Lyon, a city in France with over 500,000 people, is rolling out changes to its budget to create more equity in its urban planning specifically in the category of gender reform, according to Bloomberg. A committee is being put together to look at three different categories of the city’s budget: gender-neutral amenities of the city, areas where “gender budgeting” is already implemented, and areas for improvement. What is Gender Budgeting? Lyon is not the first to implement these reforms. Gender budgeting is a tool that… Read more

Kate Winslet has recently spoken out about her insistence that her "bulgy bit of belly" should not be cut from a sex scene in her TV series, Mare of Easttown, despite director Craig Zobel’s suggestion to edit out any unflattering angles. In an interview with The New York Times, the actor, 45, also spoke about sending back two posters in which she felt her face had been too airbrushed: “I’m like, guys, I know how many lines I have by the side of my eye, please put them all back.” In the show, Winslet plays police… Read more

Lake Highland High School’s valedictorian, Paxon Smith, deviated from her original speech to slam the new Texas “Heartbeat Bill” during her commencement speech. Smith wanted her voice to be heard and to shed light on current issues women are facing. “I refuse to give up this platform when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights,” Smith said. "This is a war on the rights of your mothers, a war on the rights of your sisters, a war on the rights of your daughters." Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the… Read more

Insecure star, Issa Rae, will be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the upcoming sequel to Into the Spiderverse. Rae, 36, will be lending her voice as Spider-Woman—aka Jessica Drew—in the sequel to the 2018 Oscar-winning animated movie, accompanied by Shameik Moore as Miles Morales and Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson are directing the sequel. Phil Lord and Chris Miller are returning as producers along with Amy Pascal, Avi… Read more

On Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas, the court dismissed a case intended to block the previous ordinance that made the city an anti-abortion “sanctuary city,” The Texas Tribune reported. The ordinance, passed by voters in May, bans abortions in the city and allows family members of the woman to sue anyone who aids in the process of attaining an abortion. “Aiding or abetting an abortion” as stated by the ordinance on the Lubbock city website includes knowingly giving a woman transportation to the procedure,… Read more

Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open on Monday after the tennis player received a $15,000 fine for refusing to speak to the press due to mental health issues. “The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018, and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” Osaka stated in a tweet on Tuesday. “Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize to all the cool journalists I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of… Read more

I love all eras of Liz Phair, and Soberish is no exception. Her first full-length record in a decade finds Phair combining her early work’s inventive, intimate jump-rope-rhyme sounds with her innate pop hit-making ability by enlisting Exile in Guyville/Whip-Smart/whitechocolatespaceegg producer Brad Wood. Soberish has everything Phair fans love: explicit desire within complicated love, rebellious lyrics sung in striking melodies, and even a nod to Henry, the bartending friend from 1998 favorite “Polyester Bride.” Phair… Read more

Victoria Moroles isn't new to the entertainment industry by any means, but her recent role starring in Hulu's feature film Plan B arguably takes the cake. Originally a small-town girl from Texas, Moroles relocated to Los Angeles early on to pursue her dream of acting. In the years since, she's managed to build quite the resume, and when approached by director Natalie Morales with the opportunity to co-lead her first major film, she simply couldn't refuse. The comedy follows best friends Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) and Lupe… Read more

My experiences in my late twenties inspired me to write a book about the Saturn Return, to ensure that people don’t make the same mistakes as I did. Also, to let everyone know what is going on during this critical juncture in their lives. My book, “Saturn Return Survival Guide: Navigating this Cosmic Rite of Passage,” is great for those going through their first, second, or third Saturn Return to understand the changes that are happening in their lives. The Saturn Return occurs every 27-29.5 years. The first one occurs… Read more

Trigger warning: This article includes detailed descriptions of abuse and sexual assault. That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson is on trial for three rape charges. After three days of tearful testimonies from the three women, the actor faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted, and remains free on a $3.3 million bond. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo found the women’s testimonies to be credible and asked Masterson to surrender his passport, CBS reported. The alleged rapes occurred between 2001 to… Read more

Why are the dyke bars disappearing? Comedian and executive producer Lea DeLaria seeks to answer this question in The Lesbian Bar Project, a short film documentary about the campaign started by Erica Rose and Elina Street to raise awareness and money in an effort to save lesbian bars from mass extinction. The lesbian bar has become an endangered species in the U.S., with numbers dropping from 200 in 1980, to 21 in 2021. The Lesbian Bar Project documentary was released three days into Pride Month and serves both as a… Read more

