His Little Brother Is the Reason

Welcome back to the Watering Hole. A Japanese volleyball player came out this week, gave his little brother the credit, and then a second player in his league came out too, so I have been emotional in public for two days. Further down, Madonna won seven VMAs at 68 and Troye Sivan went to a bathhouse for a magazine.

A volleyball player came out as gay. He says his famous little brother is the reason. We're fine. Totally fine. Rui Takahashi is 26 and plays in Osaka. Then a second player in his league came out too. Pass the tissues. keep reading →

A magazine sent Troye Sivan and Elliot Page to a 194-degree bathhouse. For fashion, allegedly. New York's first men's issue, shot by Ryan McGinley. Brandon Flynn calls the place “naked church.” Amen. keep reading →

A former NBA player told a WNBA coach to quit over trans people. She won Coach of the Year the next morning. Enes Kanter Freedom also dared Cheryl Reeve to draft him. League sources already said he's ineligible. Be so for real. keep reading →

The government asked the Supreme Court for permission to take wigs from trans prisoners. Read that twice. The filing lists wigs and “buttock padding” and says such items could hide contraband. Response due Oct. 8. keep reading →

California's governor signed six bills for the gays. Until Monday, the press release said “Add press release content here.” PrEP, trans veterans, a rewritten conversion therapy ban. The laws are real. The intern is on thin ice. keep reading →

New York's mayor gave the Netherlands' gay prime minister a tour. The kids brought zines. Rob Jetten had already done Stonewall. Zohran Mamdani skipped the skyline and took him to the LGBT Center's archive. keep reading →

He owned Baltimore's gay dance club for 37 years. The week he died, the city's oldest gay bar announced a comeback. Chuck Bowers died Sept. 22 at 81. His club, the Hippo, hosted early AIDS fundraisers. Leon's reopens today. keep reading →

Madonna won seven VMAs at 68. The speech was about her butt cheek. Mother never left. In 1984 someone told her that performance ended her career. She named the culprit: the manager's assistant. keep reading →

An actress told a gay gala she always wanted a gay son. The right-wing internet heard child abuse. Babe, it was a toast. Camryn Manheim's son is straight and 25. Breitbart says she tried to turn him gay. That phrase isn't in the video. keep reading →

LEGO shrank a Queer Eye star's jacket onto a minifigure, paint drips and all. A judge says a jury can hear about it. The real one says THYME IS ON MY SIDE. LEGO's says REBUILD THE WORLD. Same font, same drips. Oops. keep reading →

The first trans man on Drag Race was arrested after a Porsche met three parked cars. Call an Uber. Gottmik was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Sept. 16, police say. No injuries reported. He hasn't commented. keep reading →

A fan page slipped a pop star a little transphobia inside a compliment. She sent it right back. Ellie Goulding: “Girl, no thank you.” Over 27,000 likes. Also, lace and silk are the queer look, sweetie. keep reading →

Two things for after the steam room, because not all of us have a New York magazine shoot at the Russian & Turkish Baths. Both under $40.

These are ShopMy commission links, so I earn a small cut if you buy something. It costs you nothing extra, nobody paid to be here, and it has no bearing on what makes the list. Prices are what I saw on Sept. 30 and they move, so check before you buy.

Pixi Rose Remedy Mask $24 A cooling rose jelly mask. Put it on after the hottest shower you can stand, lie flat, and pretend you just did 194 degrees on East 10th Street next to Troye Sivan. We won't tell.

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SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule A Korean serum built on centella asiatica, the plant people reach for when their face is red and angry. After a steam room, that is your face. Thin, fast, no drama.

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— Spencer