@edgemedianetwork

Caeleb Dressel finished off his gold rush at the Tokyo Olympics with two more dazzling swims. The guy who dreads all the attention won't be able to escape it now. He's one of the greatest Olympians ever. "I'm really glad to be done," said the tattooed, 24-year-old Floridian, who captured his fourth and fifth gold medals of the Tokyo Games on Sunday. Dressel was perfect in the events he had a chance in, capping off his stunning week in the final race at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre by putting the Americans ahead to stay in the 4x100 medley relay on their way to a world record. He doesn't plan to savor his triumph for long — which is right on par for a guy who said a day earlier "the sport was a lot more fun when no one knew my name." They certainly know it now. "I give myself a pat on the back and then I just want to go home, put it away and move forward," Dressel said. In his first race Sunday, he cruised to a relatively easy victory in the 50 freestyle. By the time Dressel was done, he had entered an elite club of swimmers who won at least five gold medals at one games. Michael Phelps did it three times, of course, highlighted by his record eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Games. There's also Mark Spitz (seven golds in 1972), East German Kristin Otto (six golds in 1988) and Matt Biondi (five golds, also in '88). Make room for Dressel, who made it look so easy. It wasn't. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??????? (?: Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel / Instagram / Caeleb Dressel)

Caeleb Dressel finished off his gold rush at the Tokyo Olympics with two more dazzling swims. The guy who dreads all the attention won't be able to escape it now. He's one of the greatest Olympians ever. "I'm really glad to be done," said the tattooed, 24-year-old Floridian, who captured his fourth and fifth gold medals of the Tokyo Games on Sunday. Dressel was perfect in the events he had a chance in, capping off his stunning week in the final race at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre by putting the Americans ahead to stay in the 4x100 medley relay on their way to a world record. He doesn't plan to savor his triumph for long — which is right on par for a guy who said a day earlier "the sport was a lot more fun when no one knew my name." They certainly know it now. "I give myself a pat on the back and then I just want to go home, put it away and move forward," Dressel said. In his first race Sunday, he cruised to a relatively easy victory in the 50 freestyle. By the time Dressel was done, he had entered an elite club of swimmers who won at least five gold medals at one games. Michael Phelps did it three times, of course, highlighted by his record eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Games. There's also Mark Spitz (seven golds in 1972), East German Kristin Otto (six golds in 1988) and Matt Biondi (five golds, also in '88). Make room for Dressel, who made it look so easy. It wasn't. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??????? (?: Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel / Instagram / Caeleb Dressel)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 4

Washington, DC is well-known as the capital of the United States, but some people might be surprised to learn that the rainbow flag is flown throughout the city nearly as much as the 'ole Stars and Stripes. According to an analysis by researchers at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, 9.8 percent of the entire population of DC identify themselves as part of the LGBTQ community — making it among one of the gayest cities in the country. Much of what makes DC an attractive destination for members of the LGBTQ community to call home also makes it an ideal getaway for LGBTQ travelers. So we asked a few of those residents and business owners to share some of their insights on what makes DC special. ?️?️‍??? (?️: Troy Petenbrink / @thegaytravele / ?: Kogod Courtyard, National Portrait Gallery / washington.org / #sponsored @destinationdc)

Washington, DC is well-known as the capital of the United States, but some people might be surprised to learn that the rainbow flag is flown throughout the city nearly as much as the 'ole Stars and Stripes. According to an analysis by researchers at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, 9.8 percent of the entire population of DC identify themselves as part of the LGBTQ community — making it among one of the gayest cities in the country. Much of what makes DC an attractive destination for members of the LGBTQ community to call home also makes it an ideal getaway for LGBTQ travelers. So we asked a few of those residents and business owners to share some of their insights on what makes DC special. ?️?️‍??? (?️: Troy Petenbrink / @thegaytravele / ?: Kogod Courtyard, National Portrait Gallery / washington.org / #sponsored @destinationdc)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 3

