@edgemedianetwork

During Black History Month, the National AIDS Memorial honors Black lives lost to AIDS with a specially curated selection of 56 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt). The exhibition uses the beauty and power of the Quilt to bring to light stories of the countless men, women and children who have died and the impact AIDS has had on Black Americans. "This virtual exhibition shares stories of hope, healing and remembrance to honor Black lives lost to AIDS," said John Cunningham, Executive Director of the National AIDS Memorial. "Our hope is that it helps raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV and the impact systemic barriers have to positive health outcomes, particularly among the Black community." In the 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by AIDS. By 1993, HIV was the leading cause of death for Black men between the ages 25-44 and by 2004, HIV became the leading cause of death for Black women in the same age group. In 2018, Black Americans made up 42% of the nearly 38,000 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., with half of those living in southern states. The Quilt is a powerful tool to reach these communities through its stories of resilience, healing, hope and remembrance represented in each panel. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?: National AIDS Memorial

During Black History Month, the National AIDS Memorial honors Black lives lost to AIDS with a specially curated selection of 56 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt). The exhibition uses the beauty and power of the Quilt to bring to light stories of the countless men, women and children who have died and the impact AIDS has had on Black Americans. "This virtual exhibition shares stories of hope, healing and remembrance to honor Black lives lost to AIDS," said John Cunningham, Executive Director of the National AIDS Memorial. "Our hope is that it helps raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV and the impact systemic barriers have to positive health outcomes, particularly among the Black community." In the 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by AIDS. By 1993, HIV was the leading cause of death for Black men between the ages 25-44 and by 2004, HIV became the leading cause of death for Black women in the same age group. In 2018, Black Americans made up 42% of the nearly 38,000 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., with half of those living in southern states. The Quilt is a powerful tool to reach these communities through its stories of resilience, healing, hope and remembrance represented in each panel. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?: National AIDS Memorial

@edgemedianetwork Feb 8

"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 7 contestant and "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" champion Trixie Mattel hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When This Is It! — a gay bar in her home town, and, having operated for 53 years, the state's oldest -— faced hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mattel stepped up to help ensure the bar would weather the downturn, local newspaper the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The bar has played a central role in the city's, and the state's, LGBTQ culture, USA Today noted. But it was also, the newspaper recalled, "the first LGBTQ+ bar that Brian Firkus — who developed his Mattel drag character in Milwaukee — visited after turning 21." Mattel, speaking to the Journal Sentinel via Zoom, said that drag performers in the city "made This Is It! our happy hour moment before we had to put on the wig and go do the drag show. "My relationship is such that sometimes I will come from General Mitchell" — the city's airport — "to the bar with my bags." Added Mattel, "It really is like the Cheers in Milwaukee. I met some of my lifelong best friends there." This Is It! owner George Schneider had taken on debt to expand the venue not long before the crisis hit, the Journal Sentinel reported. That made an already-devastating downturn that much worse. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: Trixie Mattel / @trixiemattel @trixiecosmetics

"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 7 contestant and "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" champion Trixie Mattel hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When This Is It! — a gay bar in her home town, and, having operated for 53 years, the state's oldest -— faced hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mattel stepped up to help ensure the bar would weather the downturn, local newspaper the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The bar has played a central role in the city's, and the state's, LGBTQ culture, USA Today noted. But it was also, the newspaper recalled, "the first LGBTQ+ bar that Brian Firkus — who developed his Mattel drag character in Milwaukee — visited after turning 21." Mattel, speaking to the Journal Sentinel via Zoom, said that drag performers in the city "made This Is It! our happy hour moment before we had to put on the wig and go do the drag show. "My relationship is such that sometimes I will come from General Mitchell" — the city's airport — "to the bar with my bags." Added Mattel, "It really is like the Cheers in Milwaukee. I met some of my lifelong best friends there." This Is It! owner George Schneider had taken on debt to expand the venue not long before the crisis hit, the Journal Sentinel reported. That made an already-devastating downturn that much worse. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: Trixie Mattel / @trixiemattel @trixiecosmetics

