Lucas Silveira nabbed Sexiest Man in ChartAttack’s 2009 Awards. New research confirms existing research about harsh realities for trans and gender-nonconforming youth in US Schools. Obama might talk about DADT in the State of the Union tomorrow. The Moscow mayor thinks gay pride parades are Satanic. The HRC tells you where to work. And Chicago might appoint a lez to the city council.

“I’m not sure if there was anything specific that made me feel like I needed other women. Maybe it was moving to LA with no prospects. Maybe it was breaking up with one terrible person for another terrible person. Maybe those two forms of loneliness converged into motivation. Maybe I was just tired. I can tell you this though: Befriending other queer women will save your life.”

Updates on what we currently know about Sandra Bland’s arrest and death, the US’s most extreme abortion ban struck down, Republicans’ new effort to protect “religious freedom,” and more!

Documentary films. Policy initiatives. Direct action. These 20 activists are doing it all to save the world — and they’re Autostraddle readers just like you!

Research on nationwide LGBT legal equality, bisexuals in the UK, racism in the university classroom, and religion. PLUS updates on your fave/least fave Republicans, police practices overhaul in Cleveland, new laws and more!

We’ve broadly written off intense and deep relationships between these fearless suffrage leaders as “friendships” for years, but it’s worth considering what we’re erasing when we do.

The state of conversion therapy, campus sexual assault protests at Columbia, Marylin Zuniga and get-well cards for Mumia, an anti-trans bathroom bill in Nevada, abortion laws in Oklahoma, and more!

“Why do we only collect coming out stories, it-gets-better stories, these stories that are set in the past, that tell of a particular set of experiences that not everyone can relate to? Stories that treat the future as if it doesn’t come with a problems of its own.”

One Big Happy is getting funnier and funnier, Nyssa Al Ghul is back to kicking ass on Arrow, and Sam and Laura finally go on their honeymoon on Newlyweds: The First Year.

Sisters, won’t you step into the light with us?

A look at Ted Cruz’s horrible policy proposals, a bunch of college dudebros get punished for their misogynistic actions, Los Tigres del Norte win an award for singing about lesbian love, conservative lawmakers propose more dangerous legislation and more news stories.

“Jamie Babbit has been trying to put dildos in her films for YEARS.”

Hannah Hart and other YouTube stars you love hand down some advice to their younger selves, a weasel hitches a ride on a woodpecker’s back, Planet Fitness makes us proud, Amy Poehler lays down some sick rhymes, the SCOTUS gets peer pressured for good, and, oh right! Your first peek at the Supergirl TV show costume.

Also, Queen Elizabeth thinks you’re wonderful. Yes, you!

Mercury is in retrograde right now, so I’m betting you could use a whole lot of affirming news that doesn’t disorient you, make you lose your wallet, or tempt you to completely change your life. Here it is!

Vienna’s staging a massive kiss-in in the name of lesbianism, a Pusheen pillow is coming to a world near you, this dog rides the bus all by herself, and one clerk in Texas won’t back down on gay marriage. All that and more in the rose-tinted world of this week’s Sunday Funday!

Say some Hail Marys and make a sign of the cross, because these episodes are a hot, sexy mess. If you’ve been hanging in there and waiting for some extra-flamey gay witch action, then these episodes are for you.

“Let’s take a moment of silence for all of us women in the U.S. who did not know until this season that in Canada y’all throw axes for fun, and who are now contemplating crossing the border. I can’t be the only one whose world was rocked this hard by axe throwing.”

What, you didn’t think the gift giving was over, did you? We spent the holiday week cozied-up and reading through every one of your (many, many!) awesome comments. You’ve been so good this year; we wish we could wrap you all in a big family group hug! But due to the physical limitations of the internet, we’re giving out comment awards instead.

Topics include horror in New Orleans, late ’70s gay life in Kansas, family farming, turning 14 in Cincinnati, Teach for America and more!