Could Kazakhstan bodybuilder Yuri Tolochko (them/they) be reaching a new stage in their relationships? Tolochko made international headlines when they married a human-sized doll, named Margo, in November, 2020, in a ceremony they published on social media. EDGE reported at the time that the "hunky, bearded Yuri wore a black dinner-suit and bow tie, and the Melania-like Margo wore a long white lacy wedding gown. A few dozen guests watched as Yuri glided Margo around the dance floor in the traditional 'first dance'." It looked like a storybook wedding, save one thing: "the bride was a synthetic sex doll, that Yuri actually proposed to in December 2019," reported the Euro Weekly News website. The marriage went sour, though, after Margo broke and they had to send her to be repaired right before Christmas. Four months later, they divorced Margo. "We broke up with Margo. I'm not ready to talk about the reasons for the divorce yet," they told the Daily Star. Since then, they introduced "a chicken sex toy and an Asian sex doll called Luna," wrote the Daily Star. But this week they may be moving away from inanimate sex objects, posting on Instagram: "My harem and I have a new experience. I decided to try ourselves as a rental family." The man's face is not seen in the video, which starts with Yuri and the mystery man combing Luna's hair before they turn their attention on each other. "Luna has a headache all day today. We are trying to help her," they writes on Instagram. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???? (?: Yuri Tolochko / @yurii_tolochko)

Could Kazakhstan bodybuilder Yuri Tolochko (them/they) be reaching a new stage in their relationships? Tolochko made international headlines when they married a human-sized doll, named Margo, in November, 2020, in a ceremony they published on social media. EDGE reported at the time that the "hunky, bearded Yuri wore a black dinner-suit and bow tie, and the Melania-like Margo wore a long white lacy wedding gown. A few dozen guests watched as Yuri glided Margo around the dance floor in the traditional 'first dance'." It looked like a storybook wedding, save one thing: "the bride was a synthetic sex doll, that Yuri actually proposed to in December 2019," reported the Euro Weekly News website. The marriage went sour, though, after Margo broke and they had to send her to be repaired right before Christmas. Four months later, they divorced Margo. "We broke up with Margo. I'm not ready to talk about the reasons for the divorce yet," they told the Daily Star. Since then, they introduced "a chicken sex toy and an Asian sex doll called Luna," wrote the Daily Star. But this week they may be moving away from inanimate sex objects, posting on Instagram: "My harem and I have a new experience. I decided to try ourselves as a rental family." The man's face is not seen in the video, which starts with Yuri and the mystery man combing Luna's hair before they turn their attention on each other. "Luna has a headache all day today. We are trying to help her," they writes on Instagram. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???? (?: Yuri Tolochko / @yurii_tolochko)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 3

Love's many enchantments are a recurring theme in "Burly Tales," an anthology that takes a fresh look at classic fairy tales through a gay Bear lens. The results are fresh, often funny, and gratifyingly romantic. Tap link in bio to read EDGE's review on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??? (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Lethe)

Love's many enchantments are a recurring theme in "Burly Tales," an anthology that takes a fresh look at classic fairy tales through a gay Bear lens. The results are fresh, often funny, and gratifyingly romantic. Tap link in bio to read EDGE's review on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??? (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Lethe)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 3

It had all the hallmarks of a sensationalist tabloid sting. On July 21, 2021, an article appeared to allege that a senior U.S. priest, Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, had used the hook-up app Grindr, with data from the app placing him at a number of gay bars. Burrill, the now-former general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, promptly resigned. But the report was not published by an outlet that many Americans would associate with such sex "exposés." Indeed, most would have never have heard of it at all. It was The Pillar, a small newsletter founded in early 2021, that makes up just a tiny part of the Catholic media landscape in the U.S. As a scholar of American Catholicism and culture, I take a keen interest in Catholic media. My recent book, "Follow Your Conscience: The Catholic Church and the Spirit of the Sixties," draws upon dozens of articles in the Catholic media as primary sources for historical analysis. While many Americans may be familiar with evangelical outlets like Christianity Today or the Christian Post — not to mention the hundreds of evangelical radio stations across the nation — the Catholic media seems to have less prominence on the national stage. But as The Pillar's reporting on Burrill shows, Catholic journalism can nonetheless be influential — and can split opinion in just the same way as media with a wider audience. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ✝️??️‍? (?️: Peter Cajka / ?: Getty)

It had all the hallmarks of a sensationalist tabloid sting. On July 21, 2021, an article appeared to allege that a senior U.S. priest, Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, had used the hook-up app Grindr, with data from the app placing him at a number of gay bars. Burrill, the now-former general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, promptly resigned. But the report was not published by an outlet that many Americans would associate with such sex "exposés." Indeed, most would have never have heard of it at all. It was The Pillar, a small newsletter founded in early 2021, that makes up just a tiny part of the Catholic media landscape in the U.S. As a scholar of American Catholicism and culture, I take a keen interest in Catholic media. My recent book, "Follow Your Conscience: The Catholic Church and the Spirit of the Sixties," draws upon dozens of articles in the Catholic media as primary sources for historical analysis. While many Americans may be familiar with evangelical outlets like Christianity Today or the Christian Post — not to mention the hundreds of evangelical radio stations across the nation — the Catholic media seems to have less prominence on the national stage. But as The Pillar's reporting on Burrill shows, Catholic journalism can nonetheless be influential — and can split opinion in just the same way as media with a wider audience. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ✝️??️‍? (?️: Peter Cajka / ?: Getty)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 2

