We may have a small obsession with Elite. You don’t need to roll out the intervention just yet, but it might be time for us to diversify our interests. Luckily, Netflix has the answer and this time it’s coming from India. Class, an Indian adaptation of Elite is coming to the streaming service very soon.
For those uninitiated with Elite, the Spanish show follows the antics of a wealthy group of students at a fictional secondary school called Las Encinas. The show is known for including queer characters from its inception and has gained a loyal LGBTQ+ audience as a result. Elite is also part of an ongoing trend of scandalous high school teen dramas like Euphoria. Having said that, Elite turns up the drama with countless sexual exploits and even murder. Though many fans have stuck with the show despite losing their favorite characters, some fans are tired of the show’s somewhat repetitive format.
India’s Answer to Elite
Here comes Class to save the day. The Indian adaptation of Elite takes place in a wealthy private school in New Delhi. The series follows three students from varying backgrounds as they navigate the complex social dynamics at Hampton International. Class is set to be packed with just as much drama and intrigue. The trailer was released during Netflix Tudum, a global fan event that covers Netflix’s original programming. The cast stars Anjali, Ayesha Kanga, Chayan Chopra, Chintan Rach, Cyaawal Singh, Gurfateh Pirzada, Madhyama Segal, Moses Koul, Naina Bhan, Piyush Khati, Sivaraman, and Zeyn Shaw.
Netflix
The trailer also teased some queer storylines. Blink and you’ll miss it, but if you keep your finger over the pause button you might see two guys making out. There are also some shots of a gay couple passionately embracing. It’s certainly a relief that the show will not stray away from its queer-friendly roots.
“Class is a universe I always envisioned designing for India,” said director Ashim Ahluwalia in a statement. “Each character’s journey is unpredictable and fascinating. Young people can be highly emotional and impulsive, which makes for great dramatic conflict. Nobody remains unchanged and these layers in the narrative make it a wild, addictive watch.” We’re still waiting for a release date for Class, but given the momentum around Elite, we’re sure it won’t be long. If you can’t wait for the Indian Elite, don’t forget that Elite season 6 is coming on November 18.
Check out the trailer below and stay tuned for more.
Virgin Atlantic made waves recently with a significant announcement. The airline announced it would no longer enforce gendered uniforms, and instead allow all pilots, staff, and cabin crew to choose the uniform they feel most comfortable in. Virgin Atlantic said they created this gender-inclusive policy to give staff the option to choose which of their iconic uniforms “best represents them.”
The announcement came with a short, stylish video highlighting the uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood. In the video, the models strut on a runway and in an airline hanger, vogueing and posing to the beat. They dress in either a red jacket and skirt combo, or a burgundy jacket and pants combo. You may also recognize some familiar faces in the video, including Michelle Visage from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Tyreece Nye, who is a TikTok favorite of ours.
We’ve changed our uniform code to give our crew, pilot and ground teams the option to choose which of our iconic uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood, best represents them ???? #SeeTheWorldDifferentlypic.twitter.com/dbCP4WxObl
Visage made an official press statement about the announcement, saying that wearing “what best represents them” can feel empowering. “This gender identity policy allows people to embrace who they are and bring their full selves to work,” she continued. Tyreece took to TikTok to show their support for this decision while strutting her stuff in her Vivienne Westwood elegance.
This is great news to be sure, especially in the wake of increased anti-trans sentiment and violence. However, to be LGBTQ+ online means immediately wincing when we hear good news in anticipation of the backlash. And sure enough, there was a backlash. It was one response, in particular, that gave us genuine pause.
Paul Joseph Watson, British far-right conspiracy theorist, and radio host took to Twitter with a self-own so perfect, we couldn’t have made it up. In a now-deleted Tweet, the editor-at-large at Info Wars imagined a world where this change led to an updated bathroom policy. In an attempt at humor, he said that it was “pretty bigoted” for airlines to separate “male and female toilets.”
“I want to see the sh*t show of ‘gender neutral bathrooms’ unfold at 30,000 feet,” he continued. If you’re like basically everyone else on Twitter you’re thinking the same thing. Has Watson ever been on a plane before? Add this ridiculous and fallacious “slippery slope” argument to the conservative self-own pile.
