women’s health was “pure gaslighting.”