Thursday, March 19: TNG Relaunch Party

TNG Co-founder, contributor and webmaster Michael breathes this sigh of relief.

Well, we've finally done it. We've pushed the limits of this little Blogger website we've been running. We've asked you for your feedback, and we're taking it to heart. Next week, we're launching a brand new The New Gay website.

We're so excited that we are dedicating our mixer at Solly's this month to the launch of The NEW New Gay website. We plan to have the site go live before Thursday, so you should have the opportunity to check it out and give us your feedback in person.

Oh, and if you're interested in being a beta-tester of the site, please let me know. Especially if you read via feed readers or from cities outside DC. We really want your feedback to ensure a smooth transition.

See you Thursday. RSVP on Facebook.

TNG Relaunch Party, Thursday March 19, 8 PM to Midnight, Solly's U St Tavern, 1942 11th St NW

PS: No, we're not changing the name to The New New Gay, though we would be able to register the dot-com URL of that.

PPS: Thanks in advance to TNG reader Selena for all her WordPress help.

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TNG Needs YOU!

What would happen if playwright Tennessee Williams, rockstar Courtney Love, writer Toni Morrison, and some leather punk guy with a mohawk who drinks his own blood were put in a room and asked to talk about whatever is on their minds? I’m not sure, but we think it would be an interesting conversation.

A major goal of TNG is to expand the narrow mainstream definition of what it means to be gay by providing a forum for you to share your diverse ideas, events, and interests. Even if you don't write like legends or live eccentric lives, we want your...

Ideas: Have a piece of entertaining short fiction, a thoughtful essay, an interesting personal story, or just a couple of paragraphs on a thought or experience you had while riding the metro/shaving your cat/disposing of the body? Submit it.

Events: Got an interesting event you want to promote that extends your social life beyond a couple of prominent gay bars? Let TNG know about it.

Interests: Do you like to write about postmodern art? New Wave cinema? hungarian folk/underground hip-hop/classic country, etc., music? Do you have a great photograph or collection of photos that you want to show everybody? TNG wants to hear from you.

If there is something you are interested in that's not on the site, that doesn't mean we don't want it. TNG is counting on you to introduce new types of content and varied perspectives.

Send your stuff to submit@thenewgay.net and join the conversation today.

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TNG: In Case You Missed It - 3/6/09

TNG Events Editor and Contributor Jolly brings you this glimpse of the week that was every Friday afternoon.

Happy Weekend! It took getting through a snowstorm, but we've made it through to something resembling Spring this first week of March. The weather report for this weekend looks glorious - take advantage of it while it lasts! But, in case you need a break from all of that sunshine, fresh air and frolicking, a good way to spend your time is catching up on all the good stuff you may have missed here on TNG in the past week.

So, for your perusing pleasure, presented below is a roundup of some of the most talked-about posts from the past week. As always, it's never too late to get in the discussion, so enjoy.

This week on TNG, in case you missed it:

In Commentary:

• Looking to take in a show? Check out our March Theatre Roundup for the scoop on what's going on around town this month.

• We highlighted a moment in history, as the Kameny Historic House was named a DC landmark.

• Maggie debuted the latest episode in the New Lefthand Lesbians series. Check it out!

• Zack declared his love of the body - namely body hair and foreskin, and making out.

• Corey planted a big one on you with his Sexual Disorientation column about the first kiss. Got some advice to share?

• We stepped into the Ladies' Room to find out why no one wants to watch a movie with Amelie.

• TNG reader Lance talked older men.

In Music:

• Rocky provided us with a lion of a mixtape in this week's What We're Listening To.

• The fun was doubled when we asked Two Straight Guys about life and music.

• Zack's Indie Rock Fag disclosed his Neko Case stalking tendencies.

In Politics:

• We asked some questions about what's going on down in Gainesville and then provided some answers.

• Our attention was turned to the issue of asylum for sexual minorities in our Global Gaze column.

• Dispatches From Left Field took on the issue of Enfranchisement.

Also:

• A roundup of the weekend's events was presented - don't forget to set your clocks ahead this weekend!