Taking Our Wins
Before we enjoy a selection of hilarious responses to this, let’s take a moment to celebrate this small victory. Despite the many leaps and bounds that still need to be made, this is a good thing. The joy that this change might bring to queer flight attendants and passengers is worth celebrating. The potential for queer folks to see someone celebrated for who they are publicly and professionally is worth celebrating. We take our wins where we can get them. Here’s to you Virgin Atlantic.
I find it quite frustrating that people LOVE to complain about the idea of gender neutral bathrooms, yet they forget that at least once in their life they’ve use one (on a plane, on a train, at home). Seriously ????????♂️ Get your minds out of the gutter and let people go to the bathroom
The official trailer for the last season of the hit Spanish teen drama Elite dropped in March. Now, just five months later, Netflix is already gearing up for Elite: Season 6. The date announcement trailer dropped on Netflix’s official YouTube today and let’s just say things got wet.
If you haven’t seen Elite before, you have our sympathy. Let us give you a quick rundown on what to expect. Elite, written Élite in Spanish, takes place in Las Encinas, a fictional secondary school for mostly wealthy students. The storyline follows these students and their interpersonal drama, which includes their sexual exploits and even murder. Known for its scandalous and highly sexualized storyline, Elite has been known to make even Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova blush. Yes, once again, drag queens are the litmus test.
Elite is also unapologetically queer. From the beginning, it has included queer storylines. Storylines that look very different from the typical young adult queer storylines.
Screengrab
Take A Closer Look
For those of you watching the series, you’ll remember that season 5 left off on a pretty major cliffhanger. Fans are left wondering, *spoiler alert* did Netflix just kill off a major character in the series? We finished off season 6 with Benjamin being loaded into the back of a police car while the gang mourned the apparent loss of Samu. We also watched as Isadora bravely filed a report with the police, despite knowing what she would likely be exposed to as a result. Finally, as all of this unfolded, we watched Iván and Partick finally embrace, putting to rest that messed-up love triangle. This show is all kinds of scandalizing, but that’s why we love it.
The teaser doesn’t give us anything in the way of clues, but it does give us something else. Particularly shots of the cast making out in an unlit shower, with the occasional flashing light. This is par for the course for dramas in the age of Euphoria. I don’t know about you, but you could use a long cold shower after this one. The teaser was met with mixed reactions on Instagram. Some fans have a hard time getting beyond the loss of their favorite characters in previous seasons.
So, will you join us as we embark on the new season, coming November 18?
Check out the date announcement for Elite: Season 6 below.
Another video of Trump has gone viral, and we can’t help but comment on it. Long story short, former president Donald Trump recently asked his followers to “Keep our country gay.” Trump rose to the highest office in the country with the now infamous “Make America Great Again,” campaign slogan. Is Trump, the same president who stacked the courts with anti-LGBTQ+, undergoing a rebrand? Not even a little.
While speaking at one of his many rallies, Trump had a teeny tiny slip of the tongue. The former president was in North Carolina to support the midterm candidates he endorsed when he made the boo-boo. In an attempt to reference his—now cliché—slogan, Trump called on his supporters to keep the country gay. “Remember I was going to say, to use an expression, ‘we have to keep our country gay,’” Trump said, before malfunctioning slightly. “But it’s not, I mean, for some reason, it’s just not great anymore.”
Listen, we are obviously on board with a gayer country, but at what cost? Seriously, the flub was funny enough, but the subsequent Twitter storm enshrined it into memedom. Check out some of our favorite select moments below.
As funny as the flub is, let it serve as a reminder of what’s at stake in this upcoming midterm and subsequent election cycle. Trump-endorsed public officials and a second Trump presidency. The untold damage Donald Trump could do to gay folks in a second term is hard to imagine. If you’re in Georgia, or anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter, make sure you’re registered to vote. We have to do our part in keeping this parody of a man very far away from the microphone at all costs. In the end, it seems the only time we agree with the former president is when he’s misspeaking. We can live with that.
The bi+ community makes up more than half of the LGBTQ+ population, and yet they receive less media attention. The reasons for this are a tangled net of issues, from biphobia to bi-erasure. Nevertheless, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate bi folks. Let’s start with a list of very eligible bachelors, bachelorettes, and bachelorxes.
Before we move forward, a quick lesson on terminology. In this article, we will be using the term bi+. This is an umbrella term that includes bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, multisexual, and other non-monosexual orientations. Some of the folks in this piece are included because they have described themselves as neither straight nor gay. Although some might describe this as bisexuality, we acknowledge and celebrate everyone’s freedom to reject labels.