@edgemedianetwork Feb 7

The global pandemic was not about to stop filmmaker Sam Levinson without a fight — literally. The creator of HBO's "Euphoria" found his hit series shuttered so he pivoted to writing and directing "Malcolm & Marie," a film about an epic lovers' quarrel starring John David Washington and Zendaya — who also stars in the HBO show. Set in a luxury California beach house, Washington's Malcolm — an up-and-coming director — and Zendaya's Marie — an out-of-work actress — have returned after a party where his film has premiered to rapturous applause. But he forgot to thank Marie and that leads to an outpouring of simmering grievances. Levinson had been thinking about possible script ideas when he seized on this argument as a way to explore art and appreciation. He ran it past his wife, producer Ashley Levinson, a frequent collaborator whose credits include "Bombshell" and "Queen & Slim." "I remember I was like I turned to Ash and I said, 'What if it's about a filmmaker who forgets to thank his partner at a premiere?' And we just both burst into laughter because, granted, that might have been something I did at one point." While he and his wife had a calm conversation after his slight, Levinson wrote a two-hour blow out, likely Malcolm and Marie's worst fight. "Malcolm, I promise you nothing productive is going to be said tonight," Marie warns. But back and forth the lovers go, pushing and goading each other. She says he's a megalomaniac and a narcissist. He says she's needy and crazy. "Stop blaming me for your inabilities," Malcolm tells Marie. She yells: "Do you know how disturbing it is that you can compartmentalize to such a degree that you can abuse me while eating mac and cheese?" Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???️⁠ ⁠ ?: Sam Levinson / Facebook

The global pandemic was not about to stop filmmaker Sam Levinson without a fight — literally. The creator of HBO's "Euphoria" found his hit series shuttered so he pivoted to writing and directing "Malcolm & Marie," a film about an epic lovers' quarrel starring John David Washington and Zendaya — who also stars in the HBO show. Set in a luxury California beach house, Washington's Malcolm — an up-and-coming director — and Zendaya's Marie — an out-of-work actress — have returned after a party where his film has premiered to rapturous applause. But he forgot to thank Marie and that leads to an outpouring of simmering grievances. Levinson had been thinking about possible script ideas when he seized on this argument as a way to explore art and appreciation. He ran it past his wife, producer Ashley Levinson, a frequent collaborator whose credits include "Bombshell" and "Queen & Slim." "I remember I was like I turned to Ash and I said, 'What if it's about a filmmaker who forgets to thank his partner at a premiere?' And we just both burst into laughter because, granted, that might have been something I did at one point." While he and his wife had a calm conversation after his slight, Levinson wrote a two-hour blow out, likely Malcolm and Marie's worst fight. "Malcolm, I promise you nothing productive is going to be said tonight," Marie warns. But back and forth the lovers go, pushing and goading each other. She says he's a megalomaniac and a narcissist. He says she's needy and crazy. "Stop blaming me for your inabilities," Malcolm tells Marie. She yells: "Do you know how disturbing it is that you can compartmentalize to such a degree that you can abuse me while eating mac and cheese?" Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???️⁠ ⁠ ?: Sam Levinson / Facebook

@edgemedianetwork Feb 5

You don't need a nor'easter for an excuse to stay in bed. At least that's Todrick Hall's philosophy, made apparent by his brand new, king-size Louis Vuitton-inspired bed. "Note to self," Hall says in his latest YouTube video, "When you get your dream home, you will spend a good amount of money getting the bed of your dreams." And that's precisely what the social media sensation and "RuPaul's Drag Race" guest judge did. Hall called upon longtime costume designer Marco Marco in collaboration with Cactus Fabrication and SoKoCreations to pull off his dream bed. "I want something that's really over the top, that's fabulous, that's chic," says Hall in the video, before getting a first glimpse of the bed's construction. The final design includes a pink neon sign that reads, "I Woke Up Like This," plenty of drawers for lube and condoms, high-end LV fabrication, custom-made comforter and more. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍????⁠ ⁠ ?: Todrick Hall / Instagram ⁠ ?️: Matthew Wexler / @wexlerwrites

