Culture Archives | Smart Gay Life

Daniel Pillai’s He/She Project Growing up in a traditional south Asian community in Canada, Daniel Pillai didn’t quite fit in. “There was an inherent non-acceptance to who I was and how I acted,” he says. “I stuck out like a sore thumb.” Pillai spent his childhood in what he calls a “conservative atmosphere,” surrounded by […]

8 LGBT Young Adults Books You Need to Read When school is out, there is plenty of time for kids to catch up on non-required reading, and LGBT young adult books are a good option. Here are some of our favorite LGBT young adult books to get kids reading this season and kickstart conversations about […]

California Students to Learn LGBT History California public school students will be the first in the U.S. to learn LGBT history. Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill, requiring public schools to teach students the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The historic role that people with disabilities have played will also be […]

What You Need to Know About Queer Fashion Society tends to read a lot into clothing. Soon after we’re born, we’re dressed in clothes that push us toward conforming to gender stereotypes. Pink for girls, blue for boys, dresses vs. jeans. All through our lives, we’re given subtle and not-so-subtle cues and expectations of what […]

Stop the Hate, Moving Tribute to Orlando Victims Stop the Hate is a moving tribute to the 49 innocent people killed in the Orlando Massacre on June 12th. The video is directed by The video was directed by Ned Martel and Ryan Murphy, creator of TV shows such as Glee and American Horror Story. In […]

Fans Fight for Positive Change in LGBTQ Portrayal Recently, we featured an article that dove into the “Bury Your Gays” trope, which has attracted a lot of attention recently because of the death of Lexa, a major lesbian character on the CW’s show The 100. Fans, many of whom stopped watching after Lexa’s death, felt […]

Visibility, Portrayal, and the “Bury Your Gays” Trope The history of portrayal of LGBT characters in the media is a complicated one. The early connection between LGBT characters and deviance informed how LGBT characters were portrayed. It also influenced how the LGBT community was viewed by the culture at large. Overtime, it led to dark […]

What Happened in 1954? Gay Rights Milestones by Darren Marples | @Mattersofpride The year 1954 influenced future LGBT rights in the United Kingdom and beyond. In January of 1954, Peter Wildeblood was arrested for being a homosexual. His home in Canonbury, Islington was searched for evidence of homosexual acts. He was later charged with ‘Gross […]

What is being done to preserve LGBT History? Where are the places that shaped LGBT history in the United States? Where were the battles fought for equal rights, recognition, and respect? How does the LGBT community preserve and recognize its heritage when so many victories have been won in the courts and in public consciousness? […]

7 Super LGBT Podcasts We love podcasts, but sometimes it can be difficult knowing where to start when it comes to picking a new one to get you through your commute or workday. Are you looking for news and information, lively discussion, or something that tells a story? Whatever you’re looking for, there are plenty […]