1. Anna Akana
Anna Akana is an American actress, filmmaker, musician, and YouTuber. Akana came out as bisexual at the Streamy Awards in 2019. She explained in a video later that she didn’t think she would come out publicly. From what we can tell, Akana is currently single.
Shutterstock
2. David Archuleta
David Archuleta is an American pop singer. Though he is still trying to figure out where he lands on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, he described himself to GMA as being “some form of being bisexual.” Though religion is still a big part of his life, David says he is still attracted to both. Archuleta is a vocal member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and says he is saving himself for marriage.
Shutterstock
3. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore is an American actress, producer, talk show host, and author. In a 2003 interview, Barrymore said that she had always considered herself bisexual. “I love a woman’s body. I think a woman and a woman together are beautiful, just as a man and a woman together are beautiful. Being with a woman is like exploring your own body but through someone else.” In a recent interview, Barrymore said she has been single for six years, only beginning to date very recently.
Shutterstock
4. Tinashe
Tinashe is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, actress, and model. The 29-year-old took some time to become comfortable with the bisexual label. “I never wanted people to think that I used it for attention,” said the artist. “There are so many fucking stereotypes about being bisexual that made me want to shy away from talking about it. I’m much more open to having those discussions now.” From what we can tell Tinashe is single.
Shutterstock
5. Tyler Blackburn
Tyler Blackburn is an American actor, singer, and model. Blackburn publicly came out as bisexual in a 2019 interview with The Advocate. “I’m queer,” said Blackburn. “I’ve identified as bisexual since a teenager.” Not long after the actor said he was in a relationship with an “amazing guy.” It seems that now, however, the 35-year-old is single.
Instagram @tylerjblackburn
6. Dove Cameron
Dove Cameron is an American singer and actress, best known for her work on the Disney Channel. Although Cameron came out as bisexual in 2020 she has since said that she feels queer is the most accurate way to describe her sexuality. From what we can surmise, Cameron is currently single.
Shutterstock
7. Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and musician. Cho is openly bisexual saying she has been “with people all across the spectrum of gender.” Cho is currently dating but enjoys her alone time. She has described herself as polyamorous, although said it’s “just so much talking and a lot of work.”
Shutterstock
8. Elizabeth Corrigan
Elizabeth Corrigan was a contestant on the 26th season of The Bachelor. She publicly came out as bisexual in June 2022. Corrigan took to Instagram, saying “I am, always have been, and always will be bisexual.” From what we can tell The Bachelor alum is also currently single.
Instagram @elizabethccorrigan
9. Marvin Cortes
Marvin Cortes was the runner-up on cycle 20 of America’s Next Top Model. “I want to let you know that I’m coming out as openly bisexual,” said Marvin in a video shared on social media. “I’ve been in love with both men and women.” We spoke to Marvin on the Pride podcast about his relationship with his family and his struggle with his sexuality.
Instagram @marvincortes1
10. Auli’i Cravalho
Auli’i Cravalho is an American actress and singer, best known for voicing Disney’s Moana in 2016. In 2020, Cravalho posted a video on her TikTok where she lipsynced the words to Those Kinda Nights by Eminem. “Seriously though, how are you doing? You straight?” she mouths. “No, I’m bi,” she finished. From what we can surmise, Cravalho is single.
Shutterstock
11. Låpsley
Holly Lapsley Fletcher, known by the stage name Låpsley, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. She came out as bisexual in an Instagram post at the end of Pride Month 2020. “My sexuality is something I have struggled with,” she wrote. She cited a combination of teenage trauma, her local culture, and bullying as the aggravating factors. From what we can tell from her activity online, she is currently single.
Instagram @lapsleyyyy
12. Frenchie Davis
Frenchie Davis is an American Broadway performer and singer, best known for her appearance on American Idol. Davis came out as bisexual in 2012 and continues to be an outspoken advocate for the Bi+ community. At the time she had been happily dating a woman for a year. At the moment, however, there is no evidence online that she is still in a relationship.
Shutterstock
13. Levi Davis
In September 2020, Davis came out as bisexual, making him the first currently playing rugby union player to come out as bisexual. Davis appeared on Celeb Ex In The City, a spin-off of a British TV Series called Ex on the Beach. Although he may be dating, from what we can find online, the rugby player is currently single.