You don't need a nor'easter for an excuse to stay in bed. At least that's Todrick Hall's philosophy, made apparent by his brand new, king-size Louis Vuitton-inspired bed. "Note to self," Hall says in his latest YouTube video, "When you get your dream home, you will spend a good amount of money getting the bed of your dreams." And that's precisely what the social media sensation and "RuPaul's Drag Race" guest judge did. Hall called upon longtime costume designer Marco Marco in collaboration with Cactus Fabrication and SoKoCreations to pull off his dream bed. "I want something that's really over the top, that's fabulous, that's chic," says Hall in the video, before getting a first glimpse of the bed's construction. The final design includes a pink neon sign that reads, "I Woke Up Like This," plenty of drawers for lube and condoms, high-end LV fabrication, custom-made comforter and more. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍????⁠ ⁠ ?: Todrick Hall / Instagram ⁠ ?️: Matthew Wexler / @wexlerwrites

@edgemedianetwork Feb 5

T.J. Osborne, of the country duo Brothers Osborne, has come out as gay in a new interview with Time. The 36-year-old country star explains that he's known he was gay since he was younger, and has been out to family and friends in Nashville for years. "I'm very comfortable being gay," Osborne said. "I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don't have a problem with. That feels so strange." Osborne said he wasn't ready to be out earlier in his career and, as a consequence, he neglected relationships. "There are times when I think I've marginalized this part of me so that I feel better about it," he said. "And I realize that it is a big part of who I am: The way I think, the way I act, the way I perform. God, think of all the times that we talk about love, and write about love. It's the biggest thing we ever get to feel. And I've kept the veil on." How Osborne will be received is another matter, given the traditionally conservative leaning of country as a genre — which has been juxtaposed in recent years with a growing cadre of out performers in country and related genres, such as Billy Gilman, Ty Herndon, Brandy Clark, Chely Wright, Orville Peck, and Brandi Carlile. Osborne is curious too, stating "I don't think I'm going to get run off the stage in Chicago. But in a rural town playing a county fair? I'm curious how this will go." Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??❤️?⁠ ⁠ ?: T.J. Osborne / Facebook⁠ ?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13

T.J. Osborne, of the country duo Brothers Osborne, has come out as gay in a new interview with Time. The 36-year-old country star explains that he's known he was gay since he was younger, and has been out to family and friends in Nashville for years. "I'm very comfortable being gay," Osborne said. "I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don't have a problem with. That feels so strange." Osborne said he wasn't ready to be out earlier in his career and, as a consequence, he neglected relationships. "There are times when I think I've marginalized this part of me so that I feel better about it," he said. "And I realize that it is a big part of who I am: The way I think, the way I act, the way I perform. God, think of all the times that we talk about love, and write about love. It's the biggest thing we ever get to feel. And I've kept the veil on." How Osborne will be received is another matter, given the traditionally conservative leaning of country as a genre — which has been juxtaposed in recent years with a growing cadre of out performers in country and related genres, such as Billy Gilman, Ty Herndon, Brandy Clark, Chely Wright, Orville Peck, and Brandi Carlile. Osborne is curious too, stating "I don't think I'm going to get run off the stage in Chicago. But in a rural town playing a county fair? I'm curious how this will go." Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍??❤️?⁠ ⁠ ?: T.J. Osborne / Facebook⁠ ?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13

@edgemedianetwork Feb 5

Life just got one step easier thanks to Nike, who released a revolutionary shoe, years in the making. The GO FlyEase shoe features a bi-stable hinge that enables the shoe to be secure in fully open and fully closed states. The hinge works in tandem with the shoe's other innovative feature, the Nike GO FlyEase tensioner, which enables the wearer to easily remove the shoes without bending over. Nike has been developing the patent-pending, bi-stable hinge and midsole tensioner across basketball, running and sportswear designs and is finally rolling out a model ($120) by invitation only to select Nike Members. The shoes will be available to the general public in Fall 2021. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?: Nike GO FlyEase

Life just got one step easier thanks to Nike, who released a revolutionary shoe, years in the making. The GO FlyEase shoe features a bi-stable hinge that enables the shoe to be secure in fully open and fully closed states. The hinge works in tandem with the shoe's other innovative feature, the Nike GO FlyEase tensioner, which enables the wearer to easily remove the shoes without bending over. Nike has been developing the patent-pending, bi-stable hinge and midsole tensioner across basketball, running and sportswear designs and is finally rolling out a model ($120) by invitation only to select Nike Members. The shoes will be available to the general public in Fall 2021. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?: Nike GO FlyEase

