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Articles by Andrew Sciallo
LGBTQ+ elected officials, activists around the world welcome U.S. election results
LGBTQ+ elected officials around the world have welcomed the U.S. midterm election results. New Hampshire Congressman Chris Pappas on Tuesday became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate. He will join U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who in 2012 became the first openly lesbian elected to the U.S. Senate, in the chamber once he takes office in January.
'Governments that attack LGBTQ+ rights learn from each other'
Sept. 12 is a solemn day for the people of Turkey. It is the anniversary of the 1980 coup d'état - when members of the National Security Council, along with the armed forces, dissolved the Turkish parliament, arrested hundreds of thousands of people, and entered a three-year period of martial law. On Sept 12, the 46th anniversary of the 1980 coup, the country faced another wave of arrests; this time they targeted the LGBTQ+ community.
‘Governments that attack LGBTQ+ rights learn from each other’
Sept. 12 is a solemn day for the people of Turkey. It is the anniversary of the 1980 coup d’état — when members of the National Security Council, along with the armed forces, dissolved the Turkish parliament, arrested hundreds of thousands of people, and entered a three-year period of martial law. On Sept 12, the 46th anniversary of the 1980 coup, the country faced another wave of arrests; this time they targeted the LGBTQ community.
The American family isn't collapsing, it's adapting to reality
When pundits and media talking heads warn that the American family is in decline, what they’re really saying is that it looks drastically different today than it did even five years ago. More young Americans are prioritizing economic survival over marriage, homeownership or having children – not out of selfishness, but out of necessity.
The American family isn't collapsing, it's adapting to reality | Opinion Original
Dec. 23, 2025, 5:09 a.m. ET When pundits and media talking heads warn that the American family is in decline, what they’re really saying is that it looks drastically different today than it did even five years ago. More young Americans are prioritizing economic survival over marriage, homeownership or having children – not out of selfishness, but out of necessity.
Chi Ossé Is Tired of the Same Old Nonsense
Politics / Q&A / July 2, 2025 Chi Ossé Is Tired of the Same Old Nonsense From Kirsten Gillibrand (“she should resign”) to Eric Adams (“a power-hungry, egotistical man”) to the Democratic establishment, NYC’s Gen Z political star doesn’t hold back. Ad Policy New York City Council member Chi Ossé speaks at a rally in Brooklyn on May 24, 2025.
Jamaal Bowman's loss shows Gen Z that protests mean nothing if progressives don't vote
Vindication is never a good feeling when you didn’t want to be right in the first place. I told my followers on Instagram on Monday, “If Jamaal Bowman loses his seat in New York’s 16th District young progressives will have played themselves.” That's exactly what happened on Tuesday.
Whoopi Goldberg will never stop grieving her mother's and brother's deaths
It wasn’t until Whoopi Goldberg tried to shut off her late brother’s phone, years after he had died, that she realized how long he’d been gone. “I told the phone company, I’ve been trying to shut this phone off for 11 years. It wasn’t until my assistant then told me, ‘It’s actually been 16 years.’ That’s when I thought, 'Let me get my feet on solid ground,'” says Goldberg when asked why now was the time for her to write about grief.
An 18th-century minister falls for another man in Garrard Conley's new book that he wrote on a dare
After the success of his debut memoir, Boy Erased, Garrard Conley felt pressure to follow up his bestselling memoir with a contemporary auto-fictional novel, as many of his contemporaries have done successfully. But when his husband dared him to write about sexuality and religion in the 18th century, Conley began to work on All The World Beside, a queer love story centering on a minister living in 18th Century New England amid the backdrop of a theocratic society.
'Every man loves a stud' & more queer discoveries from the ancient world
Romance. Tragedy. Grief. Desire. Poet Seán Hewitt and illustrator Luke Edward Hall cover it all in 300,000 Kisses, Tales of Queer Love From an Ancient World. The pair unearths some of the most famous stories and characters from humankind’s earliest writings, and they’re not shying away from the same-sex subtext or overtly queer narratives. “For queer people, the act of recovering history has often been one of discovering it, too,” writes Hewitt.