Shutterstock
14. DreamDoll
Tabatha Robinson, known professionally as DreamDoll, is an American rapper. In a 2021 Instagram post to her 4.2 million followers, she came out as bi and proud. “Happy Pride Month,” she wrote. “I’m proud to announce that I’m bisexual.” Based on her online activity it appears DreamDoll is currently single.
Shutterstock
15. Som Hye In
Som Hye In is a K-pop singer and former contestant on a reality TV show. She came out as bisexual in 2019 after sharing a picture of her and her girlfriend on Instagram. “I’m bisexual. And I have [a] girlfriend!” she declared. In 2020 it was confirmed that they had broken up. From what we can tell, she is currently single.
Instagram @somgodld
16. Jason Ellis
Jason Ellis is an Australian radio personality who is best known as the host of The Jason Ellis Show. Ellis came out as bisexual in 2016. He affirmed his identity in 2019, saying, “I am a bi guy and I think it’s ok.” He spoke about this to let others know it’s okay to be you. “I’m happy,” he finished. Ellis is married, and a dad, although he and his wife have an open marriage and have spoken openly about it. Although Ellis may not be “eligible,” from what we can tell he is still available for sexual relationships.
Instagram @wolfmate
17. Fergie
Fergie is an American singer and rapper. “I think women are beautiful, I’ve had a lot of fun with women,” she told The Advocate in 2009. “I’m not ashamed of it.” As far as the public knows, Fergie has not dated anyone new since her divorce in 2019.
Shutterstock
18. Sawyer Fredericks
Sawyer Fredericks is an American blues singer-songwriter who won the 8th season of The Voice in 2015. “Since I have not publicly said this in a post, I wanted [to] say that I am Bisexual,” said the singer in a 2022 post on Instagram. As far as we can tell, Fredericks is currently single.
Instagram @sawyerfrdrx
19. Alex Diaz
Alex Diaz is a Canadian/Filipino Actor, Performer, and TV Personality. Diaz confirmed his bisexuality on Instagram in 2019 after being outed online. “Never again will I be shackled by the fear of what might be said about who I am,” wrote Diaz. From what we can tell from his online activity, the actor is currently single.
Instagram @alexandermcdizz
20. Avery Wilson
Avery Wilson is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Wilson came out as bisexual in a tweet on his 25th birthday in 2020. Although he went public with a boyfriend at the time, from what we can tell now Wilson is currently single.
Instagram @averywilson
21. Lucas Hedges
Lucas Hedges is an American actor, known for his roles in Manchester by the Sea and Boy Erased. When talking about his sexuality in 2018, Hedges said he exists “on that spectrum.” He went on to describe himself as “not totally straight, but also not gay and not necessarily bisexual.” Hedges described his sexuality as a “fluid experience.” From what we can tell, the 23-year-old actor is currently single.
Shutterstock
22. Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson is an American model, actress, singer-songwriter, and musician. In response to a question on her Instagram profile about whether she is bisexual, she wrote: “That’s what you guys call it so I guess.” She then spoke about her disdain for labels, sayings “I’m not bisexual, I just love people for people.” Though there have been some rumors, it appears that Jackson is currently single.
Shutterstock
23. Lauren Jauregui
Lauren Jauregui is an American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence as a member of Fifth Harmony. In 2016, Billboard published an open letter where Jauregui wrote, “I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it”. Jauregui ended a two-year relationship with Ty Dolla Sign in 2019. From what we can surmise, she is currently single.
Shutterstock
24. Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. In 2003, when asked if she was bisexual, Jolie answered, “of course.” She told Daily News, “if I fell in love with a woman tomorrow, would I feel that it’s okay to want to kiss and touch her? […] Absolutely!” Jolie has admitted that she has been single for a long time because she is “too picky about partners.”
Shutterstock
25. Kesha
Kesha Rose Sebert is an American singer and songwriter. Though she told Attitude in 2018 that she is bisexual, she has since clarified her identity. “I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am,” she told Pink News. “I love people,” she started, saying she refuses to “be anything, really, except for open to it all.” Kesha’s last confirmed relationship was a non-monogamous partnership with Brad Ahsenfleter. The last time they were seen publicly was May of 2021.
Shutterstock
26. Bai Ling
Bai Ling is a Chinese-American actress known for her work in Entourage and Lost. She is openly bisexual and talked about her sexuality in a 2009 interview with Entertainment. “My name is pronounced ‘bi,’ so when I was asked, ‘Are you bi?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am Bai.’” She went on to clarify that she likes men and women. From what we can tell, Bai is currently single.
