Acclaimed queer director Brianne Nord-Stewart is empowering positive change through film. Her most recent project, I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story, helps one of America’s most hated women take back her reputation and rewrite the narrative. Donating proceeds from the release party for her show, The Dangers of Online Dating, to Options for Sexual Health, donating to Action Canada, and supporting a plethora of other sexual and reproductive health organizations, Nord-Stewart makes her message loud and clear. To learn more about Brianne Nord-Stewart and her projects, read on.

What to Know About the Proposed Republican Healthcare Bill

House Republicans have just recently proposed a new healthcare bill that is supposedly the cost-saving centerpiece for Trump's “big, beautiful bill”. In reality, this legislation is anything but beautiful.

The expansion of Medicaid was one of the most impactful effects of the Affordable Care Act, helping eliminate cost barriers to care and allowing more individuals access to healthcare coverage. With this new healthcare bill being introduced, important parts of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid will be affected and likely leave millions of Americans without access to healthcare coverage.

Is Leaving America Worth It?

With the recent election results putting Trump into office once again, the fear of his second term bringing even worse consequences this time around is widely shared. Many Americans have been heavily considering leaving the country to try and counteract the effect his presidency will have on them.

Though, with every big decision comes its positives and negatives. Here are a few pros and cons to leaving America that you should consider before making your decision.

Regina Sayles - Helping Voices Be Heard

Regina Sayles is a queer biracial singer-songwriter who advocates for more representation within the music industry. Her latest single’s music video, One Big Lie, released on International Women’s Day and aims to create more visibility for women like her. Often donating to the Looking Out Foundation, she hopes to help other’s voices be heard. Beyond the music, Sayles is an educator and a mentor, working hard to uplift others and help them believe in themselves. With more new music along the way, we are surely in for a treat! Read on to learn more about Regina Sayles’ new music and what representation means to her.

Work+Shelter - Moving the Needle for Women and the Environment

Theresa Vandermeer and Kavita Sabharwal, founders of Work+Shelter, have created a full service sewn goods manufacturing facility that is not only sustainable but also aims to uplift women through economic empowerment. Using organic and recycled materials, Work+Shelter is able to create durable products while actively reducing waste and conserving water. For the women of Work+Shelter, sustainability is survival. To learn more about how they’re making a difference, read on.

Emily Haber: Connection Over Perfection

Growing up in a family band with severe hearing loss, Emily Haber has learned that when it comes to music, connection is much more important than perfection. And after years of writing for others, she is finally ready to have her own voice heard. Her new single, Nostalgia, explores the complexity of reflecting on what you had compared to what you could’ve had. As her way of paying it forward and expressing gratitude for the help she received for her hearing loss from the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Haber frequently volunteers for and donates to them. To learn more about Emily Haber and how living with hearing loss has affected her relationship to music, read on.

A 5k 'Baby Bonus' Is Not the Answer

With the annual birth rate in the US near a record low, the Trump administration is looking for a new way to encourage women to have children. The current solution in discussion within the administration is a money incentive. They believe offering women a $5,000 ‘baby bonus’ after delivering will influence more women to give birth.

While offering women this small sum of money to have a child might seem like a generous idea, it cannot solve such a complex decision.

Television Skies Sings Without Disguise

Television Skies is a New York based duo with a rebellious spirit and unwavering authenticity. Their newly released single, Time of My Life, speaks to facing the unknown and might just be able to help you feel a little less alone during this time where we’re facing a lot of uncertainty. Teasing their upcoming album in this interview, they share a few songs we can expect to make it onto the track list. In response to the recent LA fires, Television Skies stresses the importance of supporting each other in times of need no matter the distance by playing shows to raise money for those affected by the fires. To show their support for struggling artists, they also partner with Sweet Relief and Letters Relief Charity, organizations dedicated to turning community support directly into real help for musicians. To learn more about Television Skies and their upcoming album, read on.

COVER - XO Sasha Bhasin

Like Praveena from XO Kitty, Sasha Bhasin is a strong fierce woman who knows what she wants. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be an actress and wasn’t going to take a no from her parents or anyone else. She has come a long way from dragging her mom to casting calls to being a love interest in one of the top Netflix shows! Just like we hope to see more of Praveena in season three of XO Kitty, I have full confidence that we will be seeing a lot more of Sasha Bhasin on our screens as she tackles every role she gets her hands on. It is important to note that Sasha is also a singer, recently coming out with a new song, and a passionate advocate for the environment and pugs! Please read on to learn more about the charming Sasha Bhasin.