The '90s "Last Call" killer trolled NYC gay bars for victims. Then police botched the investigation.
In the early 90s, as the AIDS crisis reached a fever pitch and LGBTQ+ hate crimes rose to their highest level in decades, a serial killer preyed upon New York City’s queer community. Based on the true-crime book by Elon Green, HBO’s docuseries Last Call chronicles the story of a string of queer murders in four parts. The series deep dives into both the heinous killings and the botched investigation thereafter.
What's the matter with men? 'Real masculinity' should look to queer community, Gen Z. Original
This month will have been eight years since I arrived at the same college where I now teach. Like some of my queer students, I was freshly out of the closet, away from the suburbs of Long Island and living in downtown Manhattan for the first time. I say now that I arrived late on the gay scene. For years I had been dancing around the edges of the queer community in Manhattan.
How 'The Lookback Window' became one of the most anticipated-and controversial-queer books of the year
In his debut novel, The Lookback Window—out 8/1 from Simon & Schuster—Brooklyn-based author Kyle Dillon Hertz takes an unflinchingly look at male sexual assault within the queer community. Hertz tells the story of Dylan, a twenty-something protagonist who survived unimaginable horrors as a child but only now—after the recent passage of New York’s Child Victims Act—realizes he may have an opportunity for retribution.
50 Years Later, the UpStairs Lounge Fire Is More Important to Remember Than Ever
Fifty years ago, on June 24, 1973, an arsonist set the UpStairs Lounge, a queer nightclub in New Orleans’ French Quarter, ablaze. When the flames cleared, 32 people were dead and another 15 were injured. The attack would stand as the largest act of mass murder against the LGBTQ+ community until the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. If you didn’t know this story, you’re not alone.
Hell's Kitchen Gay Bars React to Attacks on Queer Men Original
Bar operators in Manhattan's heavily gay Hell's Kitchen neighborhood say they're taking steps to protect patrons in reaction to the killings of two men last year. A Manhattan grand jury earlier this year issued an indictment against several suspects in the 2022 deaths of 25-year-old social worker Julio Ramirez and 33-year-old journalist John Umberger. Ramirez’s body was found in the back of a taxi after he left the Ritz Bar and Lounge with some men on April 20, 2022.
Don't Miss This Outrageous Drag Bar in Medellin, Colombia
By Andrew Sciallo Bar Chiquita translates to “small bar” in English, but judging by its eccentric abstract theme, Bar Chiquita is anything but small. You can tell as you ascend the rainbow staircase into the venue’s main courtyard and the space filled with mirrors and decor influenced by various art mediums that compile an abstract contemporary theme. It was an idea started by five friends. All of whom were professional designers in various fields.
Man Wanted for Assault Outside Gay NYC Council Member's Apartment
Less than a week after two people were arrested for trespassing at the apartment building of gay New York City Council member Erik Bottcher, police have now identified a third suspect who is wanted for assault. Bottcher represents the city’s District 3, including Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson Square, Flatiron, Times Square, the Theater District, and the Garment District.
Gay NYC Council Member Responds to Anti-LGBTQ+ Vandalism Against Him
Less than a month after the founder of Gays Against Groomers, Jamiee Michell, appeared on Tucker Carlson’s program to an estimated 3.2 million nightly viewers, a group of anti-drag queen protesters entered the office of gay New York City Council member Erik Bottcher Monday about 3 p.m., according to the New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner’s press office. “Once inside, the individuals wrote graffiti on the walls of an office within the building,” the NYPD told The Advocate.