The thunder vibrated up through the soles of my feet, and the exhaust pipes blasted through my ear drums, rattling my skull. Like a swarm of black hornets in the distance, I watched them rolling in. It was the Dykes on Bikes, the official protectors, and historic leaders of the pride parade. This witnessing occurred at my first Pride parade, which I attended by accident my junior year of high school. My parents and I had driven up to San Francisco from Los Angeles to visit my guncles on an early June weekend. On our… Read more

The LGBTQ+ community is vast and experiences are varied. In honor of Pride month, here are nine LGBTQ+ authors from around the world whose works offer compelling insight into the diversity of the community while exploring the universal complexities of identity and sexuality, and celebrating the joy and comfort of love and community. 1. Beijing Comrades by Bei Tong, translated by Scott E. MyersImage via Feminist PressOne of the first LGBTQ+ novels to come out of China, this now cult-classic of Chinese queer literature… Read more

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are partnering with Netflix to produce a new animated show called We the People. Doc McStuffins writer Chris Nee created the show, and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris has teamed up with the Obamas, Tonia Davis, and Priya Swaminathan to serve as the executive producers. Ten episodes are set to air on July 4; however, a free prescreening of the show will be released on June 24 at the AFI DOCS film festival, Entertainment Weekly reported. The… Read more

Photographed by Amanda Lopez Styled by Alanna Holton Rose Makeup by Renée Loiz for Exclusive Artists Management using Danessa Myricks Beauty Hair by Saundra Martinez Hair Pieces on Models and Horses by Mane Tresses Models: Chanel Rhodes, Alexandria Braxton Edwards, and Michele D. Braxton-Nelson On Chanel: Hanifa Jumpsuit; Aziza Handcrafted Earrings and Necklace; Boots: Vintage. On Alexandria: Daily Paper Jacket; Aziza Handcrafted Earrings; Hat, Pants, Necklace, and Boots: Vintage; ring: model’s own. On Michele: Aliétte… Read more

August doesn’t believe in magic or time travel. She doesn’t even believe in love at first sight—that is, until she meets Jane, a kind-hearted, magnetic girl who takes the same subway every day. But as August learns more about her enigmatic crush, she realizes that Jane is actually displaced from the 1970s, trapped on the Q train, and unsure how any of this happened. It’s up to August to help figure out how Jane got stuck in time, while keeping her feelings at bay. Much like Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston’s… Read more

A lot goes into making a live performance memorable and worthy of watching. Whether it’s the talent that’s being showcased, the set design, or even the use of lighting, everything about making a good show is crucial. What many people may not question is who tackles all of the fine details into producing and designing something like a concert or a live music production. That is where Laura Escudè comes in. Multi-talented artist and world-famous live show designer, Escudè is a woman with a vision of bringing people… Read more

Journalist, podcaster, educator, and social-media maven Ashley C. Ford has written one of the most anticipated memoirs of the season. Somebody’s Daughter (out June 1) chronicles her upbringing in Indiana within a family forever altered by her father’s incarceration. Here, she shares how she gets her many writing jobs done. –Emily RemsYou write in a variety of different arenas—print magazines, websites, anthologies, audio, TV, social media. Did writing your memoir change your routine?I started working on the book before… Read more

Is there anything greater than a gusseted crotch? The diamond-shaped fabric panel can mean the difference between bunchy constriction and the ability to stretch and squat without awkward pinches you-know-where. That feeling of freedom is sewn into every product from Dovetail Workwear, an innovative company selling apparel made by and for women—specifically cofounders Kate Day, Kyle Marie Begley, and Sara DeLuca—in Portland, OR. Whether you herd cattle, weld fences, pour concrete, or just appreciate the workwear look,… Read more

Book publishing was put under a microscope last year when people started buying up anti-racist titles by the thousands in response to that summer’s Black Lives Matter protests. The result of this scrutiny? A public awareness of just how glaringly white the industry is. Former editorial assistant Zakiya Dalila Harris plunges readers directly into the publishing world with The Other Black Girl, a slow-burning thriller centered on microaggressions and gaslighting with a seriously unsettling twist. Book loving, 26-year-old… Read more

