themichigangayly

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“There is relief in seeing another person being happy. Being happy makes it possible for that other person to love someone. In my case, I want another person to be able to love me.“ - Yanyi

Who is Yanyi?

• A queer and trans Chinese-American poet, teacher, editor, and creative advisor.

• His book The Year of Blue Water, won the 2018 Yale Series of Younger Poets Prize, finalist for the 2020 Lambda Literary Award in Transgender Poetry, and one of 2019’s Best Poetry Books by New York Public Library.

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“I don’t care what they say about me. I believe in God, in freedom, that everyone has a right to live how they choose.” - Sharon Cohen

Who is Sharon Cohen?

• Sharon Cohen, also known as Dana International is a Jewish trans woman, performer, and singer from Israel.

• In 1998, she became the first ever trans winner of Eurovision. She won the Eurovision Song Contest for her song “Diva.”

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“One problem with being trans is that we have so few visions of what it can look like to have an adult life, to grow up and be happy and not die young. So here's one for anyone who wants to see. I'm a trans woman and a mom. This is possible.” - Ezra Furman

Who is Ezra Furman?

• A Jewish and bisexual transgender woman, singer, and musician.

• She was the lead singer and guitarist of the late 2000s band ‘Ezra Furman and the Harpoons.’

• Their work includes albums like Day of the Dog, Perpetual Motion People, and Transangelic Exodus, in addition to the soundtrack for the Netflix series Sex Education.

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“Tomorrow is tomorrow. Over there is over there. And here and now is not a bad place and time to be, especially when so much of the unknown is beautiful.” - Ryka Aoki

Who is Ryka Aoki?

• A Japanese-American transgender woman, professor, poet, composer, martial arts instructor, and Executive Director of Dissonance Press.

• She creates an intimate multi-genre collection of poems, stories, and essays with “Seasonal Velocities.” The book journeys through love and abuse in the trans experience and what it is to be human.

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“The most fascinating parts of a trans life take place after the decision to transition. They take place when you're in this new body, in this new life, and you start realizing things.” - Hari Nef

Who is Hari Nef?

• A Jewish American trans woman, actress, model, and writer.

• Her breakthrough role was Gittel in the Amazon original series Transparent, for which she was nominated for a SAG award in 2016.

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“There's still cobwebs in the corners

And the backyard's full of bones

Won't you stay with me, my darling

When this house don't feel like home?”

- The Crane Wives

Who is Emilee Petersmark?

• A bisexual and Asian American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and artist.

• She’s the lead singer of indie-folk band The Crane Wives.

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“Misfits aren't misfits among other misfits.” - Barry Manilow

Who is Barry Manilow?

• A gay and Jewish American singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer.

• His career began in 1974. He’s known for songs like “Could It Be Magic”, “Mandy”, “I Write the Songs”, “Can't Smile Without You” and “Copacabana.”

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“I don't think people experiment enough with clothing because society tries to tell them what they can and can't wear.” - Bretman Rock

Who is Bretman Rock?

• Bretman Rock is a gay Filipino-American TV personality, beauty influencer, and social media personality.

• He’s most know for his 2015, comedic YouTube videos series "How to Contour," for which he went viral.

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“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” - Rain Valdez

• Founder of ActNOW, the first and only acting class in Los Angeles prioritizing a safe space for LGBTQIA actors and teaches beyond the binary.

• Star and creator of Razor Tongue, earning her a Primetime Emmy nomination in Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.

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• She writes a regular column for the Burlington Times-News. She’s been featured in the JTA as a Jewish user everyone should follow on Snapchat and Twitter, and she was recently named on the Forward 50 2020.

• You can support Rabbi Lawson at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile

“By focusing on racial justice, we can make Jewish communities more inviting and, ultimately, more vital. And, at the same time, we’ll be taking on white supremacy, the primary American source of antisemitism.” - Rabbi Sandra Lawson

Who is Rabbi Sandra Lawson?

• She is a gay and Jewish rabbi, writer, activist, public speaker, and musician.

• In 2018, she became one of the first openly gay, female, and Black rabbis in the world.

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“By focusing on racial justice, we can make Jewish communities more inviting and, ultimately, more vital. And, at the same time, we’ll be taking on white supremacy, the primary American source of antisemitism.” - Rabbi Sandra Lawson

Who is Rabbi Sandra Lawson?

• She is a gay and Jewish rabbi, writer, activist, public speaker, and musician.

• In 2018, she became one of the first openly gay, female, and Black rabbis in the world.

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Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month

How will the Gayly celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month?

The Gayly is celebrating with graphics of LGBTQ+ Jewish individuals and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community and/or contributions to the United States!

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Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

How will the Gayly celebrate AAPI Month?

The Gayly is celebrating with graphics of LGBTQ+ Asian, Pacific Islander, and AAPI individuals and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community and/or contributions to the United States!

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“I make vibrant art that highlights my favorite things in the world - culture, concept and queer joy!” - Layla EO

Who is Layla EO?

• Lalya is a lesbian Jordanian-American artist, self taught illustrator, and overall creative, currently living in Chicago.

• Her mixed media work is centered in culture, from pop culture and diversity to her Middle Eastern roots. They strive to portray things in a fun way, creating art that people enjoy looking at and can see themselves in.

• You can learn more about Layla at https://laylaeo.wixsite.com/artist

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Happy Lesbian Visibility Week!

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• Umm Kulthum recorded about 300 songs over a 60-year career, with a voice of 14,000 vibrations per second.

• After Egypt’s defeat in the Six-Day War of June 1967, she toured Egypt and the broader Arab world, donating the proceeds of her concerts to the Egyptian government.

• Ethnomusicologist Virginia Danielson, who wrote a biography of Umm Kulthum, says that she was constantly surrounded by women and showed little interest in men. “It is very, very likely she had relationships with women,” she says.

“If you are in love, then why deny it? Love appears in the eyes of the one who loves.” - Umm Kulthum

Who was Umm Kulthum?

• She was an Egyptian icon, singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s.

• The singer known variously as “the star of the east”, “mother of the Arabs” and “Egypt’s fourth pyramid” and her possible lesbianism and rejection of gender norms attracted much attention.

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• Umm Kulthum recorded about 300 songs over a 60-year career, with a voice of 14,000 vibrations per second.

• After Egypt’s defeat in the Six-Day War of June 1967, she toured Egypt and the broader Arab world, donating the proceeds of her concerts to the Egyptian government.

• Ethnomusicologist Virginia Danielson, who wrote a biography of Umm Kulthum, says that she was constantly surrounded by women and showed little interest in men. “It is very, very likely she had relationships with women,” she says.

“If you are in love, then why deny it? Love appears in the eyes of the one who loves.” - Umm Kulthum

Who was Umm Kulthum?

• She was an Egyptian icon, singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s.

• The singer known variously as “the star of the east”, “mother of the Arabs” and “Egypt’s fourth pyramid” and her possible lesbianism and rejection of gender norms attracted much attention.