Phaylen Fairchild
(She/Her)
Covers:
LGBTQ+ Social and Cultural issues, US and UK Politics, Equality, Feminism, Mainstream Pop Culture, Film industry
Doesn't Cover:
Sports, Religion
Articles by Phaylen Fairchild
A Routine Visit To The ER for Chronic Insomnia Almost Landed One Trans Woman in a Mental Hospital
Throughout the years-long course of these missives about cultural and social conflict keeping minorities in the crosshairs of an increasingly tumultuous era, a simple visit to the hospital nearly landed me in a mental institution last night. Here’s how it went down. A little background for new readers: I’m an out and very proud intersex trans woman whose appearance manifests as distinctly female, but whose body presented as male at birth.
Trump Creates 1776 Fund, Demands US Taxpayers Reimburse His Billionaire Allies Biden Taxed
You can’t make this up. What’s disturbing is that mainstream media reports stories like this so straightforwardly, with barely a critique or even a flicker of shock. It’s exactly why mainstream news is dying: apathy. Apparently, headlines reading “Trump Robs the Working Class to Funnel Tax Dollars to the Wealthy” were considered a little too on-the-nose.
The World Bids Farewell To Queer Music Icon, Enya
Everyone knows Enya, one part of the lush trio; a layered, new age vocalist who captured a global audience first with her crossover hit “Orinoco Flow” and later, the album “A Day Without Rain” featuring the track “Only Time” that cradled a mourning country through the tragedy of 9/11.
Trans In Trump’s America
As the entire world watches the United States of America slip into a deeply degraded shadow of its former self, much due to the vile, divisive, and incredulous actions of U.S. President Donald Trump’s hostile administration, many transgender and nonbinary people are seeking a way out of the country.
DC Reveals Supergirl Film, Gets Pummeled By Transphobic Abuse
By Phaylen Fairchild It's Wednesday, so you know what that means: another cisgender woman is being attacked by superhero fans, labeling star Milly Alcock a "trans woman" and the entire project as "woke slop." Comic book film fans were not rejoicing upon the reveal of DC/Warner Bros.' latest entry into the billion-dollar franchise that the studio has committed to revamping.
Should Famous People Be Nice?
Pop singer Chappell Roan had a mad dash to Stardom just a couple of years ago. Now, her fans are leaving her in the past like a bad ex. I remember watching Chappell Roan absolutely floor a photographer at 2024 MTV VMA's, and it made headlines for weeks after. Finger pointed, head cocked, eyes burning. Having overheard a photographer tell another photographer to "Shut the F*ck up," she turned the remark into her own and turned her fury onto them press pool.
Google, Meta Found Liable For Social Media Mental Harm To Children
By Phaylen Fairchild You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who won't tell you about the negative impacts of social media, whether on themselves, their children, or someone they know personally. Today, a U.S. court in Los Angeles, in a landmark case, has found both Meta and Google, owner of YouTube, responsible for contributing to the poor mental health of young users on their respective platforms.
Trump Demands Anthropic Tools for Autonomous Weapons, Mass Citizen Surveillance. They Said No.
In a moment that may define the future relationship between artificial intelligence, state power, and the global population, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, refused to remove two specific restrictions on his company’s AI systems for use by the United States Department of War. Anthropic claims the company supports the use of AI in the majority of military and intelligence use cases, according to Amodei and roughly 98 to 99 percent of requested applications of use by the government are permitted.
Say Their Names: Stop Blaming Entire Nations for the Crimes of Leaders
There is a 50-year-old Russian woman in her backyard, rationing what little milk she has so a litter of stray kittens can survive. She did not invade Ukraine. She did not order bombs to fall. In fact, she likely despises the man who did. Yet when she hears chants of “F*ck Russia,” she understands that she is included in that condemnation. To the outside world, she is Russia. She is not.
Let’s Talk About ‘White Culture’ MAGA is peddling
There is no such thing as a “White culture.” There is European culture. There is Black and Hispanic culture. There is Indigenous culture. It’s quite easy to think of elements of culture that have a worldly reflection, like Irish, German, Indian, and Afrikaner cultures. America, an incredibly young nation, was born of immigrants, at the expense of the Indigenous people who called this land home.
Second Life: From a 23 Year old Avatar
Ever hear of Second Life? Sure you have. It burst onto the tech and gaming scene in 2003 and quickly gripped our fascination with future technological possibilities. The fun kind. We were going to live across a vast virtual reality, a place with the internet fully integrated. We’d watch movies together, surf the web, create our spaces in a collaborative, intimate yet open world that allowed us to be seen through the lens through which we saw ourselves.