Netflix will produce a modern-day remake of Jane Austen’s final novel, Persuasion. The film will star Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot, a 27-year-old single woman who, while managing her haughty family’s bankruptcy, is reacquainted with a man she was persuaded to break up with eight years prior, giving her another opportunity for love. Unexpectedly, Sex God Henry Golding, who will also star in the remake, will not be playing the main love interest, but rather Anne’s cousin, Mr. Elliot. Cosmo Jarvis is cast as Captain… Read more

Timeless songs aren't just about whoever happens to be performing them. They're also about catchy song lyrics that have the capacity to make us laugh, cry, and dance like nobody's watching. Songwriting is a craft that should be honored, and listed below are five Black women songwriters who've given us some of the best bops of our generation. Know their names, support their solo work, and take note of just how talented they are. 1. Victoria Monet Born in Georgia and raised in Sacramento, California, this… Read more

Few reality shows are as popular or as divisive as Bravo's Real Housewives, a franchise that has included casts in Orange County, New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, DC, Miami, Potomac, Dallas, and Salt Lake City over the past 15 years. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem once criticized this pop cultural phenomenon on E!, saying, "It is women, all dressed up and inflated and plastic surgeried and false bosomed with incredible amounts of money spent, not getting along with each other. Fighting with each other. It is… Read more

This collection of David Bowie covers by an array of artists purportedly seeks to spotlight the late, great performer’s lesser-known appreciation for soul, R&B, jazz, funk, and gospel. But was Bowie’s appreciation for said genres truly obscure? He famously performed on The Dick Cavett Show backed by R&B powerhouse Luther Vandross and was later produced by Nile Rodgers of disco/funk paragon Chic. From the instrumental “Life on Mars” to the milquetoast rendition of “Soul Love,” if there’s an overarching theme here, it’s… Read more

May is International Masturbation Month! The month is coming (ha) to a close, but there’s still a few more days to celebrate May’s lesser known designation. There’s still quite a bit of stigma surrounding masturbation, and while some people are experts on their own pleasure, not everyone is comfortable exploring or even knows how to start. Regardless of your level of expertise, here are six books to facilitate your exploration of masturbation, sexuality, and reaching better orgasms overall. 1. Getting Off by Jamye… Read more

Natalie Morales is learning how to be a master manipulator. Not in real life—IRL she’s an utter delight, with a great big laugh, a genuinely sunny disposition, and a passionate streak for everything from activism to animals. (She speculates her dog Taco was a Buddhist monk in a past life and her cat Axl was a gay porn star from Palm Springs who is “super pissed he’s a virgin and a eunuch in this life.”) But when we chat, the 36-year-old actor, writer, and director has just emerged from editing her second directorial… Read more

Writer, editor, educator, and social commentator Roxane Gay is really shaking things up in the world of publishing. With notable works such as Bad Feminist, Hunger: A Memoir Of (My) Body, and An Untamed State, Gay has become widely acknowledged as one of the most remarkable thought leaders and changemakers of our time. Her recent big announcement that she’ll be heading her very own publishing imprint is a very powerful indication that Roxane Gay is here to stay, and more importantly, that she’s highly invested in using… Read more

Popular YouTuber Bailey Sarian is launching a new podcast on Spotify. Grossing over 4.8 million views and best known for her makeup tutorials, Sarian’s YouTube series, Murder, Mystery, & Makeup, will launch on Spotify as a podcast entitled Dark History. Sarian will talk about “the dark underbelly and hidden secrets of both well-known and lesser-known stories from U.S. and world history,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote. Other episodes include the Armenian genocide, birth control trials, Juneteenth, the Zoot Suit Riots… Read more

L.A.-based band The Linda Lindas scored a record deal after performing their original song “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library. Hours after their performance was recorded and posted, the song went viral, receiving millions of views and garnering the attention of well-known musicians such as Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR pic.twitter.com/pKZ5TKDdiA — L.A. Public Library… Read more

Anyone who is aware of how today’s media works in regards to culture, knows how much media relies on industries, such as sports, to keep their businesses running. Therefore, it is no surprise that four-time Grand Slam champion and No.1 Women’s Tennis Association player Naomi Osaka made headlines after her announcement on Instagram, in which she stated that she would not be attending any press for the upcoming Roland Garros event. Naomi Osaka, 23, is a changemaker within the tennis community, known for being the first… Read more

