BUST: For Women With Something To Get Off Their Chests

Bianca Lawson Talks Past Roles And Working With Only Women Directors on "Queen Sugar"

By Bry'onna Mention In TV On Jun 11, 2019

For over 30 years, Bianca Lawson, 40, has wowed a variety of audiences. From commercials for Barbie and Revlon to appearances in damn near every iconic ’90s teen sitcom (Saved by the Bell, My So-Called Life, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek, Sister, Sister, and more) to mid ’00s fame on Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars, Lawson has secured herself a place in the hearts of millennials and Gen Xers alike. And now, with her latest role as Darla, an addict navigating recovery within an unforgiving family on the hit… Read more

LaTonya Yvette’s Memoir "Woman Of Color" Has It All

By BUST Magazine In Books On Jun 11, 2019

One From the Heart BROOKLYN-BASED STYLIST LaTonya Yvette inspires a dedicated following with her eponymous lifestyle blog, as much for the creative way she layers an outfit as for her honest reflections on motherhood and her changing body. Her first book, Woman of Color (Abrams Image), is a memoir, but it is also a map for living, filled with beautiful images and how-to sections that break down such essentials as tying a hair wrap and dealing with grief or bullies. But Yvette’s viewpoint isn’t the only one included; every… Read more

"Help, I'm 40, And Guys My Age Are Still Trying To Have Sex While Soft"

By BUST Magazine In Sex On Jun 11, 2019

We're bringing you advice from sexologist Dr. Carol Queen Q: I am in my 40s and I’ve had a full hysterectomy. I have very spontaneous sex for pleasure with no strings attached and usually with guys who are my age. I realize age might create some physical changes or challenges when having sex, but I’m baffled by how many guys I encounter try to have sex while still soft—just fumbling around while everything is like mush. I’ve tried everything: fighting gravity (standing up), tons of magic potion (coconut oil), going… Read more

Ari Fitz's New Web Series Highlights Untold Queer Love Stories

By Gretchen Sterba In TV On Jun 10, 2019

I first stumbled upon Ari Fitz when I watched her short documentary, My Mama Wears Timbs, which follows a lesbian couple having a baby and brought up discussions about how motherhood doesn't always have to look feminine. But Ari is more than a filmmaker—she is a queer role model to her over 262,000 YouTube subscribers. From creating projects like Tomboyish, which looks at the ambuiguity of style and being a queer woman, and Promboyish, where Fitz sends prom garb to LGBTQ+ teens, Ari is a revolutionary. Her art speaks… Read more

Rally Held For Trans Woman Found Dead In Rikers

By Gretchen Sterba In Feminism On Jun 10, 2019

The transgender community is mourning yet another loss this year. Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, also known as Layleen Xtravaganza, was a 27-year-old Black Latinx trans woman who was found dead in her cell at Riker’s Island last Friday afternoon, according to the New York Post (who chose to not include her name in the article, but simply referred to her as “trans woman”). Although there are no details about her death, the Post reported that law enforcement said she was found “unresponsive” in her cell located at the Rose… Read more

Win Tickets to BUST x NIKE Women's World Cup Viewing Party!

By Debbie Stoller In Sponsored On Jun 10, 2019

BUST & Nike are hosting a private Women's World Cup viewing party in NYC, and YOU can be a part of it. We'll be gathering to watch the USA team play the Chilean team and show our support for women in soccer, and we're giving away 5 pairs of FREE tickets! The party will be held on Sunday, June 16th, 2019, from 11:30 to 3:30pm, and will feature: • Gorgeous rooftop location in midtown Manhattan • American and Chilean food, drinks, and cocktails from Titos and Piscos! • Games to play and prizes to win during the show •… Read more

Amber Tamblyn’s Poetry Corner: "Lord Of The Butterflies" By Andrea Gibson

By BUST Magazine In Books On Jun 10, 2019

In each issue of BUST, Amber Tamblyn reviews a book of poetry. From our May/June 2019 issue, here's her review of Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson Andrea Gibson has been one of the world’s most important spoken-word poets for well over a decade. But with their latest collection, Lord of the Butterflies (Button Poetry Press), the non-binary author has evolved into something far more profound; a deeply inspired writer, wholly unafraid of life’s unknowns. The book takes a potent and critical look at the confines of… Read more

