Hello, cats and kittens, and welcome to the May 2021 edition of Outward. That's my new intro. I'm

Christina Cotterucci, a senior writer at Slate.

And right now, I am just reveling in the possibilities of the lesbian power vacuum that's going to

open up when Ellen DeGeneres steps down from her talk show next year. I'm predicting a little

instability, obviously, but hoping we can avoid any sectarian

violence and have a peaceful transfer of power to the next, whatever next rich and cynical

jerk wants to rule our land.

Here, here.

I'm Ramon Alam. I don't have any affiliation at Slayton, so every month when I have to say who I am, I like stumble over how to say this. I'm just myself. I'm a writer. That's more than enough. That's more than enough, I guess. And Christina, that's funny that you would bring up Ellen because when I saw the news, I was like, oh, Christina Cotorucci's going to get that job and leave us in the desk. It's going to be the daily show. It's just going to be called Christina, maybe with an explanation. I don't have enough of a filter. I'm not kind enough. You know, she's got that whole be kind thing. I'm even too much of a bitch. Way too vicious. Yeah. I'm Brian Lauder, editor of Outward. And, you know, with the assistance of my

stylus this month, I've unlocked a new level of gay. I'd like to share it with the group.

It involves using something called a Den Man brush, special brush with a name, that makes my hair look like the

crispy curled ribbons on a Christmas box. And I am so pleased with it. Thank you, Justin, my stylist,

for that leveling up of gayness. I don't like this anti-bald rhetoric.

Your hair looks fantastic, Brian.

Thank you.

Does Justin listen to outward? I don't know. I should. I have to, you know, I don't like to

sort of proselytize while in the chair, but maybe next time I will. Just casually drop it.

Well, it's great to see your faces.

We have a great show this month.

So this May, as the cicadas are gnawing their way out of the ground for their sex fest,

that's been 17 years in the making, we can all identify with that.

We're looking into the past and the future to talk about how queers are seen, how our histories are remembered, and what

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