If the name Emily Kinney rings a bell, then you more than likely remember her from her role as Beth Greene on the AMC hit, The Walking Dead. Both a seasoned actress and singer-songwriter, Kinney’s newest video for her track, “When The Midnight Fireworks Start,” is described as a “letting go of the past." Filmed during an actual full moon, Kinney is seen performing a moon ritual, practicing the art of letting go of past traumas and looking towards a brighter future. “I think the song came from [a] feeling like ‘Yes, I… Read more

Skye Townsend’s got jokes, but her commitment to the craft of comedy is no laughing matter. From her meticulous way of crafting unforgettable characters, to her fundamental understanding of humor as a tool of survival, it’s no wonder she’s caught her big break as a core cast member on the groundbreaking, Emmy-nominated program that is HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show. Los Angeles born and raised, Townsend’s had quite the untraditional introduction to the world of comedy. But, her years worth of producing viral Beyonce… Read more

Our columnist, Sarah Potter, provides this season's tarot readings for the signs. Gemini: Eight of Cups Reversed(May 21 to June 20) Face your confusion, Gemini. Have you been feeling dizzy over what move to make next? Is your current situation something worth fighting for? Do you stay or do you go? As you make your decision—and yes, you do need to make a choice—listen to your heart and tune out the opinions of others. Only you know exactly what you truly desire. Cancer:Ace of Cups(June 21 to July 22) Embrace your… Read more

Lindsay Lohan is returning to the entertainment industry, starring in a Netflix Christmas special. According to Variety, Lohan, 34, will be playing a “newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress” who gets amnesia after a skiing accident and “finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner and his precocious daughter in the days leading up to Christmas.” The rest of the cast and name of the movie have not been announced. It is set to release on Christmas 2022. Lindsay Lohan will star in a new romantic comedy… Read more

With her honest and sincere advice and her keen sense of style, it is pretty obvious as to why Kaiti Yoo is one of YouTube’s hottest creators right now. From her addicting fashion series, to the transparency that she presents in her digital diaries, Yoo’s creativity combined with her genuineness makes her stand out from other creators. I had the pleasure to speak with Yoo as we discussed producing, stepping out of your comfort zone, and more. I watched in your Q&A video for 10k/50k subscribers, you mentioned that you… Read more

Simone Biles—a 24-year-old gymnastic powerhouse, multiple Olympic gold medalist, and advocate for fellow gymnasts and female athletes everywhere—became the first woman ever to complete the Yurchenko double pike in competition last Saturday at the U.S. Classic in Indianapolis. The highly complex move involves a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault, and two backflips in the air, all of which Biles completed with an imperfect landing. Many people congratulated—and were generally in awe of—Biles… Read more

Love, loss, and heartache are just a few of what Frances “Franco” Stevens endures. Founder of the lesbian magazine Curve, we watch the story of Stevens and her journey to finding herself, creating the magazine, and self-acceptance. Viewers will enjoy Stevens’s authenticity and genuine personality, never bowing down to the norms of her day and overcoming adversity. Stevens first discovered her attraction to women while married to a man. This didn’t end well, ultimately leading to divorce and ostracization from her… Read more

South London four-piece Dry Cleaning released its debut LP on 4AD in April. New Long Leg’s tight, focused post-punk sets a formidable stage, but vocalist Florence Shaw’s way with words—droll musings and surreal non-sequiturs delivered spoken, with canny dryness—steals the show. We thought Shaw, who has a background as a visual artist, researcher, and drawing lecturer, might have good reading recommendations, and we were right. –Emily Nokes 1. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata The portrayal of a female character… Read more

Wren Wilder’s new music video is the perfect pastel-colored backdrop to her melodic pop song, "Egyptian Cotton." The song takes what could be a sad subject—the end of a relationship—and instead delivers an experience full of upbeat whimsy thanks to Wilder’s serene vocals and playful instrumentals. The video, directed by Susan O’Brien, reflects this mood flawlessly with colorful backgrounds, clothing, props, and fruit-and-flower-filled imagery, creating a perfect balance between heartbreak and happy ending that is… Read more

Beginning in 2013, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles founded Saint Heron as a means of amplifying Black music and culture in a world where, all too often, Black artistry goes unnoticed. Recently, the organization announced plans to expand upon that work in a more sustainable, longevitous way. Saint Heron will now operate as a multidisciplinary studio and agency, invested in the preservation and collection of Black and Brown art. “We wish to build a space that engages and protects radical conceptual imaginings across… Read more