27. Keiynan Lonsdale
Keiynan Lonsdale is an Australian actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter, known for his roles in Dance Academy and Love, Simon. Lonsdale came out on Instagram saying “I like girls, and I like guys,” in 2017. He later described himself as a gay man in an interview with Buzzfeed, although recognized that he is still attracted to women. Lonsdale is thought to be single, mainly because he has not been open about any current relationships.
Shutterstock
28. Taylor Bennett
Taylor Bennett is an American rapper and older brother Chance the Rapper. Bennett came out as bisexual on Twitter before turning 21. Taylor Bennett is currently single, according to our internet sleuthing.
Instagram @taylorbennett
29. Ozzy Lusth
Ozzy Lusth is an American reality show contestant who has appeared on several shows including American Ninja Warrior and several seasons of Survivor. Lusth came out on Twitter as bisexual in 2022. He remains relatively private when it comes to his love life, but it seems that he is single.
Instagram @ozcardagrouch
30. Sanjaya Malakar
Sanjaya Malakar is an American singer, who was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol. In a 2022 interview with The Advocate, Malakar revealed that he identifies as bisexual. Malakar has walked away from show business and now works as a pastry chef in Montana.
Shutterstock
31. Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Monáe has said they identify with bisexuality and pansexuality. Monáe was pictured kissing Wondaland Arts Society collaborator Nate Wonder in 2021, but it’s unclear if she is currently in a relationship.
Shutterstock
32. Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson is an American actress and writer best known for her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda as a child. She came out as bisexual during an interview with Medium in September 2017. From what we can tell Mara Wilson is currently single.
Shutterstock
33. Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood is an American actress best known for her work in True Blood and Westworld. Wood publicly disclosed that she is bisexual in an interview with Marie Claire. Wood appears to be single at the moment or at least she’s not currently dating anyone publicly.
Shutterstock
34. Daniel Newman
Daniel Newman is an American actor, model, and musician. In March 2017, Newman came out as bisexual. From what we can tell Daniel Newman is currently single.
Shutterstock
35. Shannon Purser
Shannon Purser is an American actress who made her acting debut as Barb in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Purser came out as bisexual in a Twitter post in 2017. From what we can tell, based on her activity on Twitter and Instagram, Purser is currently single.
Shutterstock
36. Sara Ramirez
Sara Ramirez is a Mexican-American actor and singer. In October 2016, Ramírez described themself as queer and bisexual. Ramirez recently separated from their husband of 10 years. As far as we can tell, they are currently single.
Shutterstock
37. Lili Reinhart
Lili Reinhart is an American actress best known for portraying Betty Cooper on Riverdale. She came out as bisexual in a post on Instagram in 2020. Though she has been quietly dating Spencer Neville, some clues point to the couple possibly splitting up recently.
Shutterstock
38. Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez is an American actress and screenwriter. She described herself as bisexual in a 2013 interview saying she falls “under the B category of LGBT.” Rodriguez doesn’t seem to be dating anyone, at least publicly, at the moment.
Shutterstock
39. Larry Saperstein
Larry Saperstein is an American actor best known for his role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Saperstein came out as bisexual on TikTok in 2021. From what we can tell the 24-year-old actor is currently single.
Shutterstock
40. Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat is an American actress, best known for her role in Arrested Development. Shawkat is openly bisexual and says she was a tomboy growing up. “I remember my mom asking me when I was 10, ‘are you attracted to boys or girls?’ I said I don’t know,” she recalled in an interview with Out. She appears to be single, at least publicly.
Shutterstock
41. Luke Strong
Luke Strong is a British trampoline gymnast who is a five-time British trampoline gymnastics champion. He came out as bisexual in 2020 n the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast. Based on Strong’s online activity, it seems he is currently single.
Instagram @luke_strong2
42. Lilly Singh
Lilly Singh is a Canadian YouTuber and former talk show host, widely known by the pseudonym Superwoman. Singh came out as bisexual in February 2019 on social media. Lilly Singh does not appear to be in a relationship at the moment, at least publicly.
Shutterstock
43. WILLOW
Willow Smith, known as WILLOW, is an American singer-songwriter and actress. In 2019, WILLOW said that she is bisexual, stating “I love men and women equally.” She is currently dating Tyler Cole but has expressed her support of, and desire to be in a polyamorous relationship.