Creating a rainbow oasis of diversity and inclusion in a hostile environment — sometimes violently so — is what LGBTQ bars have always been about. In past decades such an establishment would often operate on the fringes of the law, with police raids and being outed in the media a constant threat. Yet, they were also spaces of connection, community, and, especially in the '80s with the advent of AIDS, political activism. But where are LGBTQ people who want to drink less — or not drink at all — supposed to go? It's a question that concerns more and more people as they seek sober avenues that empower and fulfill, especially if they are in recovery. The answer: Queer-owned cafes, tea houses, creative community spaces both online and in the real world — even high-end chocolate shops. Such sober queer spaces do exist; they are gaining ground (even despite the COVID-19 pandemic), and they're bringing new visibility with them. It's a trend that's been gathering momentum for a few years. In 2020, NBC News reported on how alcohol-alternative LGBTQ spots were popping up across the nation in unexpected locales — from the online Sis Got Tea in Louisville, Kentucky, to the brick-and-mortar Queer Chocolatier in Muncie, Indiana. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?☕ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Getty)

Creating a rainbow oasis of diversity and inclusion in a hostile environment — sometimes violently so — is what LGBTQ bars have always been about. In past decades such an establishment would often operate on the fringes of the law, with police raids and being outed in the media a constant threat. Yet, they were also spaces of connection, community, and, especially in the '80s with the advent of AIDS, political activism. But where are LGBTQ people who want to drink less — or not drink at all — supposed to go? It's a question that concerns more and more people as they seek sober avenues that empower and fulfill, especially if they are in recovery. The answer: Queer-owned cafes, tea houses, creative community spaces both online and in the real world — even high-end chocolate shops. Such sober queer spaces do exist; they are gaining ground (even despite the COVID-19 pandemic), and they're bringing new visibility with them. It's a trend that's been gathering momentum for a few years. In 2020, NBC News reported on how alcohol-alternative LGBTQ spots were popping up across the nation in unexpected locales — from the online Sis Got Tea in Louisville, Kentucky, to the brick-and-mortar Queer Chocolatier in Muncie, Indiana. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?☕ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Getty)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 2

The tattered myth that gays are generally better off than their heterosexual peers took another hit with a new study that reconfirms gay and bisexual men earn less than straight men do. Lesbians, on the other hand, earn more overall than heterosexual women. The new paper, published today in the quarterly Journal of Population Economics, is the work of researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and was authored by university professor Nick Drydakis. It is a meta-study that surveys two dozen earlier papers to arrive at its conclusions. "The papers cover the period between 1991 and 2018, and countries in Europe, North America, and Australia," the study's abstract states. In addition to its main findings of a pay disparity, the study's abstract took note that "in data sets after 2010, gay men and bisexual men and women continue to experience earnings penalties, while lesbian women continue to experience earnings premiums" despite anti-discrimination efforts. The continuing disparity "represents a cause for concern and indicates the need for comprehensive legislation and workplace guidelines" to address the gaps, the abstract added. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??️‍? (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Getty)

The tattered myth that gays are generally better off than their heterosexual peers took another hit with a new study that reconfirms gay and bisexual men earn less than straight men do. Lesbians, on the other hand, earn more overall than heterosexual women. The new paper, published today in the quarterly Journal of Population Economics, is the work of researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and was authored by university professor Nick Drydakis. It is a meta-study that surveys two dozen earlier papers to arrive at its conclusions. "The papers cover the period between 1991 and 2018, and countries in Europe, North America, and Australia," the study's abstract states. In addition to its main findings of a pay disparity, the study's abstract took note that "in data sets after 2010, gay men and bisexual men and women continue to experience earnings penalties, while lesbian women continue to experience earnings premiums" despite anti-discrimination efforts. The continuing disparity "represents a cause for concern and indicates the need for comprehensive legislation and workplace guidelines" to address the gaps, the abstract added. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??️‍? (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Getty)