The Horton family packs into their aging minivan for an annual summer tour of revival meetings at the beginning of this swift, gripping debut novel. A year and 304 pages later, nothing is the same, including the memorable young woman at the heart of this story of magical realism. Miriam is 15 years old, daughter of a famous faith healer and a grieving mother, sibling to a preacher-in-training brother and a special-needs sister. The women of Baptist churches, tent revivals, and soul salvation are often relegated to… Read more

Summer 2021 is already heating up here at BUST, and to celebrate, we’ve got fab, feminist scene stealer Uzo Aduba from the amazing shows Orange is the New Black and HBO's In Treatment gracing our new cover! Inside, we’ve got a sneak peek at iconic artist Kara Walker’s latest project, a surprising interview with screen legend Mamie Van Doren, a thirsty girls’ guide to decolonizing your next tiki party, a riveting true story of young women in Holland who hunted Nazis during WWII, and much more! And Get Ready For Even… Read more

Trigger warning: This article mentions rape and self-harming. In the premiere episode of the new Apple TV+ docuseries, The Me You Can’t See, Lady Gaga opened up about struggles with her mental health after she was raped by a music producer at 19 and subsequently diagnosed with PTSD. The show, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, explores mental health around the globe and seeks to destigmatize mental health struggles and encourage others to seek help. The Academy Award winning musician was one of… Read more

Multifaceted singer-songwriter Anabel Englund comes out with the deluxe of her debut album, Messing With Magic. The 15-track project, which includes five new songs, comes after the initial release of the 2020 debut of the same title. Featuring hits such as “So Hot” and “Picture Us”, which debuted at No.1 on the Dance and Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts, Englund’s extensive talent shines on her newest release. I had the pleasure of getting to know Englund as we discussed the making of the album, her background in house… Read more

Pulitzer Prize Winner Nikole Hannah-Jones has been denied tenure at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill after being appointed to the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism at UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media, according to NC Policy Watch. The university’s board of trustees failed to approve the recommendation of faculty from the school, an unusual step that almost never happens. When Hannah-Jones was appointed to the chair in April, Susan King, dean of the journalism school, said, “Now… Read more

Texas has banned abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, according to the Texas Tribune. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill on Wednesday. The law takes effect in September. The “Texas Heartbeat Bill'' also introduces a new twist on how it will carry out the law. The law specifically prohibits state officials from enforcing it. Instead of having local police officers monitoring abortion clinics and women’s healthcare centers, the law says, “Any person, other than… Read more

May 20th is Mental Health Action Day. Millions of people struggle with at least one mental illness. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have developed new mental health conditions, while other folks have seen pre-existing issues exacerbated. Though discussions around mental health are more prevalent in society, there's still a pervasive stigma surrounding the topic. To end the stigma, this topic needs to be talked about more. Below are recent mental health statistics, as well as eight organizations you can support… Read more

The pandemic saw millions of enthralling submissions to domesticity content. Sourdough bread, cleaning, and delayed pregnancies littered many people's Instagram feeds. To the millennial woman who has fought off the pressures of the settled life, surrender seemed to be the only option. “It felt really oppressive,” said Cassandra Violet, an LA-native who just released her debut album Maybe It’s Not Too Late in April. “You have to be doing something productive.” And for young women, that generally means having a baby. The… Read more

On Wednesday, May 19, Demi Lovato came out as non-binary and shared that they will be using “they/them” pronouns. The Dancing with the Devil singer and former Disney star, 28, announced this on their podcast “4D with Demi Lovato'' with Anthony Allen Ramos of LGBTQIA+ non-profit GLAAD. The decision to come out was influenced by the singer's past couple of years of healing and self-reflecting. "Over the past year-and-a-half, I've been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I've had the… Read more

Entrepreneur, CEO of famous cat cafe Crumbs & Whiskers, and poet Kanchan Singh is a natural-born healer. Starting her own company after deciding to leave a career that was no longer fulfilling her, Singh’s story of how her immediate success led to her newest release—Dear Me, I Love You, a book that explores the harsh realities of healing from trauma—showcases her immense resilience. I had the pleasure of getting to know Singh and learn about her journey through therapy, how a trip to Thailand inspired her to become a… Read more