Mali: A Cisgender Woman Who Found Herself In Anti-Trans Crosshairs
I have to tell you about an amazing woman. I first got to know Mali Apple, along with her husband Joe Dunn, via TikTok. The two 60-something grandparents are the authors of multiple books that celebrate love and sex positivity. Originally, their content, which they produce as a duo, focused on the themes their three books explore: love, sex, monogamy, and the pitfalls couples often encounter that can stagnate a long-term relationship. Good content. But I’m not doing any of those things.
AI Panic! A Cultural Defense of Artificial Intelligence
For much of human history, new creative tools have arrived under intense, often exaggerated suspicion. The printing press was accused of cheapening scholarship. Photography was dismissed as a mere mechanical imitation, accused of destroying the pristine nature of raw human art.
MAGA vs AMERICA: A WAR LOST
Phaylen Fairchild · Follow 7 min read · -- On January 6th, 2021 acolytes of Donald Trump openly declared war on the United States of America by attacking the Capitol Building to prevent the Joe Biden, the winner of the 2020 Presidential election. It was a violent, deadly attack. On January 20th, 2025, the war was won by Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. And it was a war.
A Letter To The Children of My Dead Best Friend
You don't know me. I don't know how to do this, because I never thought a day like this would come where I had to navigate this new territory. People who do know me would tell you that if given the chance I would write you a book, so I'll try to be brief here. I'm Phaylen. I've been your mom's best friend since we were 11 years old. We were weird opposites; your Mom was the beautiful cheerleader with a loud, foul mouth and I was a transgender, traumatized goth kid in all black.
We Need To Talk About Andy Cohen
The Bravo hitmaker and executive produce of the global television franchise " Real Housewives " has built an empire off the backs of women around the world. The smash franchise launched in 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County and has since expanded to ensconce groups of diverse women from 11 different US cities and 21 International hotspots. The series was created by producer Scott Dunlop, but has been predominantly shaped by Bravo TV executive Andy Cohen.
I'm The Other Woman... Again
Your girlfriend called after finding my shared location for our date on your phone. I met Tayler 10 years ago while performing in a bar. We had this intense chemistry that's rare. We were young and beautiful and free to taste everything the buffet of life offered. We went out, made out... did a little more. After several months I accepted his friend request on Facebook. That was when I saw it. Engagement photos posted by his former fiancé that she had posted and tagged him in.
Hollywood Died and Nobody Noticed
It isn't just a strike, it's a tipping point that will define an entire industry forever. Although this isn't my typical beat, as a writer, it has personally impacted myself and most of my friends.
Conservatives Building Trans Mythologies To Justify Genocide
No one is identifying as a cat in high school and demanding a litter box in the corner. Yet, that what extremist anti-trans campaigners really want you to believe. In 2017, a Quebec woman appeared on the internet in a since deleted video to decry trans people by claiming a shift in gender meant that children would soon start identifying as animals.
The Problem With The Young Turks
By Phaylen Fairchild Since 2002, The Young Turks (Abbreviated TYT) has grown into a formidable news resource, turning their anchors into up bona fide celebrities of the progressive movement. Transitioning early on from Sirius Radio to a full blown production on YouTube with over 5 million subscribers, the once liberal team put together by founder Cenk Uygur, who in 2013, crowd funded over 250,000 USD to build the developing news network their very own...
Famed Institute Warns US is Leaning Into Trans Genocide
The Lemkin Institute was founded in the name of Polish attorney Raphael Lemkin who coined the term "Genocide" in 1943. Five years later, Lemkin saw the United Nations establish the Genocide Convention- the first human rights treaty- also known as the "Never Again" doctrine among the international community- signed collectively in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
On The Nashville Shooter From a Trans Perspective
Over the last decade, like many of you, I've sat day after day, week after week, reeling from the horrific mass shootings that have turned America into blood drenched battleground. From churches, shopping malls and departments stores, to city parks and college campuses- and even small schoolhouses where our most vulnerable are learning their alphabet; Murder is commonplace by gun wielding extremists who leave death in their wake.
This Trans Woman Says “Play Hogwarts Legacy”
Over the last year I’ve received countless messages and had more than my fair share of conversations with so many people about a video game- specifically, Hogwarts Legacy, a new high end role playing game set in the magical world of Harry Potter. Of course, it was none other than the controversial author J.K Rowling herself who wrote the books that would become an intergenerational phenom, now forever embedded into the annals of pop culture.
What Happened to Tangerine Actress Mya Taylor?
Back in 2015, Mya Taylor’s name was on the lips of everyone in Hollywood after delivering a powerhouse performance in the indie film Tangerine, the critical darling and audience favorite filmed by director Sean Baker on a shoestring budget with iphones. Along with his writer, Chris Bergoch, Baker found Taylor and her would-be co-star, Kiki Rodriguez hanging outside the Los Angeles LGBT Community Center. The director approached them and asked them if they’d like to be in a movie.
