04/21/25

Hi there,

📽️ Lesbian films have come a long way over the past two decades. From low-budget indies and underground cult hits to Oscar contenders and chaotic mainstream comedies, queer female characters have slowly taken up more space on screen — and even managed to carve out happily ever afters every now and then. Here are the 20 best of the last 20 years.

🚨 The Trump Administration has proposed eliminating funding for a crucial suicide hotline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth. “Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity. Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access from millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens – it will put their lives at risk,” Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, said in a statement.

🕯️ Upon Pope Francis’s death Monday, LGBTQ+ activists and other leaders are remembering him as a transformative pontiff.

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, The Advocate

P.S. Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how to contribute here.

Gay man Nancy Mace cursed out in South Carolina Ulta says ‘a fire was lit’ from Republican's ‘meltdown’

footage stills via facebook @ely.murray.3; x.com @NancyMace

Senate staffer accused of having sex in Capitol building recounts 'horrific' backlash

footage still via instagram @senatetwinkofficial; shutterstock creative

Insurer illegally discriminated by denying trans teens coverage for top surgery, court rules

ADragan/Shutterstock

In his heart, I believe Pope Francis was a much stronger LGBTQ+ ally than he appeared in public

Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Trump Administration to defund suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth starting in October

shutterstock creative

20 years of Sapphic cinema: The 20 best lesbian movies

LGBTQ+ and other leaders call Pope Francis progressive and transformative

Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Justices Kavanaugh & Barrett signal they may uphold access to PrEP and preventive care protections

footage still via youtube @TonyPerkinsChannel; shutterstock creative

Pete Buttigieg calls Pete Hegseth ‘unfit to lead’ after second bombshell Signal chat leak revelation

Alex Wong/Getty Images; FRANCO BRANA/AFP via Getty Images

🌈 Look, queer trivia! 🌈

Each week, The Advocate newsletter has a little bit of LGBTQ+ trivia. Today, you'll get the question. Wednesday, you'll get a hint. And Friday, you'll get the answer.

This week's question: The origin of the word lesbian comes from the name Lesbos, a Greek island, and home to which famous poet of ancient Greece?

⚡ Respond with the correct answer, and you might get a shoutout in a future email newsletter!