@edgemedianetwork Feb 4

Musical newcomer J.R. Price is starting out with some top-tier LGTBQ musical talent in his corner. With his Freddy Freeman-produced debut album "Daydream" due out on Valentine's Day, Price teases its release with two singles: The empowerment anthem "Body Positive," and a slow-burning romantic duet titled "Dance with Me," featuring out singer-songwriter Tom Goss. A non-supportive family life had a profound impact on Price at a young age. Seeking comfort in food, Price suffered from body dysmorphia, anorexia, binge eating, and suicidal depression, all culminating in a health crisis when he ended up hospitalized for hyper diabetes. But Price found safety and self-expression in music — and one of his early heroes was none other than his future collaborator, Tom Goss, making their duet a dream come true. Price, now healthy, happy, and sounding confident, chatted with EDGE about growing up gay and plus-sized, the range of musical styles and influences reflected in his upcoming album, and what he means when he says people don't fall in love anymore. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍????❤️⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: J.R. Price / Instagram / @joshuarandalprice @beardedbearpix

Musical newcomer J.R. Price is starting out with some top-tier LGTBQ musical talent in his corner. With his Freddy Freeman-produced debut album "Daydream" due out on Valentine's Day, Price teases its release with two singles: The empowerment anthem "Body Positive," and a slow-burning romantic duet titled "Dance with Me," featuring out singer-songwriter Tom Goss. A non-supportive family life had a profound impact on Price at a young age. Seeking comfort in food, Price suffered from body dysmorphia, anorexia, binge eating, and suicidal depression, all culminating in a health crisis when he ended up hospitalized for hyper diabetes. But Price found safety and self-expression in music — and one of his early heroes was none other than his future collaborator, Tom Goss, making their duet a dream come true. Price, now healthy, happy, and sounding confident, chatted with EDGE about growing up gay and plus-sized, the range of musical styles and influences reflected in his upcoming album, and what he means when he says people don't fall in love anymore. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍????❤️⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: J.R. Price / Instagram / @joshuarandalprice @beardedbearpix

@edgemedianetwork Feb 4

Georgia's 14th district representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is making headlines again for all the wrong reasons. According to LGBTQ Nation, Greene announced her backing of H.R. 84, a piece of legislation that would prevent American embassies from flying any flag but the United States flag. H.R. 84, better known as the "Old Glory Only Act," states that "The Secretary of State shall ensure that no United States diplomatic or consular post flies any flag other than the United States flag over such post". In a further statement from her office, Greene specifically stated that she "promised to put America first," and that the legislation would "prevent Hate America flags from flying over American embassies," likely referring to Pride flags. Greene's public prejudice would not be limited to the LGBTQ community, with the statement also managing to invoke Black Live Matter as a terrorist group. "In the past, rogue members of the State Department flew the flag of the radical Marxist group," Greene said speaking of Black Lives Matter. "We should NOT be flying a flag of a group who wants to erase our history and bring mass destruction to our country through Communism." The supposed incident that Greene referenced were the American Embassies hanging of Pride and Black Lives Matter Banners in June, which the Trump administration forced the consulate to take down. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???⁠ ⁠ ?: Marjorie Taylor Greene / Associated Press⁠ ?️: Brendan Walker

Georgia's 14th district representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is making headlines again for all the wrong reasons. According to LGBTQ Nation, Greene announced her backing of H.R. 84, a piece of legislation that would prevent American embassies from flying any flag but the United States flag. H.R. 84, better known as the "Old Glory Only Act," states that "The Secretary of State shall ensure that no United States diplomatic or consular post flies any flag other than the United States flag over such post". In a further statement from her office, Greene specifically stated that she "promised to put America first," and that the legislation would "prevent Hate America flags from flying over American embassies," likely referring to Pride flags. Greene's public prejudice would not be limited to the LGBTQ community, with the statement also managing to invoke Black Live Matter as a terrorist group. "In the past, rogue members of the State Department flew the flag of the radical Marxist group," Greene said speaking of Black Lives Matter. "We should NOT be flying a flag of a group who wants to erase our history and bring mass destruction to our country through Communism." The supposed incident that Greene referenced were the American Embassies hanging of Pride and Black Lives Matter Banners in June, which the Trump administration forced the consulate to take down. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???⁠ ⁠ ?: Marjorie Taylor Greene / Associated Press⁠ ?️: Brendan Walker

