![A black and white photo of a young Tina Turner screaming.](https://www.autostraddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GettyImages-532614955.jpg?w=900&resize=900%2C900)
Photo by Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
I’ve been playing Miss Tina nonstop today.
Wherever you are and however this finds you — sending you all so much love, 💜.
Saw This, Thought of You
A woman who deserves divine rest pic.twitter.com/8BbR0dLSof
— Harmony Holiday (@Harmony_Holiday) May 24, 2023
“Tina Turner knew her voice had no limitations. It was a tool of liberation and vibration. A tool to connect with the divine. And Turner used her voice to get free.”
That comes to you from: Tina Turner Brought Rock & Roll Back Home To Black Women by Taylor Crumpton for Refinery29, which has been my favorite obituary to read since Tina Turner’s passing. I haven’t found the words yet for the profound sadness I have felt about the rocket to the sun that was Tina Turner leaving this earth, but whew does Taylor come close.
42 Moments When Tina Turner Defined Fashion
Tina Turner: Rock ‘n Roll’s Greatest Showman Was Always a Woman
We, Tina. This is from the Black queer podcast Still Processing from 2021, during the debut of Tina Turner’s HBO documentary Tina (which you should all watch). They rereleased it yesterday.
Queer as in F*ck You
Ok technically — technically!! — this isn’t gay. But I want you to look me straight in the eye and tell me that Kate McKinnon offering Margot Robbie’s Barbie the red pill/blue pill choice between her Barbie Heels (symbolizing Barbieland) and BIRKENSTOCKS (symbolizing, reality) and tell me that shit isn’t gay. This movie is about to be my Tár and I’m so sorry for everyone that’s going to have to put up with me this summer. New Barbie Trailer just dropped.
With Help From Brandi Carlile and Shane McAnally, Queer Pioneer Brandy Clark Looks Beyond Nashville
Target Removes Some Pride Month Products After Facing Threats. “Target will pull some of its LGBTQ+ merchandise from its Pride Month collection after facing backlash that threatened the safety of its workers, the company said.”
“Trans kids are kids—and they deserve to be able to dress up and dance. And a few of them came to Washington, D.C. Monday to do that, and make a statement in the process.” Trans Prom Is the Reminder This Country Needs (my god, how I love this.)
My Years Behind the Curtain. “Starting a modeling career in America meant hiding I was trans.” — Geena Rocero for The Cut.
Kane C. Andrade’s Empowering Portraits of Trans Men
Google Searches Questioning Sexuality and Gender up 1,300% Since 2004, Analysis Shows. We love to see it!
And this is amazing news from our very own Sa’iyda Shabazz — she will be moderating a virtual panel for Pride on queer visibility and authorship. Panelists are star-studded, including Chris Colfer, Cameron Esposito, and Alexandra Billings and the whole shebang is being hosted by Pride and Less Prejudice, which sends queer and trans-inclusive books to classrooms from pre-K to 3rd grade. This is just great all around and you can register here.
Political Snacks
GOP Lawmaker Complains That Biden Isn’t Picking Enough Straight, White Male Judges
Ron DeSantis, A Strongman Who Isn’t Dumb. “For all its errors, DeSantis’s plan to out-Trump Trump can still work.” The prospect of Ron DeSantis becoming president terrifies me, I don’t care how bungled the start of his campaign has been.
One Final Thing
Three years ago today, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. As we commemorate his death and reflect on how many of our people have been murdered by the state and white supremacy, we are devastated. pic.twitter.com/9W8hFz4Jgt
— Movement 4 Black Lives (@Mvmnt4BlkLives) May 25, 2023
George Floyd & The Enduring Disregard For Black Humanity
i read that trans prom story this morning and it made my fuckin day 😭🥰
It’s so moving, right?
also, some rare…well, not good but non-dire news here – anti-trans youth healthcare bill in louisiana was killed by a republican state legislator
https://www.lsureveille.com/news/trans-youth-healthcare-ban-killed-in-louisiana/article_7d942ae0-fac1-11ed-b232-6f7faeabd8b6.html –
Barbie singing Closer to Fine in her Barbie car!!! I can’t wait.
Surprised by how that made me a little bit emotional and very ready to go on that whole journey.
Thank you for the Tina Turner links!
+1!!!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I’m not even American and it makes me ABSOLUTELY furious that since George’s death, nothing has changed. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me otherwise. Police brutality is still a thing. Police killing innocent Black people is still a thing. Gun violence is out of control and there’s no change on the horizon. It makes me sick, furious and heartbroken to think there are Black kids who have the very real thought of ‘I wonder if walking home will get me killed today.’
RIP George. 1973-2020.
Love to see the queer & trans joy!
My Mom still has the 45′ record of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love got to do with it” from when she lived in New York in the eighties. I just want to echo what Harmony said-A divine Woman who deserves divine Rest. I love that.
This is such a beautiful memory. Thank you for sharing, Nova!
Love is the bridge between you and everything