A new wave of Black trans talent is breaking through the music industry. What started with a desire to provide free beats to Black trans people has developed into a historical music-industry collaboration. Record label, Trans Trenderz, has partnered with renowned New York recording studio, Studio G Brooklyn, to pair Black trans musicians with Grammy caliber industry professionals throughout the entire process of producing their projects. Not only will resources for artists be free of charge, all production decisions… Read more

Strap in, fellow dykes. In the midst of quarantine, Taylor Swift came out of nowhere and said she was dropping an album only 16 hours after announcing it. Her eighth studio album, Folklore, is not only a collection of songs she poured her “whims, dreams, fears, and musings into,” but a sapphic masterpiece. Surprise 🤗 Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. Pre-order at https://t.co/zSHpnhUlLb… Read more

The Internet’s doctors are posting photos of themselves lounging around in bikinis with alcohol, and frankly, we’re living for it. Today, a 2019 study from the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery was posted on Twitter. In the study, three male doctors sifted through 480 vascular surgeons’ social media profiles and detailed the “unprofessional content” they saw on the accounts. The study concluded that half of recent or soon-to-be graduating vascular surgery trainees had an identifiable social media account, and of… Read more

The newest STEM star taking the biotechnology industry by storm isn’t some Silicon Valley bro. She’s a Harvard University sophomore named Kavya Kopparapu and she’s literally changing the world. First introduced to the intersection of medicine and technology by a group of women scientists who came to her elementary school in Northern Virginia, Kopparapu was inspired to make her own breakthrough discoveries. “Being a student, you don’t have any stakes,” the 19-year-old says of inventing two precision medicine platforms… Read more

From social distancing to staying in quarantine, COVID-19 has hit many foundational structures in our society. During the beginning of the pandemic in March, the country came into a panic-fueled frenzy, buying copious amounts of toilet paper and other household goods, leaving shelves empty and barren—and most importantly, leaving other folks and families without basic needs. And now with states like California officially closing for the second time due to COVID-19 spikes, where do we go from here? How do we care for… Read more

Happy Leo season (and end of the month)! Here’s what we’re listening to, streaming, and reading this week, including a sex-positive comedy, new essays by Zadie Smith, and a surprise drop by Taylor Swift. MOVIES/TV Radioactive Rosamund Pike is Marie Curie in this biopic about Marie’s marriage to fellow scientist Pierre Curie and their Nobel Prize-winning 1903 discovery. Available to stream July 24 on Prime Video. Yes, God, Yes Natalia Dyer, Alisha Boe, and more star in this dramedy about a Catholic teenager who… Read more

Spirits company Bacardi Limited just released a new vodka, called Plume & Petal, which is reduced-calorie and reduced-alcohol. And surprise, surprise: the advertising was initially aimed exclusively at women. A restaurant editor, Khushbu Shah, took a screenshot of the press release and put it on Twitter, sarcastically adding, “just what I need in 2020! gendered drinks with half the alcohol.” The press release says that the vodka was made “by women, for today’s modern woman, intended to be enjoyed with other women.”… Read more

THAO & THE GET DOWN STAY DOWNTemple(Ribbon Music) On their fifth studio album, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down explore what it means to be whole. Hell-bent on owning her identity, Thao Nguyen looks within and opens up from every jarring angle. In turn, the San Francisco-based group arrives at its most personal and complex work. Gooey beats melt into bellowing riffs creating a lively sound, but in a trip-hop, heavy way. Temple is a direct embrace of the front-woman’s defining parts, particularly the ones that never fit… Read more

In 2019, Taylor Swift dropped her long-awaited seventh studio album, Lover, and less than a year later, she just announced that she’s releasing her eighth studio album called folklore. On Twitter, Swift described the record as “an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.” The album will be released at midnight tonight. Surprise 🤗 Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams,… Read more

Brooklyn activist Emily Gallagher just defeated one of the longest-serving members of the State Assembly, Joe Lentol. Gallagher will be representing the 50th District. The defeat came almost a month after the election, as they were still counting the votes in New York. Gallagher ended up taking the lead with the help of absentee ballots, which were higher than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lentol, who had been a member of the Legislature since 1973, conceded and stated, “It’s decided: The voters in the 50th… Read more

