Culture

Pride Month | Best LGBTQ shows and movies to watch now on Netflix: In celebration of Pride Month, we’ve rounded up some of the must-watch LGBTQ shows and movies on Netflix that are available to stream right now in South Africa.

More penises are appearing on TV and in film – but why are nearly all of them prosthetic?: If you’ve noticed an uptick of male frontal nudity in TV and in movies in recent years, you’re onto something. But why are so many of these appendages fake?

LGBTQ circus star Cassandra Stone fondly remembered: Cassandra Stone, a much-loved South African transgender circus and drag performer who performed internationally, has passed away.

We’re Queer My Dear is back for Season 2!: The award-winning LGBTIQA+ online web series WQMD (We’re Queer My Dear) is back for its second season after an initial delay due to Covid-19.

‘The Boys in the Band’ reminds us how toxic shame can be: More than fifty years after the play became an unexpected smash hit for putting gay men's lives centre stage with honesty and humour, a new adaptation of The Boys in the Band is now streaming on Netflix.

South African singer Nakhane redefines ideas of masculinity: South African queer artist Nakhane’s body of work, through its very public focus on queer masculinity, redefines what being a man is, writes Gibson Ncube.

Defying censors and the law, ‘Ìfé’ breaks new ground in Nollywood: The team behind the upcoming Nigerian film Ìfé are putting their safety at risk by defiantly releasing a Nollywood movie about lesbian love.

Music | New releases from Sam Smith & Armand Joubert: There's satisfying new pop music out from international and local queer musos, Sam Smith and Armand Joubert.

Somizi accused of ‘stealing’ cooking show concept: LGBTQ entertainer Somizi Mhlongo is embroiled in a plagiarism row over claims that he "stole" the idea for his popular Dinner at Somizi's show.

Drag diva Manila von Teez honoured in M&G 200 Young South Africans list: Cape Town's Manila von Teez is thought to be the first drag star to be included in the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans list.

Oscars push for racial, gender and queer inclusion: Contenders for the Best Picture category at the annual Oscars will have to show meaningful racial, gender and LGBTQ representation and inclusion to quality for the award, arguably the most prestigious in the film world.

Covid, couture & seasonal fashion trends: We speak to Leon Haasbroek: As we move into spring, MambaOnline spoke to fashion publicist Leon Haasbroek to pick his brain about the world of couture in the face of the pandemic, and how the move to online marketing is likely to influence this space.

Star Trek unveils its first trans and non-binary characters: Season three of Star Trek: Discovery is going where no Star Trek has gone before, with the franchise’s first non-binary and transgender characters, in a show that already includes a same-sex couple.

Lasizwe | South Africans are not happy with same-sex love: In a candid Q&A, openly gay social media and reality TV star Lasizwe Dambuza opens up about his dating life, career and the backlash he faced for speaking out on LGBTQ equality.

Strictly Come Dancing reveals first same-sex couple contestant: Former Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams will be the first celebrity contestant to be paired with a same-sex dancing partner in Strictly Come Dancing UK.

Sade Giliberti | We’re just people who want to love freely: Sade Giliberti is one of SA's most iconic openly queer personalities, having grown up with millions of teens on television.

Lasizwe’s kids and LGBTQ inclusion tweet sparks homophobic backlash: Lasizwe is taking no prisoners when it comes to homophobia. And bigots on social media are outraged that he's called for children to be educated about LGBTQ lives.

Queer culture | Miloh Ramai’s ghostly new single, The Stranger: South African LGBTQ+ artist Miloh Ramai has dropped his new supernatural track, called The Stranger, inspired by ghost tales and movies.

Imraan Vagar on why it took him “so long” to come out: The LGBTQ community puts immense pressure on queer celebrities to come out to the public. Television personality Imraan Vagar reveals why it took him so long to take that step.

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne passes away: Popular former RuPaul's Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne - the stage name of Zavion Davenport - has tragically died at the young age of 34.