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TNG: In Case You Missed It - 2/27/09

TNG Events Editor and Contributor Jolly brings you a look at the week that was every Friday.

Welcome to the weekend! I hope your final week of February was a good one. There were the Oscars, Fat Tuesday, unseasonably warm weather, and many other exciting things to keep everyone busy the last few days. And now, just in time for the weekend, comes word of rain - and lots of it. I guess I jinxed the whole thing when I said March was going to start out rather un-lion-like (sorry!) judging for the weather report for the next few days. But a rainy weekend can be a good time to relax, stay under the covers...and catch up on any reading you may have fallen behind on over the past week!

With this in mind, below you will find a sampling of some of the most-discussed posts here on TNG. It's never too late to get in on the conversation, so feel free to read and discuss. Have a great (and dry) weekend everyone!

This week on TNG:

In Commentary:

• Ed asked our community to defend our equality and reclaim our brithright.

• Ben opened up his notebook and discussed everything from Mickey Rourke to Teen Spirit.

• The new New Lefthand Lesbians was unveiled.

• Amelie invited us into the Ladies' Room and asked where her girls at.

• Corey gave us an update on the status of the recognition of gay couples in the Lutheran Chruch.

• Dispatches from Left Field contemplated phtotgraphic freedom.

• TNG Editorial Assistant Gem shared her dream with us.

In Music:

• Rocky once again brought us the 411 on what the TNG staff is listening to and backed it up with a mixtape. What's your soundtrack for the week been?

• We asked a couple of straight girls, Drug Rug's Sarah Cronin and Those Darlins’ Jesse Darlin, and a straight guy, the Harlem Shakes' Lexy Benaim, about life, love, and, of course, music.

• Zack explored the nature of loyalty and identity when it comes to music in his Indie Rock Fag column.

In Politics:

• The call was put out to help kill a bill which promotes discrimination in Gainesville, Florida. Will you pick up the phone?

Also:

• We gave you a few suggestions of things to do this weekend, in case you want to brave the rain. Got anything to add to the list?

• Last Saturday's Homo/Sonic featuring My Dear Disco was recapped. Did you see yourself?

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TNG: In Case You Missed It - 2/20/09

TNG Events Editor and Contributor Jolly brings you the week-in-review every Friday.


And another week passes. Happy Weekend! For those of you who work in industries which don't consider the concept of a "Federal Holiday" mysterious and totally ignorable, it was a short week. For the rest of us, it was...a week. But it's over now, so woo!

Whether your week was long or short, it was probably busy, and things may have fallen through the cracks. Never fear, In Case You Missed It is here. It's never too late to read over a post or add to a discussion. Below you'll find a digest of the most discussed and note-worthy posts of the past few days, in case you missed it.

This week on TNG:

In Commentary:

• TNG reader Kyle spelled out what it means to him to be G-A-Y. What does it mean to you?

• Zack discussed various loves he has all week, beginning with t-shirts and moving on to euphamisms, gray hair, and Cute Boy Syndrome. Do you share his love?

• We checked in with the New Lefthand Lesbians.

• Marcel, a TNG reader, discussed his quest to learn to love his inner hetero. Is there a hetero in you?

• A Valentine's lesson was learned In The Ladies' Room.

• Corey and Rocky showed us their Wide Stance.

In Music:

• We gave away tickets to see Lucinda Williams. Did you ever bond with your parents over music?

• Rocky told you What We're Listening To and then delivered the goods.

• My Dear Disco's Michelle Chamuel was interviewed. Check her out live this Saturday at Homo/Sonic.

In Politics:

• We checked in on the march towards equality in Nepal and Sweden.

Also:

• We offered up some suggestions of ways to celebrate this weekend.

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Don't Forget: Homo/Sonic is Tomorrow!

This post was written by TNG cofounder Zack.


This weekend is a busy one for the DC alterna-queer set. TNG's co-ed queer dance party, Homo/Sonic, is taking place on Saturday Night. So is MixTaint, a combination of two of the best existing DC parties. So what's a homo to do?

