In my own myth, New York has been the cornerstone of what shaped me, finally allowing myself to be in my queerness. While the New York I inhabited and the one of Audre Lorde’s life looked radically different, Lorde’s relationships and the women she loves and lusts for each leave her fuller than before.

On this July 4th weekend, the only appropriate celebration of freedom is a repeat of Juneteenth. I’ve always had a festive and carefree association with strawberries, plus everyone’s bomb-ass strawberry Juneteenth desserts inspired me to make this cream cheese strawberry pie with a coconut cookie crust.

I’m not sure what it says about me — or, more precisely perhaps, what it says about television — that this list isn’t full of characters that feel like representations of me or the people that I’m drawn to in real life.

This is very last minute but apparently tonight there will be a lunar eclipse during what is called a “full beaver moon,” which just seems like something y’all would be into.

Maybe, she finds herself thinking, there could be space for joy in this new life. Maybe, she dreams, as she finishes the last page and immediately starts the book over again, this is not so hopeless after all.

Whether you’re getting sweaty solo or have a partner in quarantine you can’t keep your hands off no matter how hot it gets, it’s a good time to bring some cool sensations to the hottest and heaviest parts of your life. That’s why all the toys highlighted here are perfect for temperature play, for a variety of types of sensations and bods. With some sweet sweet discounts throughout this post, there’s never been a better time to try bringing some chill into the bedroom.

“Because I never want to be enemies with the love of my life, that’s why.”

Here’s some good news: me and all my friends hate the cops! Also, a FREE Be Steadwell concert, Hawa Hassan is making lamb burgers, and Utah is celebrating women’s suffrage. Happy Sunday!

In 1990, Miriam Frank and Desma Holcomb released Pride At Work, a booklet on organizing for gay and lesbian rights in the workplace. They spoke with Autostraddle about their lives, this “naughty little pamphlet,” and the future of queer labor organizing. Plus, for the first time ever, the full 100-page pamphlet is being released online – right in this post!

“In Gigi’s head she’s always calculating everything and very aware of everyone’s emotions and very aware of her own emotions and then does the chaotic thing anyways. And that’s how I live my life and I love to see it on TV in someone so hot.”

Participating in my mother’s diaspora mutual aid WeChat group helped me learn how far diasporic people will go for strangers sharing a common language when governmental aid fails.

I pick up some tips and tricks from my dad for making his gunpowder — a South Indian dal and spice blend that I love to sprinkle on rice, and is also great on salads, toast and most snacks.

And we’re baaaaaaack! We’ve been gone for a while, but here’s a link to catch up on everything we covered and you maybe missed. Sending you lots of love for air conditioning, a fan, and some good TV to keep

Our thighs slapped against the tarp as we threw each other across the floor. Our eyes and ears were painted in mud like two casts of the human form. The thing that pulled me into the ring that night was desire itself.

“You have to wear pants to go outside.”

The WNBA’s abbreviated schedule for the season was released, new music from The Chicks is only a few days away after 14 years, a fund for Black trans women artists, and did the American Girl company steal the identity of a nonbinary astronomer for a doll??

“P.S. I’d hoped the picture I submitted would be with my neighborhood turkey that I’ve enjoyed searching for on my daily walk…”

My brain had already collapsed into a slowly simmering stew of anxiety and despair — finally perfect, I thought, for an Hours-themed column.

The public library is in the unique position to pick up where public education leaves off—to succeed where public education fails. It’s time we start rethinking what a library can be.

“kayla and laneia stumped me because of the long flowy mommi lounging situations in both photos, and then i got them mixed up because kayla put a set of four mini cocottes on her list, and i honestly just assumed she already owned those and laneia’s been tweeting about making dessert.”