Shutterstock
44. Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg is an American actress, known for her roles in The Hate U Give and Dear Evan Hansen. Stenberg initially came out as bisexual on Snapchat. She later stated that pansexual is an accurate term for her too. The 23-year-old is currently in no confirmed, public relationship.
Shutterstock
45. Maria Thattil
Maria Thattil is an Australian model and make-up artist. She is also a beauty pageant titleholder, crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2020. Thattil opened up about being bisexual on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2022. Elsewhere she revieled that she made the announcement after being outed on a dating app. As far as we know Thattil is currently single.
Instagram @mariathattil
46. Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson is an American actress, known for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thompson opened up to Net-A-Porter about being attracted to men and women in 2018. At the moment it looks like Thompson is single, at least publicly.
Shutterstock
47. Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne is an American actress, model, singer, and writer. Shortly after breaking up with Gregg Sulkin in 2016, Thorne came out as bisexual on Twitter. Thorne later said she identifies as pansexual in 2019. Bella Thorne appears to be single since ending her engagement to fiance Benjamin Mascolo.
Shutterstock
48. Tyler, the Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma, known by his stage name Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. Exactly how Tyler, the Creator identifies is admittedly unclear, but it’s safe to say he is sexually fluid. According to most reports, Tyler, the Creator is currently single, and has yet to go public with any one individual.
Shutterstock
49. Rae Williams
Rae Williams is a reality TV star, known for her appearance on Netflix’s reality dating series The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On. Williams ultimately ended her journey on the show by coming out as bisexual. Although there was some talk about her having a partner, most recently Williams was quoted saying “I’m single and in therapy.”
Shutterstock
50. Nicholas Petricca
Nicholas Petricca is the lead singer of the band Walk The Moon, an American rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Petricca came out as bisexual at the end of Pride Month 2020 in an emotional Instagram post. “I believe that sexuality is a spectrum,” said Petricca. “I believe that most people probably live somewhere in between these far ends.” Petricca is private about his dating life. Although there were rumors that he was dating Sara Montez, they were never confirmed. For now we assume that the frontman is single.
Instagram @nicholaspetricholas
Bi+ Folks Deserve to Be Loved
Whether that love is romantic, sexual, or platonic, bi+ folks deserve to be loved and celebrated. So go show them some love! If any of these lovely folks’ identities or relationship statuses have been updated since this article was published, please contact us at [email protected].
Alexander the Great, or Alexander III of Macedon, was one of the greatest generals in Ancient Greek history, known for having never lost a battle. Despite his memorable time as a leader, many have scrutinized Alexander the Great for his questionable love life and supposed homosexuality. While primarily known for his impressive conquests of Asia Minor and status as a classical hero, many still beg the question: was Alexander the Great gay? Here is what we know.
Alexander the Great was the previous king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Assuming the role at the age of twenty, Alexander eventually established the largest empire in the ancient world through lengthy and successful military campaigns. His influence also inspired the Hellenistic Period.
Reasons People Think Alexander The Great Was Gay
Modern historians and enthusiasts alike have questioned Alexander’s sexuality for years. While married to multiple women in his lifetime, the speculation regarding his true sexual preferences has always persisted.
Ancient Greeks Viewed Homosexual Relationships As Ordinary
In Ancient Greek times, homosexual experiences were nothing out of the ordinary, though they were most common amongst the upper classes. Instead of considering sexual orientation, Greeks assumed specific sexual roles, like “the dominator” and “the passive one”.
Because Alexander was king, he had the right to engage in sexual relations with anyone as long as he assumed the role of dominator. At the time, passive roles were considered effeminate.
While there is no concrete evidence that Alexander engaged in sexual relationships with men, the generally liberal approach Ancient Greeks had toward homosexuality has led many to assume he did. But does that mean Alexander was gay?
Sherif Aly Mohamed/Shutterstock.com
Alexander’s Parents Bought Him A Courtesan
As a teenager, Alexander supposedly displayed very little interest in sexual relationships. Fearing that he was too “womanish”, Alexander’s parents purchased him a courtesan. However, they did not engage in a sexual relationship, which many historians have interpreted as a confirmation of his homosexuality.
Alexander Admired The Beauty Of Young Men
Alexander once beheld the beauty of a young enslaved man belonging to Charon of Chalcis at a gathering. However, when the boy was ordered to kiss Alexander, the latter firmly refused, supposedly to prevent Charon from embarrassment.