We here at TNG are super excited about My Dear Disco, the queer-fronted 7-piece dance band that's driving all the way down from Michigan (in a veggie-oil powered bus!) to rock our faces off. They come on at 10. After that resident Homo/Sonic DJs Michael and Zack come on to play their usual mix of classics, new favorites and pretty much anything that you request.

Details for the party are below. Please come check us out tomorrow and, of course, have a good weekend.

Homo/Sonic with Special Guest My Dear Disco, Black Cat Mainstage,
Saturday Feb. 21, All Ages, $10

Doors at 9:30, Band at 10, DJs around 11:15.

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Reminder: Homo/Sonic with My Dear Disco, This Saturday.

This post is submitted by TNG founder Zack, who has finally recovered from the last Homo/Sonic.


Though it seems like we're still scrubbing lipstick off the shot glasses of our last Homo/Sonic dance party , we are here to remind you that our next one is coming up this Saturday, Feb. 21st at the mainstage of the Black Cat.

Even more excitingly, we have booked a band to play the early portion. They are called My Dear Disco, they hail from Ann Arbor and their lead singer is a super cute queer girl. MDD has the ability to whip crowds into a teeming, foaming frenzy so we hope you will come out to see them.

Just to be sure, we included a My Dear Disco mixtape below the fold.

Homo/Sonic with Special Guest My Dear Disco, Black Cat Mainstage,
Saturday Feb. 21, 9:30 PM, All Ages, $10

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

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TNG: In Case You Missed It - 2/13/09

TNG Events Editor Jolly leads you on this stroll down short-term memory lane.

Happy Weekend! Congratulations on making it another week, and what a week it was. We had unseasonably warm temperatures which made us forget that it was in fact early February (and Maggie, for one, was not pleased). We also celebrated the birth of both Lincoln and Darwin, and we prepped for this weekend, debating Valentine's Day and (some of us) looking forward to a long weekend. Oh, and it's Friday the 13th - be careful out there!

With all of the excitement (and the wind - what was up with that wind?!) it's not surprising that something may have slipped under your radar. Don't worry, we've got you covered. Below the fold is some of what we had to offer this week, in case you missed it!

This week:

In Commentary:

• Matt discussed his gay identity and the role it plays in his life in his Dispathes From Left Field column.

• A defense of the Human Rights Campaign was launched.

• Craig kicked off Black History Month.

• Allison put this week's blog of the week, The Discerning Brute, on our radar.

• We stepped In The Ladies' Room to find out what, exactly, lesbians like.

• The movie Milk sparked a discussion about a possible paradigm shift.

• Ed let us know about a new book which presents Reagan in a not-so-flattering light.

• Episode seven of The New Lefthand Lesbians was unveiled.

• We were introduced to the new Cobalt.

• Summer Camp helped out a bad dancer.

In Music:

• Rocky presented this week's list of What We're Listening To and mixtape along with a healthy dose of anti-Valentine's Day sentiments.

• Zack's new column, Indie Rock Fag, debuted with a list of gay love songs. Got one to add?

Also:

• Some ideas for how to keep you busy this weekend were presented.

• We put out a call for illustrators and photographers to help us with our image(s).

Your favorite post or discussion not make it on the list? Fight for it below! Have a great weekend everyone!

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Sign Up for Our Email List!

This (scant) post was written by TNG founder Zack, who is having too much fun with clip art.

Ask and ye shall recieve! It is true of getting a Tijuana handshake from Summer Camp and now it also applies to receiving TNG updates via email. Several of you have asked if you have a mailing list to subscribe to and now we do. If you are unable to check TNG (or can't because you're at work, or any other such excuse) we can now send weekly roundups, ticket giveaways, event schedules and other special announcements to you. We also promise not to sell your info to anyone. To sign up, simply click here.

This is also as good a time as any to remind you to take our reader survey.

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Next Thursday: "My Dear Disco" Party at Solly's

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.



We hope you're ready to have a TNG-full week because we're holding two events over the course of three days. We've already told you to save the date for our next Homo/Sonic and it's performance by lesbian-fronted dance band My Dear Disco. But we're so excited about MDD that our next Solly's mixer will feature opportunities to win both copies of their new DanceThink LP and free entrance into the next Homo/Sonic. Details of the giveaways will be released next week, but we really think you should come by to meet some cool people and win some cool stuff.

