The Daily Sting, Wednesday: Madonna’s NYE Stonewall Gig, Brazil’s Bolsonaro Takes Office
Hornet is back after the holidays, and we’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Now let’s dive right into the day’s big gay headlines, starting with a Madonna NYE gig at Stonewall in New York City that has got everyone talking. And in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro has officially taken office as president.
In other news, Canada has issued a travel warning to its citizens about the island nation of the Bahamas. Ricky Martin and his partner have welcomed their new baby daughter into the world. And in Japan, same-sex couples are suing over marriage equality.
From a Madonna NYE gig to Bolsonaro taking office, here are the day’s big gay headlines:
1. Everyone’s Talking About the Madonna NYE Gig at NYC’s Stonewall (Celebrities)
To kick off 2019, the year that marks a half-century since New York City‘s Stonewall Riots, a surprise Madonna NYE gig took place at the famed gay venue. “Fifty years of sacrifice, 50 years of standing up to discrimination, hatred, and worst of all, indifference. And it all started here, at Stonewall,” Madonna told the crowd. “Let us never forget the Stonewall Riots and those who bravely stood up and said ‘Enough!’ Enough brutality. Enough violence inflicted on this community. Enough stigmatism. Enough oppression. Enough pain and suffering.” Madonna also performed her hit song “Like a Prayer” alongside her son David on guitar.
“For years, violent and humiliating police raids were common occurrences at gay sanctuaries across the country. Discrimination and unjust treatment was beyond comprehension. No gathering place for the LGBTQ community was truly safe, and our brothers and sisters weren’t free to celebrate like we are tonight. And we must never forget that. A half a century later, Stonewall has become a defining moment and a critical turning point in history — catapulting LGBTQ rights into public conversation and consciousness, and awakening activism,” Madonna said, adding a “Fuck yeah!” to much applause.
2. Brazil’s Bolsonaro Takes Office as President (News)
Brazil’s new far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has officially taken office in the nation. He’s a man who has claimed to be a “proud homophobe,” and who says his election has freed the South American nation from “socialism and political correctness.” Anticipation of Bolsonaro taking office spurned many same-sex unions in the nation in the last several months, as the local Brazilian LGBTQ population is worried Bolsonaro could strip civil rights from queer people.
