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Pride Month & Why LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen Matter

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Pride Month is a time to celebrate love, identity, and everything that makes the LGBTQ+ community so diverse and vibrant. Over the years, we’ve seen some real progress in how queer stories are told in film, and that visibility means more than just entertainment. It creates understanding, empathy, and lets people in the community know they’re not alone. For a long time, LGBTQ+ characters in movies weren’t given the spotlight. Often, queer people were side characters, comedic relief, or figures who experience tragedy who don’t make it to the end of the movie. But luckily, things are changing for the better. More films are showing queer people as the full, complex humans whose sexual identity and gender identity are just a part of who they are, but not their entire being. Now, we’re seeing more films where queer characters are falling in love, fighting back, cracking jokes, messing up, and growing. And it’s about time. The film Alto , for example, is a super fun LGBTQ+ rom-com with a m...
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Remembering Brian Wilson and the Legacy Behind Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys

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The world is mourning the loss of Brian Wilson, the heart of The Beach Boys and a defining force in American pop music, who passed away at the age of 82 . His family shared the news in a heartfelt statement, stating, “We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world,” acknowledging the deep connection fans have to Wilson’s legacy. While no cause of death has been officially released, it was revealed earlier this year that Wilson had been living with a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia. Wilson wasn’t just a bandleader; he was a musical visionary . Drawing inspiration from producer Phil Spector’s signature sound, Wilson famously set out to create a “teenage symphony to God.” That phrase captured his belief that pop music could transcend its commercial roots and tap into something sublime. His songs often reflected a bittersweet yearning, grounded in an idealized vision of youth, while also leaving space for the sadness and complexity he lived with privately. Behind his ...
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Honoring AAPI Month Through the Power of Martial Arts Cinema

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May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month , a time dedicated to reflecting on the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of AANHPI communities across the United States. Nearly 50 years ago, this began as just a single week in May. Since then, it has evolved into a month-long celebration observed nationwide, featuring events and storytelling that both honor heritage and engage with the ongoing struggles faced by these communities. Today, AANHPI Heritage Month isn’t just about cuisine, traditions, or fashion, though those are essential parts of AANHPI culture. It’s also a time to acknowledge these communities by engaging in meaningful conversations about their grief, resilience, activism, and the pursuit of justice. The rise in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic only deepened the urgency for these conversations and reminded us why visibility and representation matter more than ever. One of the most powerful ways to highlig...
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