Gay NYC Council Member's Event Casts Light on Anti-LGBTQ+ Crimes
“Eric Bottcher I’ve known since he served on the City Council as a staff member, and he’s touched my heart on many occasions,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James said as the first to speak at a fundraiser for gay City Council member Eric Bottcher. Bottcher, 42, has represented the Third District of New York City, including Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Flatiron, Times Square, and the Theater District, since January. He’s now up for reelection in 2023.
TikTok Phenom Josh Helfgott Energizes a Queer Army for Election Day
The need for escapism initially inspired Josh Helfgott to create content. Like many of us, he downloaded TikTok at the start of the pandemic. He started by making informative, research-based videos on LGBTQ+ history.
Let's Burn the Bury Your Gays Trope Once and for All
Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 5. As part of our new ritual, my boyfriend and I tuned in to watch House of the Dragon this past Sunday, along with about 29 million other viewers. We both let out a collective “aww” when, halfway through the episode, the show introduced its first queer storyline.
How Queer Commentator Matt Bernstein Fights Online Bigotry
In recent years Matt Bernstein (@Mattxiv) has emerged as a leading figure in the LGBTQ+ community on social media for their alluring blog-like Instagram account they use to highlight issues of online misogyny, homophobia, and other types of bigotry. In early August, Bernstein used his page to call out content creator Andrew Tate, writing, “Andrew Tate is teaching young boys to be violent misogynists.
Edgar Gomez Unpacks Their Internalized Machismo in High-Risk Homosexual
I sat down with the author of High-Risk Homosexual, Edgar Gomez, to discuss how they navigate writing about the people in their life, the violent effects of internalized homophobia, and how Gomez’ managed to unpack the machismo from within. This conversation comes on the heels of a dangerous time for the LGBTQ+ community in America, as we are seeing the rollback of trans and gay rights across the country.
Are Queer Folks Prepared for the GOP to Use Monkeypox Against Us?
“They are coming for us. The question is, Will we be ready when they do?” The first thing I noticed when I got off the 9:30 a.m. ferry in Cherry Grove were the rainbow posters that had been hung from each of the community bulletin boards lined along the boardwalk. White letters were written across the top that spelled out “Monkeypox.” I always make it a point to peek at these boards when I’m on Fire Island. They’re a place for event flyers, STI testing notices, and protest information.
Run for Your Life: The Growing Fear of Violence in LGBTQ+ America
Views expressed in The Advocate’s opinion articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, Equal Pride. Sunday’s Pride events in New York City ended abruptly in chaos after fireworks were mistaken for gunshots, causing mass panic throughout the West Village. It suffices to say that Americans are anxious these days. And with good reason.
Long Island library board comes to its senses and reverses ban on children’s Pride displays.
Following the recent onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the nation, the Smithtown Library Board of Trustees passed a resolution on June 21st to remove all Pride month displays from their children’s sections across all four buildings in the library’s district.
Sex, Freedom, Cruising, and Consent: A Conversation with Garth Greenwell
I sat down with the bestselling author of What Belongs to You and Cleanness, Garth Greenwell last year, after the release of the new anthology of sexy short stories, Kink, which Greenwell co-edited with R.O. Kwon. Since our conversation, which often touched on the importance of queer spaces, an increasing number of those very same spaces are now at risk of disappearing.
Where to Buy Face Masks in Greenpoint and Williamsburg - Greenpointers
Posted by Andrew Sciallo | May 22, 2020 Masks by Christian Joy Costumes, The number of coronavirus hospitalizations in New York may be on the decline for now, but the face mask is here to stay to help stop the spread of the highly transmissible virus. Many local businesses and independent creators in Greenpoint and Williamsburg are now designing and selling their own masks.
How to Give an Emotional Performance, According to ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Hannah Murray
Photo Source: Caitlin Watkins Hannah Murray has a knack for sneaking her way into audiences’ hearts. She first did it as Cassie on Channel 4’s “Skins” in the U.K., and has certainly done it as the fan-favorite wildling Gilly on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which airs its anticipated series finale this Sunday, May 19. Murray’s latest feature film project, “Charlie Says,” gives her some of her richest material yet—and even more opportunity to sneak her way in.