Female Bikers In Pakistan Are Pumping The Brakes On Misogyny

By BUST Magazine In Feminism On Jun 10, 2019

Ride On DUE TO WIDESPREAD instances of street harassment and even violence, bicycling in Pakistan is dangerous for women. The act is viewed as unladylike, vulgar, and offensive. But across many cities in South Asia, female bikers are riding anyway—and forming groups to support each other, create safer routes, and empower women to learn the art of cycling. One of these women, Zulekha Dawood, organized a group in her hometown of Lyari, which has grown since its 2018 inception to include around 40 women of all ages. The… Read more

Bicycle Film Festival Rides Into Brooklyn On Saturday June 15

By Noa Wollstein In Movies On Jun 10, 2019

Whether you’re a hardcore biker or wouldn’t be caught dead on two wheels, Bicycle Film Festival is a must-do this weekend. Catch a lineup of bike-focused films—featuring a pretty hefty set of female directors—that’ll have you feeling the wind in your hair without even leaving your seat. Make sure to check out director Liz Canning’s MOTHERLOAD, a feature documentary that takes on the role of the bicycle in 21st century motherhood. Instead of trading in her beloved bike for a minivan, Canning discovers both the cargo… Read more

Joe Biden Opposes Hyde Amendment—After Supporting It For Forty Years

By Noa Wollstein In Feminism On Jun 07, 2019

Presidential candidate Joe Biden has supported the Hyde amendment—legislation that by-and-large prohibits the use of federal money to fund abortions—for over forty years. A mere two days after reaffirming his long-held position on Wednesday, which falls outside the contemporary norm for democratic candidates, massive backlash has Biden calling for its repeal. The Hyde amendment, first voted into law in 1976, prevents Medicaid from covering abortion in cases other than rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother.… Read more

To Hell With High Heels: Japanese Women Are Kickin' Outdated Dress Codes

By Francesca Volpe In Feminism On Jun 07, 2019

For decades, many Japanese offices have mandated that women employees wear high heels. But an online petition, which has already amassed over 20,000 signatures and continues to gain momentum, is seeking a ban on such dress code requirements, Reuters reports. The petition, known under the hashtag #KuToo (a blend of #MeToo and the Japanese words for shoe—“kutsu,” and pain—“kutsuu”) was submitted to Japan’s health ministry by Yumi Ishikawa, a 32-year-old artist, writer and feminist activist. The campaign began in January… Read more

"State-Sanctioned Sexual Assault" is Missouri’s Latest Attack on Abortion Access

By Gracie Western In Feminism On Jun 07, 2019

Missouri is continuously attempting to eviscerate legal abortion access in the state despite the temporary non-closure of their last clinic providing such services, a Planned Parenthood in St. Louis. How are they doing this, exactly? Through a series of legal requirements aimed at making the process of getting an abortion as difficult and uncomfortable as possible. The latest addition to this targeted attack on reproductive rights is a mandatory, a.k.a nonconsensual, pelvic exam to be given to every patient before the… Read more

Just A Few Of History's Baddest Queer Bitches

By F Yeah History In Feminism On Jun 07, 2019

It’s Pride season, and we’ve already started planning our outfit for London & Brighton Pride (hint… RAINBOW, LEOPARD PRINT, GLITTER). So let’s celebrate everything LGBTQ+! To kick things off, here are some of our favourite queer ladies throughout history. Sappho You cannot start a list about history’s greatest queers without mentioning Sappho. She was a Greek poet who lived on the Island of Lesbos (sign me up) around 615 B.C. Sappho wrote about her love for many a woman and was one of the highest regarded poets of her… Read more

Plan A Sweet Pride Party With These Cake Recipes

By BUST Magazine In Eat Me On Jun 07, 2019

Gay pride celebrations have come a long way since the first pride parade to commemorate the Stonewall riots—organized by “Mother of Pride” Brenda Howard— kicked off in N.Y.C. in June of 1970. These days, soirees toasting the LGBTQIA community light up cities around the world throughout the entire month of June, and queer folks and allies alike vie to be the season’s hostess with the mostess. Whether you are planning on being a guest this year or welcoming revelers into your rainbow-bedecked abode, these exquisite cake… Read more