@edgemedianetwork Feb 3

Uche Maduagwu, a Nigerian actor who is part of the country's "Nollywood" film industry, came out as "proudly gay" in a pair of Jan. 31 Instagram posts. "Don't let anybody intimidate you," the actor says in his first post. "Come out! Show your identity! You are who you are, boys - you are who you are." The actor goes one to declare he is gay and proud, a message he repeated in second post he made on the same day in which he said he was "proudly gay" and asked U.S. President Joe Biden to place sanctions on his country "for its inhuman laws against law abiding homosexuals". In the post, Maduagwu said the Nigerians are "tired and scared" due to the country's anti-LGBTQ laws, "despite the fact that more than 40% of current legislatures and over twelve governors are homosexuals". Maduagwu did not offer any names of government officials in making the claim, but he followed up with several more posts over the next few days. In one, he condemned what he described as a disparity in policing; in several others he posted pictures of himself wearing a bright red brassiere. The posts received a few congratulatory messages ("Thanks for your strong message," one supporter posted, while others said the actor had made valid points), but they drew anti-LGBTQ criticisms as well. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: Uche Maduagwu / Instagram

Uche Maduagwu, a Nigerian actor who is part of the country's "Nollywood" film industry, came out as "proudly gay" in a pair of Jan. 31 Instagram posts. "Don't let anybody intimidate you," the actor says in his first post. "Come out! Show your identity! You are who you are, boys - you are who you are." The actor goes one to declare he is gay and proud, a message he repeated in second post he made on the same day in which he said he was "proudly gay" and asked U.S. President Joe Biden to place sanctions on his country "for its inhuman laws against law abiding homosexuals". In the post, Maduagwu said the Nigerians are "tired and scared" due to the country's anti-LGBTQ laws, "despite the fact that more than 40% of current legislatures and over twelve governors are homosexuals". Maduagwu did not offer any names of government officials in making the claim, but he followed up with several more posts over the next few days. In one, he condemned what he described as a disparity in policing; in several others he posted pictures of himself wearing a bright red brassiere. The posts received a few congratulatory messages ("Thanks for your strong message," one supporter posted, while others said the actor had made valid points), but they drew anti-LGBTQ criticisms as well. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ???️‍?⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi ⁠ ?: Uche Maduagwu / Instagram

@edgemedianetwork Feb 3

An eight-year-old girl was expelled from a Christian school in Oklahoma for telling another girl she has a crush on her, The Daily Mail reports. Delanie Shelton said Rejoice Christian School, in Owasso, called her in after daughter Chloe expressed her feelings to her crush on the playground. Delanie defended her daughter, "I said if we're being honest, I think it's okay for girls to like girls and she looked shocked and appalled." The school expelled both Chloe and her five-year-old brother, and the family must now find a new school for their children. "They ripped my kids out of the only school they've ever really known away from their teachers and friends they've had over the past four years over something my daughter probably doesn't know or fully understand," Delanie said. She also told FOX23 News, "Chloe said the vice principal sat her down and says the Bible says you can only marry a man and have children with a man. My daughter was crying saying 'Does God still love me?'" "Whatever makes people happy they should be allowed to do. She was upset and crying and asking me if 'God still loves me,' if she is 'wrong' for the way that she feels," Delanie said, adding that she's trying to instill in her children a sense of acceptance — that people can love whomever they want. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13⁠ ?: Getty

An eight-year-old girl was expelled from a Christian school in Oklahoma for telling another girl she has a crush on her, The Daily Mail reports. Delanie Shelton said Rejoice Christian School, in Owasso, called her in after daughter Chloe expressed her feelings to her crush on the playground. Delanie defended her daughter, "I said if we're being honest, I think it's okay for girls to like girls and she looked shocked and appalled." The school expelled both Chloe and her five-year-old brother, and the family must now find a new school for their children. "They ripped my kids out of the only school they've ever really known away from their teachers and friends they've had over the past four years over something my daughter probably doesn't know or fully understand," Delanie said. She also told FOX23 News, "Chloe said the vice principal sat her down and says the Bible says you can only marry a man and have children with a man. My daughter was crying saying 'Does God still love me?'" "Whatever makes people happy they should be allowed to do. She was upset and crying and asking me if 'God still loves me,' if she is 'wrong' for the way that she feels," Delanie said, adding that she's trying to instill in her children a sense of acceptance — that people can love whomever they want. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?⁠ ⁠ ?️: Kevin Schattenkirk @kschatt13⁠ ?: Getty