As usual, our parties are co-ed, trans-inclusive and straight-friendly.

RSVP on Facebook. You can also check out an MDD mixtape below the fold.

Details: Thursday, Feb. 19, Solly's, 1942 11th St. NW, free, 8 p.m.-12 a.m., 21+.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

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TNG Needs Illustrators and Photographers

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.

You may have noticed in the last few weeks that many of our posts are decorated a notch above our standard Google image search adornments. Our cartoonist Maggie has been nice enough to donate a number of original illustrations to individual posts in addition to her time-consuming Lefthand Lesbian creations. Our site is better for her art but if Maggie has to do all the illustrations herself she is either going to suffer from Carpal Tunnel or a coronary. That's where you come in.

TNG is looking for your original art to use in your posts. If you draw or paint we can "commission" you to make an original illustration for a given post. If you take photographs you can help us build up a bank of stock art to use on the site. In both cases you will be credited for your work.

Please email info@thenewgay.net if you are interested. We know how many talented queer artists there are in this city. We would love to have some of you on board.

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Saturday: Zack and Michael DJ Mousetrap

This post was written by TNG founder Zack.

Most experts would agree that there are three main ways to celebrate Valentines Day: If you are lucky enough to have a special someone, and you both like grand romantic gestures, you can go out and do something nice together (or stay in and do something naughty together.) If you are single you can either go looking for someone special or you can sit on the couch and watch tv. Or, coupled or single, you can say "fuck it" to the whole holiday and just go out and enjoy yourself.

Fans of the third option, both single and taken, might enjoy heading out to the Black Cat's britpop dance party Mousetrap this Saturday. TNG founders (and Homo/Sonic DJs) Michael and Zack will be taking over the guest DJ slot and we would love if you came by to see us.

Maybe we can even take requests for everyone's favorite love and anti-love songs. Naive Melody? Caroline Says II? Feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments section.

Mousetrap, , Black Cat Mainstage, 1811 14th St., NW, Saturday Feb. 14, 9:30 PM, All Ages, $10

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TNG: In Case You Missed It – 2/6/09

TNG Events Editor Jolly brings you the week-in-review every Friday afternoon.

Welcome to the weekend, everybody! I don't know about you, but to me it's been long in coming. The first week of February brought us calls for snow, but not much of the white stuff, and some seriously cold mornings and days. But things are looking up! Thanks to my father in NY who calls regularly to tell me what the Weather Channel says the weather will be like in DC, I know we're in for a warm-up this weekend! But, in the midst of all of your fair-weather frolicking, you want to pause and get caught up on some quality reading, we've got you covered.

So here, just for you, is the best of the best and the most talked about posts from this very site from this past week, just in case you missed it. Peruse away!

This week:

In Commentary:

• TNG reader Mike submitted A Totally Gay Poem. Got a queer poem or anyhting else you'd like to share - send it along!

• Philip took us on a journey in The Lantern bookstore in Georgetown and through the gay books which helped to shape his life.

• Zack asked if tales of how terrible gay single life was are really the Greatest Gay Lie Ever Told.

• Corey reached new heights (sorry) with his Short Stories.

• We brought you a a brand new feature and introduced you to Edwin Cameron and Johanna Sigurdardottir.

• Idiots were named, shamed, and discussed.

• We turned off the TV In The Ladies' Room and took a field trip to Womyn's Lands - would you want to stay?

In Music:

• Rocky condenced What We're Listening To and the TNG Mixtape into one post - 2-for-1 is always a great deal!

• We gave away tickets to see Cat Power and Lady Gaga! Were you a winner? Check out the most creative answers, and maybe even add one of your own just for funsies.

• You were asked to save the date for our next Homo/Sonic, this time with the queer-fronted My Dear Disco.

Also:

• We offered up some suggestions for how you might spend your time this weekend.

• Want to be kept in the loop? Sign up for our email list and stay in the know!

• Ads on The New Gay were discussed - what are your feelings on the matter?

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Ads on The New Gay?

This post was written by TNG founder Zack.