"Late Night" Gives Us Female Friendship in the Most Unlikely of Places

By Gracie Western In Movies On Jun 07, 2019

For anyone in their early twenties fiddling with stand-up lines or ardently attending improv classes, the imagined space of a writer’s room quickly becomes the romanticized and elusive idea of what it means to devote oneself to comedy. As I watched Late Night, starring and written by Mindy Kaling, I couldn’t help but fall more and more in love with the comedy career I’ll never have. I can’t tell if I’m grateful or angry at Mindy Kaling for showing me the absolute, albeit glorious, shit-show that is a writer’s room.… Read more

Nike’s “Dream Further” Shows Just How Empowering Women’s Soccer Can Be

By Gracie Western In Feminism On Jun 07, 2019

Gearing up towards the highly anticipated 2019 Women’s World Cup, Nike released an advertisement that highlights the strides women’s soccer have been making in a largely male-dominated sport, and its dreams for future progress. The short video follows a young girl as she is quite literally pulled into the different worlds of soccer, from the field, as a player, to the goal line, as a coach, symbolizing just how many possibilities await young girls today— always guided by the hand of an empowering female mentor. Female… Read more

L7's Donita Sparks On Touring, Trump, And Her Band's Feminist Legacy

By Emma Davey In Music On Jun 06, 2019

If you’re already a reader of BUST, then it’s very likely you’re an L7 fan as well, and co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist Donita Sparks needs no introduction. But I’ll give you one anyway, just because the band’s legacy deserves to be spread far and wide. After forming in 1985 and making waves with their grungy metal sound, L7 were also noted for their unapologetic feminism in a genre that was often incredibly misogynistic. With the help of the Feminist Majority Foundation, they formed Rock for Choice, a series of… Read more

Week Of Women: June 7-13, 2019

By Lydia Wang In Entertainment On Jun 06, 2019

With the returns of Pose, Big Little Lies, and Queen Sugar, it's a pretty beautiful week for TV — and for all other kinds of entertainment, too. Here are just a few of the things we're looking forward to right now. MOVIES/TV Pose Finally, finally, finally, FX’s groundbreaking drama all about New York’s ballroom culture in the ’80s is back! Following a time jump, the show’s second season will pick up in the era of "Vogue." Premiering June 11. Late Night Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Nisha Ganatra, Late Night… Read more

This Gender-Neutral Line Is Challenging The Swimsuit Binary

By BUST Magazine In Style On Jun 06, 2019

“Swimsuit season”—not to mention shopping for it—can be its own special kind of hell, especially for people who identify as non-binary. Swimwear options remain woefully limited to stereotypical ideas of gender (bikini vs. trunks), but thankfully, Hirsuit is filling that gap with an androgynous suit made for a wide range of bodies, sizes (XXS-XXL), and identities. The idea comes from Rachel Berks, who is also behind the concept store and community space Otherwild, and her partner, artist A.L. Steiner. “Though… Read more

A Sexologist's Advice On Getting Past Squirting Shame

By BUST Magazine In Sex On Jun 06, 2019

We're bringing you this Q&A; from the Sex Files in our May/June 2019 print issue, featuring advice from sexologist Dr. Carol Queen. How do I get over my apprehension about squirting? I can feel the pressure, and I want to, but I find myself waiting to finish with my partner, then releasing into the toilet. –Juicy Lucy This is a common enough problem that some people who wind up being happy squirters confess that apprehension about bringing all this wetness to the party used to shut them down, even to the point of being… Read more

South Africa Becomes 11th Country to Appoint Gender-Balanced Cabinet

By Noa Wollstein In Feminism On Jun 05, 2019

Over half of South Africa's cabinet—newly appointed last Wednesday—is made up of women, earning the country a spot on the short list of places whose cabinets have a 50/50 gender split. South Africa is the fourth African country to achieve gender parity in its cabinet—Seychelles, Ethiopia, and Rwanda beat it to the punch—bringing up the total number of gender-balanced cabinets to an all-time high of eleven, according to India Today. Just for reference, a 2019 study by the non-profit Catalyst reported that women make up… Read more