It was early April when I stumbled upon the fresh and spirited images of Brooklyn-based photographer Meg Stacker King on Instagram. Her feed offered up a much-needed infusion of fun and hope for a brighter, better future amidst the COVID crisis. A series of black and white photos that highlight the love and connection between parents and their children are part of Stacker King's quarantine inspired project titled We the Mamas. Stacker King is a woman whose passion for both her craft and humanity presents a positive… Read more

Burger Records, longtime home to many scrappy and charming garage bands, has come under fire for fostering a culture of sexual misconduct among both its artists and staff. The label announced on Monday that they intended to make “major structural changes” in order to address “a culture of toxic masculinity” that they have long perpetuated, though they have since made the decision to shut down completely. Bands like the Growlers, the Black Lips, SWMRS, and the Buttertones have been implicated. Multiple artists came… Read more

Content warning for sexual assault of minors and coercion Former Miss Kentucky, Ramsey BethAnn Bearse, has been sentenced to two years in prison for sending sexually explicit photos to a teenage boy. The 29-year-old was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and ordered to register as a lifetime sex offender. Bearse admitted to exchanging the photos between August and October 2018, when she was working as a schoolteacher in West Virginia. The boy was one of her former students and his parents reported Bearse… Read more

Welcome back to another episode of unnecessary period products that should probably never go near your nether regions! Menstruators on Twitter this weekend were confused, and even concerned, about a new period product that seems not only unnecessary, but potentially harmful. And after the news on this product made the usual rounds around feminist Twitter, gynecologists agreed that it is almost certainly a no go. The product in question is called the Blossom Brush, a vaginal cleansing brush intended to “remove lingering… Read more

It looks like Colin Kaepernick—who still doesn’t have a job, by the way—was onto something with the whole kneeling thing. “America’s Favorite Pastime” came back this week after the coronavirus shutdown for a shortened season. At this time, it’s not entirely clear whether or not audiences will be able to come and watch stadium games—if so, stadiums will most likely only be filled to 50 percent capacity. On Monday, San Francisco players, coaches, training staff, and team manager Gabe Kapler took a knee during the… Read more

A Black woman named Lanisha Bratcher is facing 19 months in prison for voting in the 2016 election in Hoke County, North Carolina.. The 32-year-old mother was on probation for a felony assault charge when she voted in the election. Though Bratcher states that she was never informed by a judge that she was denied the right, the district attorney of Hoke County charged her with a Class I felony for voting while serving a criminal sentence. “I had no intention to trick anybody or be malicious or any kind of way,” she said… Read more

Los Angeles is about to get a new professional women’s soccer team, thanks in part to Natalie Portman. On Tuesday, June 21, the National Women’s Soccer League awarded a group led by Portman the rights to form a franchise in LA. The team has not yet revealed the official name although it is tentatively named Angel City, and is still in early stages of development. The NWSL only has about nine teams throughout the United States. The group that’s led by Portman also has some other notable names such as America Ferrera,… Read more

WHEN COMEDIAN JABOUKIE Young-White steps into his BUST photoshoot, I clumsily exclaim, “You’re much taller than I expected!” He squeals with laughter and asks if the interview is an “exposé,” because as the social media influencer who coined the term “short king”—to challenge the height shaming of men—he’s often glorified himself in this way alongside names like Kendrick Lamar, Donald Glover, Bruno Mars, and Dr. Martin Luther “Short” King Jr. “Short kings are the enemy of body negativity,” the 25-year-old once tweeted,… Read more

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is known for being outspoken and progressive. She’s been dubbed as part of “The Squad,” an informal title for a group of four progressive women who were elected in 2018. Other members include Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. It comes as no surprise that Ocasio-Cortez’s views aren’t popular with everyone, especially her colleagues across the aisle. But what did come as a surprise was when Florida Representative Ted Yoho accosted Ocasio-Cortez on the steps… Read more

Right now the future is so uncertain, but if nothing else it most definitely is in the hands of Black and Brown girls. Monday night, PBS POV, in its 33rd season, aired the 2019 documentary We Are Radical Monarch. The documentary showcases the humble beginnings of the Radical Monarchs—formerly Radical Brownies—an Oakland-based, social justice and service alternative to the Girl Scouts. The film opens with newscasters stating Latinas have a lower rate of graduating high school than any other major subgroup and that Black… Read more