Was HBOMax’s Velma A Deliberate, Calculated Flop
Did you watch Velma? I wanted to love it. It’d be nearly impossible not to, theoretically; It takes ne of the most iconic figures in animation, a strong independent woman, and postures itself as her origin story. Except no one expected her to be such a villain. Here’s the truth. It’s really awful. That’s not bandwagon jumping… it’s as bad as you’ve heard.
Iconic Band Pink Floyd Bombarded with Anti-LGBT Hate For Rainbow In Logo
“GO WOKE GO BROKE, SELLOUTS!” That was just one of the 3,000 comments left on the status update by Legendary band Pink Floyd in celebration of their 50 year anniversary. Bizarrely enough, the prism has been a part of the band’s brand since their 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon. The artwork for the album cover featuring a refracting prism has easily become one of the most recognizable images in music history.
US / UK Trans Communities Begin Talking About Great Migration
Transgender people on both sides of the Atlantic have endured an onslaught of radicalized politicians, smear campaigns whipped up by the conservative media and dangerous legislation that makes them more threatened and vulnerable to violence and discrimination than ever before. Many trans residents across both countries are now saying it’s time to leave.
Texas AG Wanted List Of Every Trans Person In His State
Inching closer and closer to the unimaginable horrors of history, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton demanded a list be compiled of every transgender person in his State.
Texas AG Wanted List Of Every Trans Person In His State
Inching closer and closer to the unimaginable horrors of history, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton demanded a list be compiled of every transgender person in his State. The point of going on such a sister pursuit of procuring public records of trans residents that had changed their Driver’s License marker, applied for gender marker alterations on documents such as a state ID, Paxton and sought to use this master list of all known trans individuals for purposes?
Arkansas Introduces Heinous Anti-LGBTQ Bill Targeting Trans People
The bill aims to classify Drag shows as “Adult Entertainment” similarly to Adult theaters, strip clubs and sex shops. Conservative legislators have resurrected archaic ideologies in order to weaponize the law against LGBTQ performers and trans or non-binary people in society, specifically when it comes to strict dress codes.
Rolling Stone Made a List of 200 Musicians of All Time- and It left out Many Icons
When it comes to the true judgement of good music, legendary divas, cultural icons and a celebration of genuine talent, look no further than the LGBTQ+ community, many of whose lives revolve around music and celebrating the artistry of sound and storytelling.
Elon Musk's Anti-Trans Abuse On Twitter is Personal
By Phaylen Fairchild Since Elon Musk got wine drunk and blew 44 Billion dollars buying the worlds largest town square, he's used it to target his political opposition, personal adversaries and personal enemies. So, how did the entire transgender community find themselves on the end of Musk's freshly sharpened pike, exposed to daily rhetoric and hate campaigns insitgated against them by the ost powerful influencer on...
To All Trans Folks, I Lift a Glass in Your Honor
By Phaylen Fairchild We in the trans community have been fighting the most immeasurably cruel and nefarious culture war for years now. A few friends and I discuss our trans worlds as divided into two parts BT and AT - Before Trump and After Trump. While it's easy to hang the hat of blame for all of our worldly ails on a single man; A Man who tried to strip of our healthcare, ban us from military...
The Shocking Revelation that Not Everyone Hates You
By Phaylen Fairchild It might feel like that some days on social media- the barrage of insults, smear campaigns, political attacks and billionaire bile spewed all over the trans community, but here's the kicking; It's an Illusion. It's all (Mostly) fake. Watching the saga unfold around Meghan Markle that culminated in the powerful Netflix Documentary Harry & Meghan...
People Are Trolling The Extreme Right Targeting Drag Bars
By Phaylen Fairchild We must acknowledge that this is a compounding issue. It began with Florida Governor Rick DeSantis referring to gay people as pedophiles and groomers. The gauntlet was picked up by the very worst ilk of our extremist representatives and senators who saw this fractious time in the post-trump era as a veritable green light to attack, terrorize and fight for the right to discriminate against an...
The Problem With Candace Cameron Bure
By Phaylen Fairchild Full House star Candance Cameron Bure has been a household name since starring in the 80's hit TV show Full House along with its recent reboot that reunited the cast Fuller House. Although Bure's religious beliefs, like most of her family, had always been worn on her sleeve in perhaps the most obnoxious way possible- you know- inspiring her to impart words of love and positive affirmations while...
The US Supreme Court Is Now An Alt-Right Political Machine
By Phaylen Fairchild Remember when the memo was leaked last year foretelling the fate of Roe vs. Wade and the nation went into a meltdown? The evangelicals and hyper-conservatives rejoiced while progressive liberals went into overdrive in an effort to protect the 50 year old law that protects a woman's sovereignty over her own body.