Kamala Harris' Interruption By a Male Protester Disrespects Black Women's Voices

By Gracie Western In Feminism On Jun 05, 2019

Of the fourteen presidential candidates who spoke at the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco this past weekend, Kamala Harris, the only black woman, was also the only person to be interrupted on stage - by a man-bun-clad white man, who grabbed the microphone from her just as she was about to discuss the gender wage gap, no less. To make light of a serious breach of security for one, brief moment, let me just say that this is the least surprising turn of events since the unfortunate rise of the man bun… Read more

Partner's "Saturday The 14th" Is The Kind Of Silly, Stoned Vibes We Deserve

By BUST Magazine In Music On Jun 05, 2019

PARTNERSaturday the 14th(Father/Daughter Records) Joyous. Silly. Defiant. Stoned. Ontario band Partner is still hanging in the zone that made 2017’s In Search of Lost Time so much riotous fun, but this EP kicks the mood up to 11. The stadium energy is bigger and the cowbells are louder. “Tell You Off” uses barnyard samples to spin a weirdo-country yarn, and “Fun For Everyone (Minions)” is the new “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” but with, yes, Minions. It’s everything we adore about Lucy Niles and Joseé Caron, packed… Read more

A Makeup Line Made Especially For Mujeres

By BUST Magazine In Style On Jun 05, 2019

Rebelde Girl WHEN REGINA MERSON—a Mexico native raised in Dallas—left her lucrative career as a lawyer to launch a makeup line with the unique needs of Latinas in mind, it was as daunting as it was life affirming. “A lot of us are first generation,” she says of American Latinas, “and the first in our families to go to college, get office jobs, and have friends outside our cultural circles. But at some point, we also come home to our families, churches, and traditions.” Each occasion dictates a totally different look,… Read more

Literature Meets Litigation: How Charles Dickens’s "Bleak" Telling Of Victorian Law Led To Reform

By Mimi Matthews In Living On Jun 05, 2019

By the early nineteenth century, the British Court of Chancery had become synonymous with procedural dysfunction and injustice. This was especially so for the middle classes, who could not afford to bring a claim lest they end up having their entire fortunes swallowed up by the process. However, though “the evils of Chancery were well known and had been exposed over and over again,” the 1852 publication of Charles Dickens’ novel Bleak House shone an even brighter light both on the Court and on the lives ruined by its… Read more

Teen Schools Arizona’s Sex Education Laws On Inclusivity

By Francesca Volpe In Feminism On Jun 04, 2019

Arizona just repealed a law that banned schools from including LGBTQ+ identities in their sex education curriculum, with the help of teen activist, Santi Ceballos. Living one’s life without the persistent anxiety of being ostracized for their gender identity is a privilege with which cis-identifying people are so accustomed, it often goes unnoticed. But individuals like 13-year-old Santi Ceballos, who identifies as nonbinary and transgender and uses they/them pronouns, are forced carry the burden of how their gender… Read more

"The Five" By Hallie Rubenhold Is A Haunting Untold Look At Jack The Ripper's Victims

By BUST Magazine In Books On Jun 04, 2019

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperBy Hallie Rubenhold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Forget everything you thought you knew about Jack the Ripper, the most infamous unidentified serial killer of the 19th century. Historian Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five tells another version of the events of 1888, taking a closer look at the five victims whose stories have been all but ignored. This is not that surprising since, historically, victims have never been the focus of serial killer tales. Here, the… Read more

My Depression Owes You An Apology (And So Do I)

By Magda Cychowski In Living On Jun 04, 2019

I. I am standing at the top of the stairs, desperately clutching my throat and gasping for air before falling to the ground, succumbing to tunnel vision and nausea. I am lying there, looking up at the ceiling and not understanding where I am or how I have gotten here. I want to scream or call out for help and I can’t catch my breath long enough in between sobs for that to be a possibility. Like a bad dream, it feels like I’m drowning or dying or that the world is ending. A physical manifestation of my anxiety, an… Read more

Elizabeth Gilbert's "City Of Girls" Is A Novel Of Recklessness And Passion

By BUST Magazine In Books On Jun 04, 2019

City of Girls: A NovelBy Elizabeth Gilbert(Riverhead Books) It’s hard to avoid being charmed by Vivian Morris, the 90-something-year-old protagonist of Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest novel, City of Girls, as she tells the story of her early days in New York City. Vivian’s honest, unabashed excitement in her youth will even let you overlook what she describes as her unwavering self-interest, the kind of self-involvement that means she has no sense of the coming war or what it could mean for the men and women of the city she… Read more

