Welcome to the Watering Hole

This week, we’re spiraling in Washington Square Park with Lorde, JK Rowling get into it with Pedro Pascal, and entering our soft-boy breakdown era over the Heartstopper finale. The gays are dancing on talk shows, getting immortalized in wax, and falling in love behind bars (again). Also? Your kitchen is about to smell like generational wealth.

• Lorde popped out at Washington Square Park on Tuesday like a Tumblr ghost and previewed her new single called What Was That, and girl, same. It’s weird, glitchy, synthy, and lowkey devastating, aka peak Lorde. This is her Melodrama comeback arc, and I’m scared of how much it’s about to consume me.

• Remember the “Senate Twink” who got publicly dragged after a scandal? He’s in his healing era now, living in Australia, dealing with PTSD, launching an OnlyFans, and maybe opening a pigeon sanctuary? He’s reclaiming his story one feathered friend at a time and honestly? King behavior.

• Keir said trans rights are human rights… until it wasn’t convenient anymore. Now he’s applauding a UK Supreme Court decision that defines “woman” strictly by biology. Cool, love when politicians treat human lives like a PR strategy. Trans folks aren’t a debate, babe. They’re people.

• The GOP is trying to cut LGBTQ+ support from the 988 crisis lifeline, which literally thousands of queer youth rely on. Imagine seeing how high suicide rates are in our community and deciding to do less. Evil isn’t even subtle anymore, it’s fully budgeting itself into reality.

• Amazon yeeted Clean Slate, a critically adored show with Laverne Cox as a trans woman reconnecting with her estranged dad, after just one season. No explanation, no mercy. They said “representation?” and then said “nevermind.” It’s giving “diversity for clout, not commitment.”

• JoJo Siwa said “I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer” on Celebrity Big Brother UK and honestly? Queen behavior. She opened up about how her label’s changed over time, how she feels nonbinary-ish, and how she’s just figuring it out in real time like the rest of us. Visibility is hot. Self-evolution is hotter.

• The new lesbian roadtrip noir from the Drive-Away Dolls crew is called Honey Don’t! and it stars Margaret Qualley as a gay private eye and Aubrey Plaza as her sketchy maybe-lover? It’s giving cult classic before it even drops. If these two don’t kiss in a neon-lit motel parking lot I will sue.

• The DOJ is in court trying to defend Trump’s gross trans military ban and baby… the judges were not buying it. Like, imagine saying “you can serve, just not as yourself” in 2025 and expecting applause. The court basically said “make it make sense,” and they couldn’t.

• Sarah McBride went on Pod Save America and dragged Republicans to hell for acting like they’re auditioning for Vanderpump Rules. She called out their fake drama, misgendering, and how it’s all hurting real people just so they can go viral on Fox News. She ate. Zero crumbs.

• Pope Francis has died at 88. He condemned homophobia, supported same-sex couple blessings (kinda), and was less hateful than most religious leaders, low bar, but still. Was he a gay icon? No. Was he trying? Also no. But he was the closest the Vatican’s gotten to “tolerable,” which is… something.

• A federal judge just told the Trump admin (again): “You will not be removing the ‘X’ marker from passports, sweetie.” This ruling stops their attempt to ban gender-neutral IDs and basically said “transphobia? in this economy?” Love when the courts get it right and serve a little justice with a side of gender euphoria.

• Pedro Pascal called JK Rowling a “heinous loser” and I would simply die for him. After the UK Supreme Court ruled against legal protections for trans women, she celebrated like it was Hogwarts graduation day, Pedro came through in a “Protect the Dolls” tee and said “not on my watch, toad.” Real ally energy. Let’s get him a GLAAD Award and a kiss on the forehead immediately.

• The military finally unsat itself and decided, hey, maybe trans troops should be allowed to access gender-affirming healthcare. Groundbreaking! After a court told them to stop being weird about it, the Pentagon is now reinstating medical services like HRT and surgeries for trans service members. Love when justice hits like a hormone injection. About time.

• Bella Ramsey is getting waxed at Madame Tussauds, and it’s a slay for the history books. They’re officially the first nonbinary person to be immortalized in wax, and the look? Their Last of Us red carpet serve in a Japanese streetwear moment. A literal icon. Museum status. We won.

• Netflix said no more seasons, just vibes. They’re wrapping Heartstopper with a full-length movie. It’ll cover Volume 6 + the Nick and Charlie novella, aka long-distance heartbreak and soft-boy angst. Fans are already crying, begging, and threatening, because if this ending isn’t perfect, we will riot with pastel banners and emotional damage.

• Joe Exotic somehow found love again— yes, in prison. He married fellow inmate Jorge Flores and posted about it like it’s a normal Tuesday. This man is on his fourth husband and still giving mess. At this point, it’s less “Tiger King” and more “Gay Rumspringa: Maximum Security Edition.”

• Tayme Thapthimthong just became the gay internet’s latest obsession after body-rolling his way across The Jennifer Hudson Show. He’s starring in the new White Lotus and clearly auditioning to live rent-free in our minds. The twink-to-icon pipeline is thriving.

• Robert Irwin entered the Dancing With the Stars cast list shirtless and holding a snake. Not a euphemism. An actual snake. Like Britney at the VMAs, but make it conservationist thirst trap. He’s already the gay fave and the season hasn’t even started. I fear we might be Team Reptile now.

• Walton Goggins, who’s been daddy-coded since The Righteous Gemstones, just gave us a photoshoot that belongs in the Smithsonian. The man is lounging, legs akimbo, giving confident zaddy energy, and the gay internet lost its mind. It’s not manspreading when it’s art.

@nathan.sung

lorde was like 3 hours late just aurafarming then showed up to washington square park like what was that #younghandsomesuccessfulasianking

• During a performance at New York's Radio City Music Hall, queer singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus was joined by Hozier for a live rendition of their song “Bullseye.” The duet, captured by fans and shared widely on TikTok, was met with enthusiastic applause. Dacus has previously expressed admiration for Hozier, noting his genuine appreciation for women, which resonates with many queer women.

• On Tiktok: Lorde’s Ribs is trending again as the “butterfly effect” song for couples, the Kim Seon Ho smile trend is adorable, Charli XCX’s party 4 u trend is showing what the worst feeling is, the “eat their childhood best friend” trend is making us giggle, Katy Perry’s Thinking of You is back inspired by creator stef.

@thecharliecovey

FYI #fypage #fyp #xyzbca

• Preston Lane’s Kitchen Collection is a three-piece set of gorgeously-scented, plant-based baddies: dish soap, hand wash, and all-purpose cleaner. They’re vegan, cruelty-free, and made in Italy, so yes, even your countertop will have better taste than your ex. Scents include Highrise (rich girl energy), Mayfair (flirty Euro aunt), Terrace View (spa-core), and Doheny Drive (L.A. power top).

  Use code GWH10 for 10% off, because obviously you deserve a discount for having taste.

Okay, bye.

So yeah — from ghost sightings in the park to queer wax statues and snake-wielding conservationists, this week gave us everything, everywhere, all at once… but gayer. If you’re not spiraling, soft-launching your breakdown, or shopping for luxury dish soap, are you even keeping up? Stay loud, stay weird, and stay moisturized — we’ll see you next week for more chaos, clarity, and completely unnecessary celebrity updates.