As I mentioned awhile back, I got laid off from my job in October and spent about three months looking for something else to do full time. After forays into temping, placement agencies and crying bitterly about my inability to find any jobs that looked interesting a solution was found: I could just starting doing The New Gay full time. So that's what I'm doing. This means a couple things for you, our readers.

Foremost, TNG has officially moved far beyond the realm of hobby or casual undertaking (not that it ever even was those things) into being a fully incorporated company that works with the DC queer community. That means we as a website and a service have even more time to accommodate queer DC. So if you have a partnership idea, a question or a request from us there is probably a good chance that I can be of help to you. That's what my job is.

Secondly, full-time TNGing is awesome but I still have to pay my rent and eat and send hush money checks to the man who took videos of me peeing in the holy water at the National Cathedral. So you might have notice banners ads toward the top of our site or our new advertorial feature, the DC9 Concert of the Week. Though we are now for-profit, I just wanted to assure everyone that we will not clutter up the site with too many ads, or for that matter feature ads for swimsuits, hook-up sites or anything featuring half-naked men cavorting. Any products or stores that we support here will be ones whose missions we agree with and who will able to be of some service to our readers. We also will clearly mark any of our advertorials so that they will be distinguishable from regular content.

If you have any other suggestions for ways that we can feature ads without changing the character of the site too much, please leave them as comments below.

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Sign Up for Our Email List!

This (scant) post was written by TNG founder Zack, who is having too much fun with clip art.

Ask and ye shall recieve! It is true of getting a Tijuana handshake from Summer Camp and now it also applies to receiving TNG updates via email. Several of you have asked if you have a mailing list to subscribe to and now we do. If you are unable to check TNG (or can't because you're at work, or any other such excuse) we can now send weekly roundups, ticket giveaways, event schedules and other special announcements to you. We also promise not to sell your info to anyone. To sign up, simply click here.

This is also as good a time as any to remind you to take our reader survey.

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Save The Date: Homo/Sonic w/ My Dear Disco on Feb. 21

This post is submitted by TNG founder Zack, who has barely recovered from the last Homo/Sonic.


Like a couple having sex in the cobalt bathroom, we here at TNG don't waste any time in getting down to business. Though the last Homo/Sonic dance party is barely cold, we are proud to tell you that our next one is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 21st at the mainstage of the Black Cat.

Even more excitingly, we have booked a band to play the early portion. They are called My Dear Disco, they hail from Ann Arbor and their lead singer is a super cute queer girl. MDD has the ability to whip crowds into a teeming, foaming frenzy so we hope you will come out to see them.

Just to be sure, we included a My Dear Disco mixtape below the fold.

Homo/Sonic with Special Guest My Dear Disco, Black Cat Mainstage,
Saturday Feb. 21, 9:30 PM, All Ages, $10

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Read More......

TNG: In Case You Missed It - 1/30/09

TNG Events Editor Jolly brings you the week-in-review every Friday afternoon.

For many of us, this was our first full week back to work/normal life since the Inauguration – and what a week it was! We had delightful snow on Tuesday, less-than-delightful ice on Wednesday, and the Super Bowl’s coming up this weekend. With all of the excitement and inclement weather, it can be easy for things to go under the radar. But don’t worry! We’re here for you, bringing you the best, most popular and most discussed goodness from this week that was.

So here, presented for your convenience, is what you may have missed on TNG.

This week:


In Commentary:

• Zack kicked off the week with a Monday Upper made of magical ear-crack. Come to Homo/Sonic this Saturday night to hear it again!

• Corey shared his story about being a substitute girlfriend to a terrible driver.

• Ben questioned the value of a fancy education. Grad students everywhere weeped (more than usual).

• We asked about the dangers of looking at other men/women.

• TNG reader Selena shared her story about coming out and growing up.

• We were offered a look into the life of a single guy.

• We stepped into The Ladies' Room and asked what your dream L Word spin-off would be.

• BlueSeqPerl wondered about coming out resources for queer Christians.

In Music:

• Rocky and the rest of the staff provided the perfect soundtrack for a snowy day. What would yours include?

• We gave away Lykke Li tickets, and all you had to do is whine!