Elon Musk Lifted Trump's Twitter Ban- Trump Said "No Thanks"
By Phaylen Fairchild Trump was banned from multiple social media sites after encouraging his followers to conduct a riot on the US Capitol Building. The absolute anarchy is still unfolding at Twitter, with Elon Musk revoking the bans on the most notorious and dangerous members of public society- people who've targeted others, incited violence, organized criminal activities...
Is the Twitter Revolt Real?
By Phaylen Fairchild This is not the first time swaths of people have stood up against a billionaire controlling an international dialog. As early as 2013, Facebook had already revealed itself to be the worst, most dangerous social media corporation on the internet. It tried to be the internet. With that responsibility under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg had already made a mess of things. Facebook illegally collected information...
Here's The Things You Probably Forgot Trump Did
By Phaylen Fairchild It's been a long, long 7 years since former President Donald Trump oozed down the escalators of Trump Tower to throngs of flashbulbs as he announced his 2016 candidacy for US President. No one took him serious. How could they? He was a caricature of a human being, often playing up himself in the media appearing in everything from Home Alone 2, to making cameo appearances on World ...
I Subscribed to Twitter Blue So you Don't Have To...
By Phaylen Fairchild I'll be unsubscribing at the end of the month. I joined Twitter waaaay back in 2007, long before Twitter Blue, even before dark mode was an option. Ad were less encroaching on the experience, and you actually saw the status updates your friends made appear in your timeline. At some point on the very bumpy road Twitter took as it tried to fashion itself...
A Transwoman Stripped Naked on Live UK TV... and it was Necessary
By Phaylen Fairchild During the popular Channel 4 television variety show, Comedian Jordan Gray performed a hilarious song, and to the shock and awe of the nation, had her clothes stripped off for the finale. Gray, who has a wonderful, lighthearted air to her comedy, but most certainly- and perhaps most importantly, self affirming themes, decided to use the platform lent to...
Republicans Vow To Reverse Marriage Equality
By Phaylen Fairchild Democrats, who currently control the House and Senate, had initially lined up to force the GOP on a vote to take measures to protect same-sex marriage, but have made the decision to wait. Republican have made it resoundingly clear that controlling the Supreme Court provides them an advantage in their pursuit of overturning the landmark Obergefell vs. Hodges ruling in 2015 that forced...
What A Future Without A History Looks Like
By Phaylen Fairchild Conservatives are fast-tracking an erasure of world history because it is a shameful one- and it will allow them to turn the horrors of yesteryear into a future fate we cannot escape. The passage of time has been been a friend to the most vile and violent of human potential. As we have drifted further and further from tragic past events, the wealthy and powerful have leveraged that space...
Are WB/Discovery Honchos Waging War against "Woke"?
By Phaylen Fairchild The Warner Bros / Discovery Merger and the exodus of diverse material from most of its networks, channels, films and media have a lot of people inside the industry believing the leadership is using their power to rail against liberal ideologies. Although there have been inklings over the past several years of the radical new direction spearheaded by Discovery CEO David Zaslav...
Battle Fatigue and the Transgender Community
By Phaylen Fairchild For years now, there has been a relentless barrage of unprovoked, baseless attacks and many transgender people are tired. It comes in endless waves, daily, both in America and the United Kingdom. Every day, it's the media propelling their anti-trans agendas, rife with deliberate lies and curated misinformation into the mainstream. Sometimes they muse over ...
Children's Hospital Terrorized By A Hate Group
By Phaylen Fairchild A Hate Group called LibsOfTikTok, which is credited with providing the Florida GOP with language deeming gay men "Groomers," and proudly brags that they've gotten LGBTQ+ teachers around the country fired from their jobs, have turned their venomous focus on a US Children's Hospital. The Boston Children's Hospital is an advanced healthcare institution in Massachusetts specializing in...
Truth Social Is Building An Army For Donald Trump
By Phaylen Fairchild IMAGE: The Guardian Truth Social, the social media app created by Donald Trump and his allies to circumvent his ban from other major platforms, has become a national security threat. I joined Donald Trump's Truth Social out of morbid curiosity. I knew going in that it would be full of white nationalists and bigots spoon feeding each other raw, unfiltered hatred. Those expectations were met and...
Anne Heche Did More For LGBTQ+ People Than You Realize- And Paid A Price
The internet was buzzing with the news of the fiery car crash in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. Since then, Heche has been thrust into the limelight once again as the public develops more awareness of who the star is and her path to this tragic moment.
Republicans Effort To Declare LGBT+ A Religion Backfired
By Phaylen Fairchild Back in January, and for the second time since 2018, the GOP of North Dakota introduced House Bill 1476 and intended to ratify it into law. Like so many of the deeply discriminatory bills, this was a new and bold way to strip all LGBTQ of their rights by laying the groundwork to reclassify the community as an organized religion referred to as "Secular humanists." In...
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