WANDERING IN STRANGE LANDS: A DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT MIGRATION RECLAIMS HER ROOTSBy Morgan Jerkins(Harper) Growing up, Morgan Jerkins “felt like an outsider among my blood, a feeling that would stay with me until I was an adult.” In this memoir, she tries to connect to the places in America her family first called home by visiting those sites. Jerkins knew that what her family couldn’t remember—or had chosen to forget—“can be found in people you have yet to encounter and places where you have not yet traveled.” So she… Read more

With everything going on in the world, hopping on Twitter in the morning can sometimes feel exhausting: you know, what with all the police brutality and racist politicians and celebrities like J.K. Rowling not knowing when to stop tweeting. And, of course, the pandemic. Anyway, if you were looking to learn what you missed while sleeping in this weekend, here are a few quick points to catch you up. via CDC/unsplash Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Has Successful First TestWith research facilities worldwide racing to find a… Read more

In the Netherlands, lockdown measures to protect against COVID-19 have affected one industry in particular: sex work. According to official figures, 7,000 sex workers make their income in Amsterdam, primarily from visiting tourists. However, since the imposed lockdowns past March, the city’s infamous Red Light District (or “De Wallen”) has suffered a significant financial blow as tourism came screeching to a halt and window brothels shut down. Without income for nearly four months, many sex workers had to return to… Read more

Nick Cannon, known for hosting the successful MTV show Wild ‘N Out, recently came under fire for comments he made on a podcast. Because of these comments, Cannon was fired from Viacom, which includes his deals with Nickelodeon and MTV. On the podcast, he was speaking with Professor Griff, a former member of the rap group Public Enemy who was kicked out for antisemitic comments in 1989, in which he said that Jewish people were responsible for the majority of the wickedness in the world. Throughout the podcast, Cannon… Read more

Russian lawmakers have submitted legislation to ban same-sex marriage. The ban comes two weeks after voters approved a set of constitutional amendments that would define marriage strictly as a “union between a man and a woman.” Not only does the legislation ban gay marriage, but adoption. However, discrimination against same-sex couples looking to adopt was already rampant. Now it’s just enshrined in the law. According to senator Yelena Mizulina, one of the co-authors of the bill, “The bill ends the practice of… Read more

At the Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, dozens of women wearing yellow and handing out sunflowers formed a protective "wall of moms" around demonstrators during a confrontation with federal law enforcement. A massive crowd had gathered for the protests. Portland police said in a statement that demonstrators were blocking roads and causing disturbances. Protestors in the crowds were chanting “Feds stay clear, moms are here!" and "Feds go home!" before a fence outside a federal courthouse was… Read more

BEFORE THEY BECAME co-authors of Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close (out July 14), pals Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow developed a following as hosts of the feminist podcast Call Your Girlfriend—a show “for long-distance besties everywhere” that has been attracting hundreds of thousands of listeners since 2014. Here, we asked the voracious readers to reveal what books they’ve shared with one another over the years, and why. And they wrote all these responses together—the same way they wrote their whole book!… Read more

When you think about activism, what first comes to mind? Probably protesting, voting, posting on social media. Maybe you even think about the bra-burning feminists of the ’70s. Would you ever think about sewing when it comes to activism? Although it’s not in most people’s definition of activism, many of those in the embroidery community have been using their skills to make a difference in the world, and it’s kinda awesome. Embroidery is a type of decorative sewing that typically uses embroidery floss with different… Read more

In a historic move on July 14, the City Council of Asheville, North Carolina, held a vote to provide Black residents of the city with reparations. The City Council also apologized for the city’s participation in slavery and for its discrimination and denial of liberties to Black residents, who make up 12 percent of the city's population. Councilman Keith Young, a Black member on Asheville’s City Council, said, “It’s simply not enough to remove statues. Black people in this country are dealing with issues that are… Read more

Actress Aisha Dee calls for more diverse storytelling behind the camera in an Instagram post about her time on her show The Bold Type. Dee hopes that with this open letter, the show can “really practice the things The Bold Type teaches, by acknowledging mistakes and making commitments to be better in the future.” Dee plays Kat Edison who is queer on the series that follows three millennial women through romantic relationships and career paths at the fictional Scarlet Magazine. As a biracial woman, Dee was also very… Read more