@edgemedianetwork Aug 1

The Fire Island Pines Pool Party, or Mad Hatter's Tea Dance, was held on the Great South Bay with an open bar and DJ's Lupe Fuentes, Scott Martin and Someone From Berlin. Tap link in bio to view EDGE's pics on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? (?: WilsonModels / @jwilson77)

The Fire Island Pines Pool Party, or Mad Hatter's Tea Dance, was held on the Great South Bay with an open bar and DJ's Lupe Fuentes, Scott Martin and Someone From Berlin. Tap link in bio to view EDGE's pics on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? (?: WilsonModels / @jwilson77)

@edgemedianetwork Jul 30

British actor Jack Whitehall told Variety he was "proud" of portraying the first openly gay major character in a Disney movie. The "Good Omens" star said he didn't realize when auditioning that his character would be gay, much less come out to Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, who plays a steamboat captain. Speaking to the magazine's Marc Malkin before the film's premiere, Whitehall recalled that "there was only a like a couple of sides" available to him for the audition. The actor recorded himself reading the lines, with his mother taking the part of Johnson's character. "So yeah, there wasn't any indication of that," Whitehall said of the character being LGBTQ and coming out in the film. The moment itself sidesteps the word "gay," but Whitehall's character, McGregor, makes himself perfectly clear, and Johnson's steamboat captain, nicknamed "Skipper," takes his revelation in stride. McGregor — the brother of another major character in the film, Lily, played by Emily Blunt — explains to the skipper that "he broke off three engagements with women because his 'interests happily lay elsewhere,' " Variety recounts. "He goes on to say that he would do anything for his sister," the Variety piece continues, "because she was the only one who 'stood by' him while he was shunned by family and friends because of who he 'loved.' "Frank then raises a drink to toast 'elsewhere,' " the scene synopsis adds. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? ❤️ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Jack Whitehall / Website)

British actor Jack Whitehall told Variety he was "proud" of portraying the first openly gay major character in a Disney movie. The "Good Omens" star said he didn't realize when auditioning that his character would be gay, much less come out to Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, who plays a steamboat captain. Speaking to the magazine's Marc Malkin before the film's premiere, Whitehall recalled that "there was only a like a couple of sides" available to him for the audition. The actor recorded himself reading the lines, with his mother taking the part of Johnson's character. "So yeah, there wasn't any indication of that," Whitehall said of the character being LGBTQ and coming out in the film. The moment itself sidesteps the word "gay," but Whitehall's character, McGregor, makes himself perfectly clear, and Johnson's steamboat captain, nicknamed "Skipper," takes his revelation in stride. McGregor — the brother of another major character in the film, Lily, played by Emily Blunt — explains to the skipper that "he broke off three engagements with women because his 'interests happily lay elsewhere,' " Variety recounts. "He goes on to say that he would do anything for his sister," the Variety piece continues, "because she was the only one who 'stood by' him while he was shunned by family and friends because of who he 'loved.' "Frank then raises a drink to toast 'elsewhere,' " the scene synopsis adds. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? ❤️ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Jack Whitehall / Website)

@edgemedianetwork Jul 30

A private, after-hours Drag Queen Story Hour that was scheduled to take place at a museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, was canceled following a deluge of threats — some of them on the lives of the organizers, reports local news source the Lincoln Journal Star. The event, which was scheduled to run for two hours on July 31 and had a guest list of 50 attendees, "was private and to be held after the museum closed," the article noted. Even so, "the nasty messages started to roll in," the article said, citing organizer Waylon Werner-Bassen, "followed by threatening ones — even death threats — which prompted the Lincoln Children's Museum and Drag Queen Story Hour Nebraska to cancel the event after discussing safety concerns with the Lincoln Police Department." The hatred didn't just target the event; the museum itself, as well as LGBTQ equality advocacy group OutNebraska, which is associated with Nebraska's chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour, also received "received an overwhelming number of threats of violence," including death threats, the museum explained in an Instagram post, according to local news channel KLKN. The museum's executive director, Tara Knuth, told the Journal Star, "We work to foster environments within our physical space in which all families feel they can participate fully," Knuth said. The event was canceled, she said, due to concerns for the safety of museum visitors. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ❤️?️‍??? (?: Mary Altaffer / AP)