MTV’s Dating Show “Are You the One?” Will Feature a Sexually Fluid Cast

By Emma Davey In TV On Jun 04, 2019

The MTV dating show Are You the One? will feature a diverse cast when its new season premieres on June 26th. The premise of the show is that singles are secretly paired up via a matchmaking algorithim from the producers. If they find their perfect match, the couple will split a $1 million prize. According to the press release, “all the participants this season identify as sexually fluid, meaning there are no gender limitations when it comes to their [perfect match]." Dating shows are common on TV, but queer… Read more

8 Black Feminist Principles That Taught Me About Dismantling The System

By Kevin Allred In Feminism On Jun 03, 2019

I’M A WHITE GUY from a small, conservative town in Utah. I know I’m an extremely unlikely, and possibly inappropriate, messenger of Black feminist principles, even if and when they guide my own work. But I also believe there exists the possibility for some important and useful connections through sharing my story. Let me tell you just a little more: I was raised Mormon, though since happily excommunicated from the church. I never felt like I belonged, and I didn’t have words to describe what I was feeling for years: I… Read more

Rhianne Barreto Serves Jet Setting Looks In Fashion Editorial

By BUST Magazine In Style On Jun 03, 2019

Citizen of the World Elegant looks perfect for globe trotting, modeled by up-and-coming actor Rhianne Barreto, star of HBO’s Share Photographed By Brianne WillsStyled by Chelsea VolpeMakeup by Robert Greene @ Honey ArtistsHair by Amy Farid @ Honey Artists Stylist’s Assistant: Jarrod WilliamLocation: The Williamsburg Hotel Litkovskaya Pink Leather Jacket; Sabinna Pink Striped Dress; MPJ Pink Pattern Shirt; Alexander McQueen Shoes; Joanna Laura Constantine Earrings. Rora Clothing Dress; Hildur Yeoman Sweater; Murielle… Read more

Our Lady J Gets Us Hyped For Pose Season 2 On BUST's Poptarts Podcast

By Emily Rems In Poptarts On May 31, 2019

POSE returns to FX on June 11 and we are OBSESSED. And helping us to talk about this amazing show on BUST’s Poptarts podcast is Our Lady J! She is currently a writer and producer on Pose and was previously writing and producing on Amazon’s groundbreaking show Transparent. Before becoming the first out trans writer to be hired in a television writers’ room, she made a name for herself as a pop and classical pianist, working with Sia and the American Ballet Theatre and was the first out trans woman to perform at Carnegie… Read more

12 Women and Non-Binary Asian Americans You Should Know About

By Gracie Western In Feminism On May 31, 2019

As a part-Thai, American woman, I was appalled to learn just two days before the end of the month that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As I bury my head in shame, I can’t help but also feel angry - after all, there’s a reason I made it a full 29 days into the month without anyone I knew, or any of the media sites I frequented, bringing it up. Asian American visibility has been continuously minimized and white-washed throughout U.S. history, and the effects are palpable: Asian Americans make… Read more

Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, And Elisabeth Moss Show Us What Real Mobsters Look Like In 'The Kitchen' Trailer

By Kat McQuade In Entertainment On May 31, 2019

Yesterday the trailer for New Line Cinemas’ upcoming film, The Kitchen, was released. The directorial debut of Andrea Berloff, Academy Award-nominated writer of Straight Outta Compton, the film follows three wives of Irish mobsters in 1970s Hell’s Kitchen. After their husbands are imprisoned, the women decide to take over the business themselves. Boasting a cast of mainstream juggernauts and indie darlings alike, the film stars Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Spy), Elisabeth… Read more

Why Female Bootleggers Ruled During The Prohibition

By F Yeah History In General On May 31, 2019

Booze! Who doesn’t love it? Trick question – we all do! But what happens when this universal love suddenly becomes illegal? Well, you drink it anyway…just very craftily. During the prohibition you could be fined thousands and even thrown in jail if you were caught with alcohol, so smuggling booze became serious business. Now, first step for smuggling alcohol – you need to get alcohol to smuggle. While some breweries got through prohibition by making “near beer” (anywhere from 0.5 to 2% alcohol) those who kept on making… Read more