Before and after the event, Alexander had also sternly refused offers from men who attempted to pimp their male prostitutes to the king.
Hephaestion Was A Very Close Friend
While never proven, many assumed Alexander’s close friend Hephaestion was his lover. Alexander always maintained that his relationship with Hephaestion was purely platonic, though many thought it to be amorous. An ongoing quip was that Alexander abandoned the imperial administration due to “lusting over Hephaestion’s thighs”.
When Hephaestion suddenly died in 324 BC, Alexander was so grief-stricken that he clung to the body until companions dragged it away. Alexander was hysterical, ordering a state of mourning across his entire empire, banning music, and destroying the statue of Asclepios (the god of medicine). Because mortals were expected to respect and worship gods, many subjects took offense to Alexander’s actions, deeming him irrational.
Alexander Delayed The Bearing Of Offspring
While married thrice, Alexander the Great seemed to limit his relationships with women to friendships. Among his closest female friends were Ada of Caria and Sisygambis.
Alexander the Great had only two children with the women he wed: Alexander IV of Macedon and Heracles of Macedon. However, the king took ample time to produce an heir that his parents feared would never be born.
Eventually, Alexander the Great’s spouse, Princess Roxana of Bactria, bore heir Alexander IV at the end of the king’s life.
Alexander The Great’s Sexuality Portrayed In Pop Culture
Film, television, and music have hardly strayed from the “was Alexander the Great bi or gay” question. In fact, most pop culture takes on the king have focused on it.
Take Oliver Stone’s 2004 film Alexander. The film depicts Alexander as unafraid to be “feminine” as he stares longingly at his male subjects. Stone’s Alexander gives in to emotions – he whines, cries, and softens. However, Alexander mostly fetishizes the historical figure and even surrounds him with scantily clad, oversexualized women.
Instead of allowing Alexander some complexity, the film confuses him and fails to make him relatable.
Following the film’s premiere, 25 Greek lawyers threatened to sue Stone and Warner Bros for a “grossly inaccurate” depiction of Alexander the Great. They argued that the film’s approach to Alexander’s sexuality was highly disproportionate while maintaining, “We are not saying that we are against gays.”
Nenad Nedomacki/Shutterstock.com
The Bottom Line
While historians never confirmed Alexander the Great’s sexuality, many modern ones are reclaiming him as a “gay hero” of sorts. Ultimately, many of his subjects saw his aversion toward sexual interests as “not wishing to offend the Macedonians” and a respectful way to control “pleasures of the body”.
So, if you’re still scratching your head wondering, “Was Alexander the Great bi or gay?”, you might be left wondering – just like the rest of us!
In preparation for LGBTQ History Month (October), we reached out to Jonathan Alexander — an English professor with a scholarly interest in the interplay between sexuality and literature — for recommendations of young adult fiction books that feature LGBTQ characters. (more…)
The universe keeps telling us to watch baseball, and it’s about time that we listen. This time we’re talking about Japanese baseball. If you didn’t already know, Japan takes baseball very seriously. The sport was introduced to Japan in 1872 and is the country’s most popular participatory and spectator sport. They also participate in the time-honored tradition of inviting a special guest to pitch. Sometimes that guest is extra special. Hunky bodybuilder Naotaka Yokokawa stripped down to throw the first pitch at a recent game between the Orix Buffaloes and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Naotaka Yokokawa is a 28-year-old, Tokyo-born bodybuilder who even has some bodybuilding awards under his belt. Among these is his 2019 win at the JBBF All Japan Bodybuilding Championship. Yokokawa walked onto the field wearing an Orix Buffaloes jersey, shorts, and cap. He bowed to the crowd before jogging onto the pitching mound while holding gold-colored dumbbells. The lyrics to Macho Man by the Village People rang out throughout the stadium, so you just knew this was going to be good.
Yokokawa then proceeded to get his kit off, to the surprise of the audience. First his shirt, then his shorts, leaving only a dark purple thong and his Orix Buffaloes cap. He then took the opportunity to do what he does best and flex for the crowd, who responded by applauding respectfully.
When Yokokawa grabbed the mitt and chalked his hands, he was playing out a dream scenario. “I love baseball,” he wrote on Instagram saying it was “a dream come true.” The pitch itself went quite a bit wide, but luckily Yokokawa had fun regardless. “It would have been cool to have a strike,” said the 28-year-old, “but it would be Naotaka Yokokawa who would end up with a big wild pitch.”