For puppeteers, working for Sesame Street is the ultimate career achievement. Here, the women who bring the show’s fiery felt females to life reveal what it’s like working on the world’s most beloved block. Visitors to the midtown Manhattan offices of Sesame Workshop are greeted by colorful Muppet-themed art. It’s everywhere you look: a life-sized Big Bird, murals, giant framed photos, TV screens. Even the light fixtures feature smiling Muppet characters. The place radiates cheerful energy throughout bustling rows of… Read more

Locked down pizza fans across the nation have had to go without their smoky, fresh Neapolitan pies from their favorite restaurants. Though most pizzerias have stayed open during the pandemic, eating a to-go slice is nothing like sitting at a nice table having it served al fresco. New York pizza maven Shealyn Brand saw what was missing and is working with Hormel Foods to bring the fanciest of pizza into our very own homes. "I suppose I always loved pizza," Brand told BUST. "Like a friend just shared a pic from my high… Read more

Shortly after announcing its decision to change its outdated and offensive name, this Washington-based football team is in even more hot water. On Thursday, the Washington Post released a piece with accusations of sexual harassment and verbal abuse from 15 former female employees and two journalists who covered the team. The article implicated Richard Mann II, the team's assistant director of pro personnel, and Larry Michael, the team's former senior vice president of content and play-by-play announcer, and included… Read more

Trigger warning: this story includes discussions of sexual assault, domestic violence, violence against womxn. Since the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and a number of other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement officers — as well as the subsequent global movement calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism — discussion surrounding the prison industrial complex and prison abolition has seen a resurgence. While the United States prison system has many faults, perhaps the… Read more

Colombian-Canadian artist Tei Shi just released new EP, Die 4 Ur Love, on July 17. In addition to releasing two EPs and albums, she's worked with artists such as Blood Orange, A$AP Rocky, and Tyler, the Creator. "Die 4 Ur Love," the song and EP as a whole, was created entirely during quarantine and is about "losing someone you never thought you could lose... and the end of the world as you know it." The latest single, "Goodbye," was released on June 26. Pre-save the EP using this link. Over the phone, the artist talked… Read more

BUST is excited to exclusively premiere SUSU's new song and video, “It Can’t Be Over.” The song is the lead single off of their upcoming debut EP, Panther City. The single is a catchy tune about not wanting a relationship to end, featuring soulful guitar and rich vocals. The New York-based band is known for blending of rock ‘n’ roll and soul. SUSU, led by Liza Colby and Kia Warren, combines Liza’s psychedelic sensibility and Kia’s slow-burn aesthetic. Of the band, Liza says, “We aren’t shy about being black women in… Read more

The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) are back, y’all—and we’re already fired up from “Gaslighter,” “March March,” and the album’s other powerful singles. Other than the best country album of 2020 (already calling it), here’s what we’re looking forward to this week. MOVIES/TV Cursed Katherine Langford stars in Netflix’s latest fantasy drama series, a retelling of a King Arthur legend, as a teenage sorceress. Streaming July 17. MUSIC/PODCASTS Gaslighter by The Chicks At long last, The Chicks’ new album—their… Read more

Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy! Yeah, yeah. We all know the Schuyler Sisters. The trio even get their own song at the beginning of the hit Broadway show, Hamilton. Earlier this month, millions of viewers logged onto Disney+ to watch a 2015 recording of the famed musical, which follows the story of Alexander Hamilton all the way from his rise to success to his death at the hands of Aaron Burr. The release of the movie on Disney+ caused a resurgence in looking into the backgrounds of the historical figures depicted in the… Read more

Unfortuately, many events (including the Summer Olympics) were postponed or canceled this summer. But there are still some activities you can do from a safe social distance: plan a beach day, go for a run, or work out on your own. If that's on your agenda this month, check out these sporty, summery picks. Save your skin and slap on the sunscreen knowing this one’s cruelty-free and reef-friendly. MINERAL SPF 70 FACE SUNSCREEN LOTION, $14.99, GOBAREOUTSIDE.COM Keep the beat on the street with headphones made from 70… Read more

BabyteethDirected by Shannon MurphyOut June 19 The future looks bleak for Milla (Eliza Scanlen), and not just because she’s unsatisfied at her rigid all-girls school and misunderstood by her well-meaning parents. The 16-year-old is fighting cancer, and it’s looking like it might be terminal. When Milla quite literally collides with the tattooed and much older Moses (Toby Wallace) at the film’s onset, it’s something like love at first sight, and she takes him home. Naturally, her concerned parents (Essie Davis and Ben… Read more