Netflix’s Says ‘So Long’ to Remaining Marvel Series + More Industry News
Photo Source: Netflix Netflix pulls the plug on its last two Marvel series. Netflix’s two remaining Marvel series, “Jessica Jones” and “The Punisher,” were canceled this week. The studio’s decision comes a few months after its other Marvel shows—“Daredevil,” “Iron Fist,” “Luke Cage”—met with the same fate on the studio’s chopping block. (The Hollywood Reporter) After Oscars snub, “Eighth Grade” wins at WGA Awards.
Amazon Signs Major Deal With ‘Maisel’ Creators + More Industry News
Photo Source: Amazon Studios Amazon signs deal with “Maisel” creators. Undoubtedly due in part to the overwhelming success of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Amazon Studios has extended an overall deal with the show’s creators, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, to “allow [the] Amazon Prime audience to continue to enjoy their groundbreaking show and future original series from this incredible duo.”(Variety) The Oscars won’t televise all its awards.
Why Tommy Dorfman Doesn’t Let Casting Breakdowns Limit Him
Photo Source: Caitlin Watkins After co-starring on the first two seasons of Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why,” Tommy Dorfman is readying for what he’s called his most challenging role yet: Max in the Off-Broadway world premiere of “Daddy.” The three-act melodrama from playwright Jeremy O. Harris (“Slave Play”) also stars Alan Cumming, Charlayne Woodard, Hari Nef, and Ronald Peet, among others.
Gillian Anderson Moved Back to the UK to Act-Here’s Why
Photo Source: Netflix At this point, you’re likely to have heard about Gillian Anderson’s brilliant performance on Netflix’s “Sex Education.” (If you haven’t yet started watching, her monologue in the pilot episode should be enough to convince you to do so.) It’s the latest addition to a résumé that proves the actor’s success transcends mediums.
Billy Eichner’s Rom-Com is Coming + More Industry News
Photo Source: Shutterstock Super Bowl spots set the stage for summer blockbusters. Studios like Disney and Universal spent a sizeable amount of money to promote this summer’s expected hits during last weekend’s Super Bowl. Among the standout promotions were “Captain Marvel” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Pixar also released the first teaser for “Toy Story 4, ” Jordan Peele’s sophomore film, “Us,” became one of the most-viewed trailers of the night. (Empire) Woody Allen sues Amazon.
‘Empire’ Actor Attacked, Sundance + More Industry News
Photo Source: Shutterstock “Empire” actor attacked in hate crime. Jussie Smollett, of FOX’s “Empire,” was brutally attacked while walking in Chicago early Tuesday morning. As a recognizable and outspoken voice in the LGBT community, the attack has sparked a conversation on social media regarding the safety of entertainers inside the industry. “Empire” has paused production on its fifth season until further notice. (Variety) “Black Panther,” “Mrs.
What You Can Learn From Dan Levy’s Journey to ‘Schitt’s Creek’
Photo Source: Caitlin Watkins Alongside co-stars Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy (his father and co-creator), and Annie Murphy, Dan Levy says he likes to run his “Schitt’s Creek” set by having everyone check their ego at the door. “That freedom, that level playing field, is where you get the best work out of your actors.” Now airing its fifth season on Pop TV, the acclaimed single-cam sitcom has made Levy one of television’s most exciting new voices.
2019 Oscar Nominees Announced + More Industry News
Photo Source: Marvel Studios “Roma,” “The Favourite,” “Black Panther” among 2019 Academy Award nominees. The 2019 Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning with “Roma” and “The Favourite” each tied for a total of nominations. Several expected nominees didn’t make the cut, including Bradley Cooper and Barry Jenkins for Best Director. Also visibly absent from the director’s category were any female nominees.
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