Legendary Transgender Activists Marsha P. Johnson And Sylvia Rivera To Be Honored With New York City Monument

By Kat McQuade In Arts On May 31, 2019

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two prominent LGBTQ activists, will be memorialized with a permanent monument in Greenwich Village near the Stonewall Inn. Both women were leaders in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, along with Stormé DeLarvarie and others, an event many consider to be the spark that ignited the Gay Liberation Movement of the 1970s and '80s. The monument will be the first in New York City to specifically commemorate members of the transgender community. (Christopher Park, across from the Stonewall… Read more

Pop Meets Funk On Sacred Paws' "Run Around The Sun"

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 31, 2019

SACRED PAWS Run Around The Sun (Rock Action Records/Merge) Sacred Paws’ second album is a bright burst of curlicued conversational pop from London’s Rachel Aggs and Glasgow’s Eilidh Rodgers who earnestly intertwine their instruments and voices with ease. Busy percussion and radiant guitar lift innocently juxtaposed subjects on tracks like “Almost It,” “What’s So Wrong,” and “Shame on Me” where Aggs and Rodgers nimbly harmonize, “Remembering when/The sun went down on us.” Horns and synths splash modern elements of pop… Read more

Pip Blom's "Boat" Is Soft Yet Strong

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 31, 2019

PIP BLOMBoat(Heavenly) Pip Blom—a band named for its singer/songwriter—is completely unafraid on its full-length debut. Track to track, the post-punky quartet from Amsterdam masters sun-soaked beats sliced by sharp grunge riffs. Blom’s lead vocals are soft yet strong. No, not like a deodorant commercial, but more like a daisy growing through cracks in the sidewalk—green, gritty, and bound to persevere. Lyrically, there’s a lot of romance talk; it’s pensive, but in a liberated way. Boat feels freshly aware and a little… Read more

A-Wa Merges The Past With The Present On "Bayti Fi Rasi"

By BUST Magazine In Music On May 31, 2019

A-WA Bayti Fi Rasi (S Curve) A-Wa made global waves with its first single, 2015’s “Habib Galbi,” a Yemeni folk song reimagined with an electronic beat. And the accompanying music video went viral, becoming the first ever song in Arabic to reach the top of the Israeli pop charts. The song (released on an eponymous album) was a fitting introduction to the Yemenite-Israeli trio—sisters Tair, Liron, and Tagel Haim—that interlaces the Arabic-language songs of their heritage with wildly eclectic, bass-heavy dance music… Read more

“The Hustle” Composer Anne Dudley On Her Creative Process And Storytelling Through Music: BUST Interview

By Deborah Krieger In Movies On May 31, 2019

Whether it’s music for movies about male strippers, French revolutionaries, or, with The Hustle, female con artists, Anne Dudley has composed it all. One of only three women to have won the Oscar for Best Original Score (for The Full Monty in 1997), she’s become known for her eclectic choice of projects, which includes other ’90s hits The Crying Game (1992) and American History X (1998), as well as the Anne Hathaway/Hugh Jackman Les Misérables and last year’s Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. I caught up with Dudley and got… Read more

I Should Have Been Aborted, And I'm Fine With That

By Dixie Laite In Feminism On May 30, 2019

Lots of other adoptees pose for photos with all kinds of anti-abortion signs: “Adopted, Not Aborted.” “I Survived Death Roe.” “Conceived from Rape. I Love My Life.” “I was almost aborted. Thanks Mom!” “I’m adopted. My Mom Chose Life.” “I’m so happy my mother let me live!” But not me. I should have been aborted. I’m happy to be alive, but I should have been aborted. I’m not depressed or bitter. There have been ups and downs, but I’ve had a wonderful life, and in many ways it gets wonderful-er all the time. Still, my… Read more

Week Of Women: May 31-June 6, 2019

By Lydia Wang In Entertainment On May 30, 2019

As we move from May to June and spring to summer, there’s tons of new entertainment to keep us busy when we need to just hang in the A.C. From new Handmaid’s Tale to new books, here’s what’s on our radar this week. MOVIES/TV Ma In this psychological thriller, Octavia Spencer plays Sue Ann—A.K.A. Ma—a lonely murderer who takes a group of teenagers under her wing, and then becomes obsessed with them. In theaters May 31. The Handmaid’s Tale As we continue to uncomfortably joke that America is looking more and more like… Read more