@edgemedianetwork Feb 2

A teary-eyed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday recounted hiding in her office bathroom as a man repeatedly yelled "Where is she?" during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and also revealed a sexual assault in her past as she talked about trauma. The remembered terror of the day made Ocasio-Cortez get emotional as she spoke during an Instagram live video, and she chastised those she said wanted Americans to put the day behind them and not recognize the lingering impact of such an event. "These folks who tell us to move on, that it's not a big deal, that we should forget what's happened, or even telling us to apologize, these are the same tactics of abusers," she said. She went on to say, "I'm a survivor of sexual assault. ... When we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other." She didn't say anything else about that experience. Ocasio-Cortez said the atmosphere around the Capitol and Washington had started to feel more tense and volatile in the days before the insurrection. On that day, she said she was in her office when she heard repeated bangs on the door, like someone was trying to get in. Her legislative director told her to hide, and she went into the bathroom. That was when she heard a man yelling and trying to find her. "I have never been quieter in my life," she said. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??❤️⁠ ⁠ ?: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez / Instagram

A teary-eyed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday recounted hiding in her office bathroom as a man repeatedly yelled "Where is she?" during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and also revealed a sexual assault in her past as she talked about trauma. The remembered terror of the day made Ocasio-Cortez get emotional as she spoke during an Instagram live video, and she chastised those she said wanted Americans to put the day behind them and not recognize the lingering impact of such an event. "These folks who tell us to move on, that it's not a big deal, that we should forget what's happened, or even telling us to apologize, these are the same tactics of abusers," she said. She went on to say, "I'm a survivor of sexual assault. ... When we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other." She didn't say anything else about that experience. Ocasio-Cortez said the atmosphere around the Capitol and Washington had started to feel more tense and volatile in the days before the insurrection. On that day, she said she was in her office when she heard repeated bangs on the door, like someone was trying to get in. Her legislative director told her to hide, and she went into the bathroom. That was when she heard a man yelling and trying to find her. "I have never been quieter in my life," she said. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ??❤️⁠ ⁠ ?: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez / Instagram

@edgemedianetwork Feb 2

This week, the contestants were tossed into the fire to present not one, not two, but three runway looks for RuPaul's Bag Ball Eleganza. Look One: Mixed Bag, a "punny look of your choice"; Look Two: Money Bags, a "boss-bitch look that says, 'I own everything' "; and From Scratch, a "high-fashion show-stopping look made entirely out of bags." Mama Ru missed the mark to school the less experienced queens — as well as viewers — on ball culture and its impact on Black and Brown queer communities. Leave it to Tamisha Iman, this season's den mother, to give a quick lesson of how and why these environments have provided a safe and welcoming haven for the past 50 years. Instead, Ru leaned into the often-heard, inner-saboteur speech, which has become a common theme as he grooms the queens for success. But back to the runway. Here's a look at some of this week's looks... Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???⁠ ⁠ ?️: Matthew Wexler / @wexlerwrites⁠ ?: Utica / Instagram / @queenutica @trevorbeatyphoto

This week, the contestants were tossed into the fire to present not one, not two, but three runway looks for RuPaul's Bag Ball Eleganza. Look One: Mixed Bag, a "punny look of your choice"; Look Two: Money Bags, a "boss-bitch look that says, 'I own everything' "; and From Scratch, a "high-fashion show-stopping look made entirely out of bags." Mama Ru missed the mark to school the less experienced queens — as well as viewers — on ball culture and its impact on Black and Brown queer communities. Leave it to Tamisha Iman, this season's den mother, to give a quick lesson of how and why these environments have provided a safe and welcoming haven for the past 50 years. Instead, Ru leaned into the often-heard, inner-saboteur speech, which has become a common theme as he grooms the queens for success. But back to the runway. Here's a look at some of this week's looks... Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍???⁠ ⁠ ?️: Matthew Wexler / @wexlerwrites⁠ ?: Utica / Instagram / @queenutica @trevorbeatyphoto

@edgemedianetwork Feb 2

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