• Tickets to Antony and the Johnsons were offered up free of charge - what's your special term for naughty bits?

In Politics:

• The Civil Rights Movement and the way it relates to the LGBT struggle now was discussed.

• Portland Mayor Sam Adams' sex life was scrutinized.

Also:

• We gave you a head’s up about some of the things going on this weekend (including the Puppy Bowl!)

• We asked that you be a dear and take our nifty little survey.

• We let you know you're needed.

Was your favorite post or discussion left out? Be sure to make your case below! Have a great weekend and hopefully whichever one of the two teams that no one cares about wins on Sunday is your team!

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TNG Needs YOU!

What would happen if playwright Tennessee Williams, rockstar Courtney Love, writer Toni Morrison, and some leather punk guy with a mohawk who drinks his own blood were put in a room and asked to talk about whatever is on their minds? I’m not sure, but we think it would be an interesting conversation.

A major goal of TNG is to expand the narrow mainstream definition of what it means to be gay by providing a forum for you to share your diverse ideas, events, and interests. Even if you don't write like legends or live eccentric lives, we want your...

Ideas: Have a piece of entertaining short fiction, a thoughtful essay, an interesting personal story, or just a couple of paragraphs on a thought or experience you had while riding the metro/shaving your cat/disposing of the body? Submit it.

Events: Got an interesting event you want to promote that extends your social life beyond a couple of prominent gay bars? Let TNG know about it.

Interests: Do you like to write about postmodern art? New Wave cinema? hungarian folk/underground hip-hop/classic country, etc., music? Do you have a great photograph or collection of photos that you want to show everybody? TNG wants to hear from you.

If there is something you are interested in that's not on the site, that doesn't mean we don't want it. TNG is counting on you to introduce new types of content and varied perspectives.

Send your stuff to submit@thenewgay.net.and join the conversation today.

Read More......

Please Take Our Survey!

We here at TNG want nothing more than to serve as best we can. (Though some of us wouldn't mind having ten-inch penises, but that really has nothing to do with you.) In an effort to get a better idea of who is reading us and what you do and don't like about the site, we recently launched a reader survey. You can click here to fill it out. We would really appreciate if you took a second to do so. It will let us know what about the site is and isn't working, and if you feel that we could better accommodate your interests. You can submit the survey anonymously and vent frustration to us without guilt or fear, or provide us your email address so we can contact you with announcements of special events, ticket give-aways and other breaking news.

As an added incentive, here are a list of questions we will not be asking:

-Do you like my tight sweater?
-Do you have old granddad in a bottle?
-Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

See? Its respectful as can be. We look forward to hearing your answers.

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TNG: In Case You Missed It – 1/23/09

It’s been a shortened week here at TNG, but a busy one for most of you (for fairly obvious reasons), so if you want to get caught up on what we’ve been up to since Wednesday, we’ve got just what you need. The reason for the abbreviated schedule left us with lots of questions and feelings about the future of the country, and we were glad we got to share them with you and hear your thoughts in return. So feel free to add your two cents to any post and keep the conversation going.

And here, presented with minimal clicking required, is what you may have missed this week on TNG.

This week:


In Commentary:

• Ben questioned the happiness which social networking sites provide and contemplated the drastic act of Facebook suicide.

• With the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, a new day has dawned. What do you think it means for the future of the LGBT community?

• We witnessed an epic battle between two lesbian miniseries In The Ladies’ Room. Who do you think ended up on top?

• We spoke to our bellies. They may or may not have spoken back.

• Corey explained the legend of the Fruit Fly and dispelled some popular myths surrounding them.

• Eightmaps.com put some of us into a moral conundrum and made us ask some serious questions about the tactics used in achieving equal rights.


In Music:

• Rocky provided us with an inspirational soundtrack for the week and beyong.

• We offered you an opportunity to win tickets to Saturday night’s Yo! Majesty show.


Also:

• We gave you a head's up on some options for the weekend.

• We surveyed the TNG staff to find out what Obama's first acts as President should be. How would you have answered?

Was your favorite post or discussion left out? Be sure to make your case below! Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here Monday for a full (ugh) week!

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