NOT on our watch!
We love celebrating LGBTQ+ content, people, and projects. But enough is enough, sometimes, for certain things that our community keeps insisting on.
Y’know, a little bit of holiday shade won’t hurt anybody. So as we wrap up 2023 and look forward to the new year, here’s a list of things that we are committing to absolutely NOT bringing into 2024.
George Santos
We’re leaving this diva behind in 2023. Just generally speaking. Girl, bye.
Elon Musk’s X/Twitter
In the last few years, pre-Elon Musk Twitter was already becoming a platform used only for pointless discussions, the occasional funny meme, and porn. But Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, a.k.a. Xitter, has turned the dial all the way up on hate speech, misinformation, and desperate engagement-baiting. Unless we get horny and want to follow our favorite OnlyFans creators over there… count us out, folx!
Canceling LGBTQ+ shows after just one season…
I’m sorry, what!? You’re gonna tell us that there’s all this budget for terrible, repetitive shows centering straight people to go on for years and years, but so many LGBTQ+ shows don’t even get a second season to iron things out? Yeah, we’re gonna start getting really annoying about this in 2024.
…especially the WLW ones!!!
The issue with canceling queer series after just one season is particularly prevalent with sapphic TV shows. From Rise of the Pink Ladies to A League of Their Own to First Kill to Warrior Nun, there is a truly endless list of WLW shows that are well-reviewed and gain a huge fanbase but don’t even get renewed for a second season. That “trend” needs to stop. Period.
Muscle gays doing photoshoots in Calvin Klein underwear
A lot of muscle gays enjoy living their full Calvin Klein fantasy by taking pictures of themselves in CK undies and hashtagging #MyCalvins as if they were literally featured in a campaign from the brand. But it’s been YEARS now of Instagram pictures like these. Can we, like, change things up for a bit? We appreciate the thirst traps – we really do! – but maybe let’s just mix things up going into 2024.
Praising and/or bashing Gen Z as a collective
Generation Z isn’t a monolith. Just like the LGBTQ+ community isn’t, and the Latine/Latinx community isn’t, and the Black community isn’t. There are shared similarities between people who grow up during a certain period of time, but we need to stop treating Gen Z like they’re all going to save the world, or ruin it. There are some fantastic Gen Z-ers, and some really stupid ones too.
Getting all your news and information from TikTok
Every generation of social media users has fallen into this trap. When the internet started and we all had Yahoo! emails, we used to heavily rely on Yahoo! News as our one-stop shop for news. We then fell into the trap of using Facebook for all information and news. Then that evolved into Instagram and Twitter (now X). There’s now a whole world relying SOLELY on TikTok to learn things and stay informed. Trust us when we say that THIS IS A TRAP. Have your fun over there, learn a thing or two, but stay vigilant and keep looking for other sources of information.
White high-top Converse and calf socks
We get it, you’re gay. So are we. Your gay card will not be revoked if you leave the white high-top Converse shoes and calf socks combo behind.
Stripped Zara button-down shirts
Again, WE GET IT. YOU’RE GAY. SO ARE WE.
Complaining about ‘Drag Race’ fatigue
Girl, we get it. You don’t have time to keep up with all the international shows in the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. No one is asking you to do it. Queer people in those countries are VERY happy they’re getting their own versions of Drag Race. Drag artists in those countries are VERY happy they’re getting more exposure. But stop with the Drag Race fatigue discourse when literally every single other reality show on TV has 20+ international versions around the world and you don’t see anyone complaining that they can’t keep up with Big Brother México or the Swedish version of Survivor. Keep it moving, Mary!
Not supporting drag kings
Drag is more mainstream than ever in 2024, and the time has come for LGBTQ+ people to start supporting more drag kings. It’s about time for people to stop ignoring the talented and creative drag performers who don’t conform to the “drag queen” mold that’s become more popular in recent years. Celebrate kings and give them their things!
Trying to get into ‘The Real Housewives’
A lot of us who weren’t into The Real Housewives tried to get into the series during lockdown. Some of us even stuck around and kept trying in 2023. But at this point, sis, it’s a chop for those of us who missed the boat. We understand that a lot of gays are obsessed with these women (even the ones who clearly vote against LGBTQ+ rights), but please understand that some of us just won’t recognize their names and won’t understand their memes and catchphrases. Sorry, fam!
The “kink at Pride” discourse
Next time someone tries to start the “kink at Pride” discourse, just ignore them. We are begging you. We CANNOT go into 2024 still having this tired, ridiculous, annoying debate.