Rest in Love, Leslie Jordan
#146
Welcome to Third Cultured, a newsletter about Queer people in diplomacy, politics, and war from the perspective of Kyle Borland (he/they). My goal is to highlight all the ways today is different (and not so) from yesterday.
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This edition:
Opinion Essay
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
Opinion Essay
We lost a ray of light yesterday and the world is a little darker today.
Leslie Jordan, 67, died Monday morning after suffering a medical emergency while driving his car and he ran into a building.
I have never reacted to a celebrity’s death as I did to this one. Several notifications from my family group chat came in one after the other and when I looked down to read them, my heart broke instantly. I wailed, “No!” and when my partner asked what was wrong, all I could bring myself to say was, “Well shit. What y’all doing?”
He similarly screamed, “No!” and we hugged each other as the tears came.
Leslie was a singular soul that had the rare ability to brighten anyone’s day, whether it was in-person or through TV, movies, or Instagram. In the darkest pits of COVID, his videos were a source of joy for millions while we hunkered down in our homes.
For me personally, and I’m sure many other Millennials, Leslie was one of the first gay people I ever saw or knew about. His role as Beverly Leslie on “Will and Grace” alongside Sean Hayes (Jack) was formative for me and brings me joy to this day. We were blessed to grow up with a gay comedic legend on all of our screens, sharing his razor-sharp wit and perfect timing. Few others could tell a story quite like Leslie, and we always knew it would end with a laugh.
Even in the 90s and early 2000s, where being an out gay man wasn’t an option, he lived authentically and blazed a trail for other Queer, southern men to be ourselves. I don’t think I truly processed how much these gay men meant to me until one of them was gone. I have said many times that when RuPaul dies in the future, I will have to take a PTO day but what I felt today showed me those emotions are tied up with many others, too. Men like Leslie made it possible for me to live the out and proud life that I do today. I heard the news five minutes before a call and had to push it 30 minutes because I couldn’t stop crying. Reading the outpouring of love and respect from not just gay Twitter but everyone who saw the news was overwhelming.
What a huge impact this wonderful man had on all of our hearts. It is devastating to lose him so soon – 67 is young! – and so tragically (especially when he only bought his first home this past year). We’ll never know why the universe takes the best ones from us so soon – Henry Kissinger…is…right.there! – but we were blessed to enjoy his stories, his jokes, and his kindness for so many years.
Thank you for the laughs, Leslie. Rest well, you beautiful soul.
As always, thanks for reading.
Kyle (@kgborland)
PS – Read this fabulous Esquire profile of Leslie from last year after he helped so many of us get through the dark days of quarantine: Going to Church with Leslie Jordan.
A List of LGBTQ+ Wins
Before Stonewall LGBTQ people rose up at the Black Nite bar. It will soon be a historical landmark. (LGBTQ Nation)
Biden administration expands veteran survivor benefits for same-sex spouses (LGBTQ Nation)
Florida students protest Sasse appointment over LGBTQ issues (The Hill)
Gay man can stay with husband in Japan in court victory (LGBTQ Nation)
Germany Introduces New Gender Recognition Procedure (Human Rights Watch)
LGBTQ students at religious schools stage walkouts on National Coming Out Day (The Hill)
LGBT Supporters Rally Peacefully In Montenegro Amid Opposition From Church Groups (RadioFreeEurope)
Mexico's largest state approves same-sex marriage (NBC News)
New exhibition celebrates 40 years of Black, British art while shining light on queer history (Pink News)
Poll finds sharp partisan divides over teaching LGBTQ issues (WaPo)
Thousands rally in Bratislava, Slovakia to honor 2 gay men shot dead (SFGATE)
Tokyo opens same-sex partnership system in move welcomed by LGBTQ groups; ‘now recognised as a couple’ (South China Morning Post)
Two queer scientists win Nobel prizes (Bay Area Reporter)
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws/Violence Around the World
An explosion of culture-war laws is changing schools. Here’s how. (Washington Post)
Brittney Griner is Afraid the U.S. Won't Bring Her Home Soon (them)
Christian medical provider sues for right to misgender & refuse care to trans patients (LGBTQ Nation)
Church finalizes punishment on pastor for blessing LGBT people (Korea Herald)
Gay Afghan man, Hamed Sabouri, brutally murdered by the Taliban in bid to ‘eradicate’ LGBTQ+ people (Pink News)
Gay Palestinian Man Found Brutally Murdered (Star Observer)
Gay Rwandan man who found safety in the UK warns LGBTQ+ asylum seekers will be ‘seen as criminals’ (Pink News)
GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker mocks transgender people who serve in the military (LGBTQ Nation)
Homophobic Fundamentalist Preachers Continue Obsession With Gay Sex (The Advocate)
Idaho's anti-drag queen bill is the next step in rolling back LGBTQ rights (MSNBC)
In Indonesia, ‘LGBT’ label is linked to criminal guilt amid ‘societal homophobia’ (South China Morning Post)
LGBTQ bill on child abuse creates uproar in Virginia and beyond (WaPo)
Majority of CA school districts ignore LGBTQ report card (Bay Area Reporter)
Michigan GOP lawmakers introduce bill to put parents who support their trans kids in prison for life (LGBTQ Nation)
Putin says U.S. wants to push gender “perversions” on Russian schoolchildren (LGBTQ Nation)
Republicans introduce federal Don’t Say Gay bill just weeks before midterm elections (LGBTQ Nation, NBC News)
Speaker says LGBTQ students “deserve death” at school board meeting (LGBTQ Nation)
Why gay men and other groups are banned from donating sperm (Washington Post)