Jordyn Bradley
Jordyn Bradley is a Chicago-based writer originally from Mid-Michigan. Her focus is on lifestyle and pop culture stories. Follow her on Twitter @byJordynB.
As a Young Queer Person Who Dreams of Having a Family, This Doesn't Feel Like an America for Me Anymore
Maybe it’s naive to say I really didn’t think we would be in this situation again. I thought being convicted of 34 felonies, charged with sexual abuse and inciting a deadly insurrection that took over our nation’s Capitol would be [...]
When Your Parents Are Trumpers: Younger Queer Voters Face Family Rifts Over Political Beliefs
Having a house divided by maize and blue and green and white is one thing. But when the colors are red and blue, and the opinions differ on things like gender-affirming healthcare access, protecting queer identities and spaces, as well as the right [...]
From Sunshine to Sanctuary State: How Michigan Became a Refuge for These Parents and Their Trans Kid
Over a decade after Ken and Amber Long relocated to Michigan from Florida with their two children in 2012, it feels like their move was meant to be. When their daughter, now 21, came out to them as trans in 2023, they were already living in what is [...]
How Late Tony Winner and U-M Grad Gavin Creel Showed Midwesterners They Can Dream Big
It’s not every day that a Broadway star takes an aspiring college student under their wing. A dream? Maybe. But Dominic Dorset from Saline, a 2022 graduate of the University of Michigan’s musical-theater program, is still waiting for [...]
'Brat Summer' Turns to Election Fall as Unique Political Tactics Target Gen Z Voters
A presidential campaign using Charli XCX and Chappell Roan to appeal to young voters might not have been on your 2024 bingo card. But then again, Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the democratic nominee might not have been, either.With this [...]
How ‘The Queer Arab Glossary’ Challenges Stereotypes About Arab Homophobia
With Lebanon experiencing its deadliest day in nearly 20 years this month — not to mention the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has left more than 40,000 Palestinians dead — Marwan Kaabour says he has struggled with how to navigate the [...]
How This Nonbinary Michigan Artist’s Feel-Good Sculpture Reflects a Life in Bloom
A super bloom is a phenomenon where an abundance of wildflowers blossom in the desert simultaneously. These events are rare and often symbolize transformation. For Quinn Faylor, a 29-year-old Detroit-based non-binary artist, that unique [...]
A Community Mourns Detroit Artist Justin Alesna After His Unexpected Death at 36
Justin Alesna will be remembered as “one of the funniest divas in Detroit” by friend and creative colleague Baddie Brooks. “He always had something funny and iconic to say. Justin lit up every single room he entered,” [...]
Chappell Roan, Lollapalooza and a Whole Summer of Queer Celebration
Chicago’s Grant Park has likely never seen as much pink as it did on Aug. 1.That’s because Chappell Roan, self-proclaimed "Midwest princess" and rising pop phenom, requested on social media that her fans wear pink — or bring [...]
Michigan LGBTQ+ Choruses Sing to the Rafters at National GALA Choruses Fest
The GALA Choruses Festival, held July 10-14 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is something to sing about, and not just because six Michigan-based choruses were in attendance. Among them were PRISM, Out Loud Chorus, Sing Out Detroit, LanSING Out [...]
Muna and the Power of Queer Representation at Pitchfork Music Festival
I saw the indie pop band Muna perform live for the first time on my 22nd birthday. I had been a fan for years, and they were opening for Phoebe Bridgers at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit. Their collaboration “Silk Chiffon” [...]
Creating Food Together Is a Love Language in My Queer Relationship, No Matter the Distance
A year ago, my cooking capabilities extended to recipes involving ingredients like jarred pasta sauce and pre-cooked chicken. Homemade sauce seemed too tedious, and I was incredibly afraid of undercooked chicken and salmonella. A year ago, I was also [...]