Louisiana and Missouri Make Further Efforts To Ban Abortions

By Gretchen Sterba In Feminism On May 30, 2019

It seems like here at BUST, it’s just another day with another story about a state trying to ban abortions (but really just trying to strip women’s rights away). This time, it’s a little different in the sense that Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards, who is a DEMOCRAT (yes, let me put that in all caps) said he would sign the strict bill that would ban abortions as early as six weeks, the Washington Post reported. On Wednesday, the state legislature declared a 79-23 vote, with more than a dozen of Democrats supporting… Read more

How New Orleans' "Baby Dolls" Created A Feminist Legacy

By BUST Magazine In Feminism On May 30, 2019

At the turn of the 20th century, a group of Black sex workers in New Orleans started a tradition that became a Mardi Gras mainstay. They called themselves Baby Dolls, and they remain a symbol of Black female resistance and resilience. The New Orleans district known as “Back O’ Town” was a swamp; a low-lying area that was home to the city’s first cemetery. After the Civil War, freed slaves moved into the area along with Italian immigrants, and by the turn of the 20th century, Back O’ Town was an ethnically mixed… Read more

Minnie Darke Talks Astrology, Rom-Coms, And The Power Of Virgo Rising: BUST Interview

By Molly McLaughlin In Books On May 30, 2019

Australian author Minnie Darke (a.k.a Danielle Wood) is a Gemini with a Virgo rising, which could have something to do with her love of Scrabble, books, and freshly sharpened pencils. This month, her long career as a writer and author is set to collide with the zeitgeist with the release of her first romantic-comedy novel, Star-Crossed. The novel opens with astrology skeptic Justine tampering with magazine horoscopes to influence her old friend Nick (Aquarius, struggling actor, and true believer). Of course, the… Read more

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Opens Up About Regularly Receiving Death Threats

By Gracie Western In Feminism On May 29, 2019

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter this Tuesday, speaking openly on how the onslaught of death threats she has received from men have impacted her life. Her comments followed the release of a Memorial Day tribute video at the Fresno Grizzlies’ game on Monday, featuring a speech by Ronald Reagan denouncing America’s ‘enemies of freedom’ as a picture of the Bronx representative was shown in-between Kim Jong Un and Fidel Castro. The minor league baseball team did apologize for the offensive clip,… Read more

This Dutch Doctor Isn't Backing Down From The FDA About Mailing Abortion Pills

By Gretchen Sterba In Feminism On May 29, 2019

In case you don’t know who Dr. Rebecca Gomperts is (because you should), let me give you a brief description. The Dutch doctor has been making it her mission for decades to grant access and perform abortions on women who live in countries with abortion bans, such as Ireland, Portugal, Poland, and Spain, to name a few. She does this by (get ready for this badass-ery) riding on a Dutch ship in international waters. Last year, Dr. Gomperts created a new organization called Aid Access, where she simply mails abortion pills… Read more

William Randolph Hearst's Euology For His Beloved Dog Is The Greatest Love Story Of All

By Mimi Matthews In Living On May 29, 2019

With their short legs, long bodies, and oversized personalities, the Dachshund is one of the most easily recognizable of all dog breeds – as well as one of the most popular. Developed in Germany more than 500 years ago for hunting badgers (dachs is German for badger), the Dachshund has since won its way into the hearts and homes of such historical luminaries as Queen Victoria, Pablo Picasso, and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was not the most well-liked man of his time, but as hardnosed as he could… Read more

Stitch Up A Funky Sunglasses Case With This Vintage Needlework Technique

By BUST Magazine In DIY On May 29, 2019

Case In Point Keep your sunglasses safe from scratches with a DIY case loaded with throwback flair. Stitched in bargello, a style of needlepoint popularized in the ’70s, this method is super easy to learn, fast to do, and it looks aah-mazing. This trippy technique might just be your new crafting obsession, so grab a needle and let’s bargello! MATERIALS-DMC Tapestry Wool, 1 skein each in the following colors: 7600, 7606, 7106, 7851, 7852, 7604, 7912, 7596* -1 sheet 10-count plastic canvas* -Size 18 tapestry needles*… Read more