Back in May, Netflix dropped the final season of She-Ra and the Princess of Power. The show garnered millions of fans across the globe (many of whom are clamoring for a She-Ra movie) and has firmly placed She-Ra as a feminist and a gay icon. What, exactly, has made the new She-Ra such a powerful icon? Although true that her sword, “best friend squad,” and flowing hair have made her memorable, it’s the truthful writing that brought such a beloved character to life that has made her stand out. Many people may know the… Read more

I love weddings. I really do. What’s not to love? Beautiful venues, free cake, watching family members’ drunk dancing, and an excuse to break out your old homecoming dresses from high school. However, the older I get—and the further I dive into feminist literature—the more I question the traditions we follow at weddings. I may love them, but weddings are just weird. You invite everybody you know and pay for each of them to eat, pick your favorite friends to stand next to you and pick what they’ll wear, wear an… Read more

Headlines around the world showed Black Lives Matter protestors in Bristol, England toppling, in a now viral video, a statue of Edward Colston, a slave trader from the 17th century, and throwing it into a river. Now, a new sculpture has been put in the place where Colston’s statue once stood: a Black Lives Matter protestor. British artist Marc Quinn erected the statue of a black woman with her fist raised in a Black Power statue. Quinn said he based the statue on the viral photo of Jen Reid, who climbed on top of the… Read more

In 2018, we saw an election with a record-breaking number of women running for office. This year, that record has been broken once again. According to The Hill, over 570 women are running for office during the 2020 election. 574 women have filed to run for primaries for House seats and 58 women have filed to run for primaries in the Senate. This is a 20 percent increase from 2018, which had 476 House candidates and 53 Senate candidates. This is a major uptick in female representation when it comes to politics. A large… Read more

A fifteen-year-old girl was incarcerated in Michigan during the coronavirus pandemic. The reason? A judge ruled that her uncompleted schoolwork violated probation. Grace had been charged with assault after someone called the police when hearing her mother, Charisse, cry “Help me!” and honk her car’s horn. According to the police report, Grace had reached inside the car to try to get Charisse's phone and had bitten her mother’s finger and pulled her hair because she was upset she could not go to a friend’s house. Weeks… Read more

Breaking gender roles and norms, famed astrologer Walter Mercado is a Pisces Sun, Aries Moon, and a household name for Latinx and Hispanic communities all across the world. Serving big jewels, big capes and big hair, Mercado stars (no pun intended) in his own documentary, Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado. Released July 8 and directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch, Mercado’s role to stardom and fame is just one side of him. The documentary explores his childhood, how he as a young boy brought a… Read more

If you’ve been on the internet in the last few months, you might have seen the phrase “Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor” pop up a lot. Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old black woman who was shot eight times by police when they showed up at her and her boyfriend’s home with a no-knock warrant. Since her death and subsequent inaction when it comes to the arrests of the officers that killed her, people have been calling for justice. But some might say that the death of Breonna Taylor has become something of a meme… Read more

One of Netflix’s newest original series stars a group of nuns who fight demons. Yes, really. Warrior Nun dropped on Netflix on July 2. Based on a comic series named Warrior Nun Areala, the show follows Ava who goes from being a dead, paraplegic orphan to a resurrected and walking orphan. She later finds out her transformation is thanks to a holy relic named The Halo embedded in her back that chose her to be the next Warrior Nun. Over the course of the season, Ava learns about the Order of the Cruciform Sword (OCS): a… Read more

IT’S BLUE SKIES ahead with this bright, bold, and painterly look, which is actually easier to do than you’d think. All you need are blue and silver shadows and a white cream shadow you can flex your art school skills with. If you wear foundation or concealer, be sure to apply those first. If you want to give your sky staying power and a little saturation, prep your lid with a shadow primer. Having your head in the clouds never looked so good! MATERIALS: Blush brush, small or medium blender, and a small, flat, slightly… Read more

"My body is not pornography.” These are the words that are captioning many of the posts circulating Russia’s feminist social media right now. They’re written in support of Yulia Tsvetkova—a twenty-seven-year-old Russian artist and activist whose drawings of vaginas have landed her with criminal charges. If she is found guilty – which more than 99 percent of people who face court in Russia are – she will face six years in prison. Yulia Tsvetkova has become a symbol of the consequences of Russia’s push for “traditional… Read more