A private, after-hours Drag Queen Story Hour that was scheduled to take place at a museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, was canceled following a deluge of threats — some of them on the lives of the organizers, reports local news source the Lincoln Journal Star. The event, which was scheduled to run for two hours on July 31 and had a guest list of 50 attendees, "was private and to be held after the museum closed," the article noted. Even so, "the nasty messages started to roll in," the article said, citing organizer Waylon Werner-Bassen, "followed by threatening ones — even death threats — which prompted the Lincoln Children's Museum and Drag Queen Story Hour Nebraska to cancel the event after discussing safety concerns with the Lincoln Police Department." The hatred didn't just target the event; the museum itself, as well as LGBTQ equality advocacy group OutNebraska, which is associated with Nebraska's chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour, also received "received an overwhelming number of threats of violence," including death threats, the museum explained in an Instagram post, according to local news channel KLKN. The museum's executive director, Tara Knuth, told the Journal Star, "We work to foster environments within our physical space in which all families feel they can participate fully," Knuth said. The event was canceled, she said, due to concerns for the safety of museum visitors. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ❤️?️‍??? (?: Mary Altaffer / AP)

@edgemedianetwork Jul 29

"There is no one more American than a Miami Cuban, and there is no one more Cuban than a Miami Cuban," says Rodrigo, who I meet at the rum bar in Little Havana's Cubaocho museum and performing arts center while waiting for my late friends (a very Miami trait!). "You'll never find a people more patriotic to two homelands." The Miami Cuban community is not monolithic. We are Republicans, Democrats, Catholics, and Santeros. We are the conservative, mostly-white business owners who fled Cuba in the early '60s, and the queer Afro-Cuban artists who were among the 125,000 Cuban immigrants who arrived during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. And we are everything in between and beyond. But if there's one thing that has become crystal clear as thousands march in Miami in solidarity with Cuban protestors, it's that Rodrigo was right: "You'll never find a people more patriotic to two homelands." Nowhere do these co-existing allegiances converge more than in today's Little Havana, the Miami neighborhood where Cubans started settling after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Little Havana is a funky mix of cultures. It is a place where old-world traditions blend with progressive thinking — where machismo and queerness cohabitate. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???? (?️: Ivan Quintanilla / @travelingiq, ?: Gay8 Festival )

"There is no one more American than a Miami Cuban, and there is no one more Cuban than a Miami Cuban," says Rodrigo, who I meet at the rum bar in Little Havana's Cubaocho museum and performing arts center while waiting for my late friends (a very Miami trait!). "You'll never find a people more patriotic to two homelands." The Miami Cuban community is not monolithic. We are Republicans, Democrats, Catholics, and Santeros. We are the conservative, mostly-white business owners who fled Cuba in the early '60s, and the queer Afro-Cuban artists who were among the 125,000 Cuban immigrants who arrived during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. And we are everything in between and beyond. But if there's one thing that has become crystal clear as thousands march in Miami in solidarity with Cuban protestors, it's that Rodrigo was right: "You'll never find a people more patriotic to two homelands." Nowhere do these co-existing allegiances converge more than in today's Little Havana, the Miami neighborhood where Cubans started settling after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Little Havana is a funky mix of cultures. It is a place where old-world traditions blend with progressive thinking — where machismo and queerness cohabitate. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???? (?️: Ivan Quintanilla / @travelingiq, ?: Gay8 Festival )

@edgemedianetwork Jul 29

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg recently starred in his very first thirst trap after husband Chasten snapped a sweaty photo of the former mayor after cycling 60 miles on a bike and then a "transition run." During a sticky afternoon in Washington D.C., Buttigieg was reportedly sprinting through a wooded area when Chasten shared the photo to his Instagram stories to gush about his husband athletic accomplishments. As is par for the course on the internet, the photo was screen captured and widely shared with some thirsty comments... Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? (?️: Emell D. Adolphus / @goodnightdetroit, ?: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg / Chasten Buttigieg / Instagram)

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg recently starred in his very first thirst trap after husband Chasten snapped a sweaty photo of the former mayor after cycling 60 miles on a bike and then a "transition run." During a sticky afternoon in Washington D.C., Buttigieg was reportedly sprinting through a wooded area when Chasten shared the photo to his Instagram stories to gush about his husband athletic accomplishments. As is par for the course on the internet, the photo was screen captured and widely shared with some thirsty comments... Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? (?️: Emell D. Adolphus / @goodnightdetroit, ?: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg / Chasten Buttigieg / Instagram)

@edgemedianetwork Jul 27

@edgemedianetwork

The Fire Island Pines Pool Party, or Mad Hatter's Tea Dance, was held on the Great South Bay with an open bar and DJ's Lupe Fuentes, Scott Martin and Someone From Berlin. Tap link in bio to view EDGE's pics on @EDGEmedianetwork ???? (?: WilsonModels / @jwilson77)

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