A Proud Boy and Former KKK Member Speaks Out as Patriot Front Makes Headlines

A Proud Boy and Former KKK Member Speaks Out as Patriot Front Makes Headlines

BRIEN JAMES, WHO JOINED THE KU KLUX KLAN AS A TEENAGER, SPEAKS WITH UNCLOSETED MEDIA ABOUT FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISTS’ VIEWS ON LGBTQ PEOPLE IN 2026. For my newsletter this week, I wanted to take a deeper look into Patriot Front, the white nationalist [https://extremism.gwu.edu/patriot-front] group that made headlines last weekend with huge rallies across Washington, D.C. One photo, taken by a Reuters journalist, displayed a Black woman on the subway surrounded by dozens of anonymous Patriot Front members. As I read into what happened, it made me think of my years of reporting on far-right extremism. What are they thinking right now? And how has the landscape of far-right extremism and white supremacy changed in the last 10 years? I opened my phone, searched through my contacts and found “Brien KKK.” James says he joined the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in his teens after attending a high school that was “80% Black.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/brien-james/], he then co-founded the Vinlanders Social Club, a coalition of regional skinhead groups known for racist violence. He also participated in numerous white nationalist rallies [https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/4/27/18623600/how-groups-tied-to-white-nationalists-are-targeting-chicago-and-kim-foxx] over his multiple decades in the far-right movement. And in the summer of 2011, the Vinlanders held a white power concert, entitled “Plunder and Pillage,” which reportedly drew more than 50 skinheads to Ohio from around the country. While James no longer considers himself a white nationalist or a skinhead and has since left the KKK, he is still a member of the Proud Boys, a far-right militia group most infamous for being one of the biggest players in the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. James makes it clear that the Proud Boys and Patriot Front have different ideologies: The former denies that it is a white supremacist group, for example. Still, both groups have been known to organize [https://www.npr.org/2022/06/20/1106112160/patriot-front-extremists-lbgtq-pride] and attend [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/14/drag-storyelling-in-wadsworth-ohio-devolves-into-extremist-fight/11465959002/] protests, often violent ones, against pride and drag events. In this interview with Uncloseted Media’s Editor in Chief Spencer Macnaughton, James offers insight into where far-right extremism in America is today and how those following the ideology view the LGBTQ community. “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Editor: Izzy Stokes and Laury Peyssonnerie ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Drag Race Legend Silky Nutmeg Ganache Speaks on Sex and Dating, Gender, Politics and Her Weight Loss Journey.

After appearing on the 11th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the first season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World, the sixth season of RuPaul’s All Stars and now the 11th season of All Stars, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, known by many as the Reverend, is undoubtedly a legend.  Born and raised in Moss Point, Mississippi, Ganache bears all in this episode of “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton.” She speaks about her relationship with gender, her 100-pound weight loss, what it’s like living as a queer person of color in a red state and why she’s calling on allies to stand up for the trans community.  “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChu2TFT8tC_1kNxZTlExOkw] // Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0naD6C9bz6pYhSpddWSxid?si=c14a127b8f024bd3&nd=1&dlsi=3f2b9586a8c24d8f] // Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncloseted-with-spencer-macnaughton/id1886465537] Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Izzy Stokes Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bryon Noem’s Dominatrix Speaks With Uncloseted Media

In April, dominatrix and sex worker Shy Sotomayor revealed [https://www.them.us/story/bryon-noem-reportedly-told-dom-he-wants-to-be-a-trans-bimbo-slut-named-crystal] that she had had a nine-year professional relationship with Bryon Noem, the husband of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Following reports [https://www.them.us/story/kristi-noems-husband-accused-of-bimbo-cross-dressing-fetish-in-leaked-messages-and-photos] in March that Bryon Noem had allegedly engaged in feminization and “bimbofication” fetishes with other sex workers, Sotomayor is sharing more details about his interest in trans identities.  These interests represent a stark contrast to his wife’s anti-trans record [https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/rubio-rfk-jr-hegseth-bondi-noem-mcmahon]. As Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem signed bills into law that allow businesses to use religious refusal [https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/03/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-signs-religious-refusal-bill-allowing-denials-of-service-to-lgbtq-people/]to deny service to LGBTQ people; ban gender-affirming care [https://www.them.us/story/trump-cabinet-white-house-staff-elon-musk-marco-rubio-anti-lgbtq#:~:text=Kristi%20Noem%20to%20lead%20the%20Department%20of%20Homeland%20Security.%20Created%20in&text=%E2%80%9D%20He%20has%20staunchly%20opposed%20same%2Dsex%20marriage%2C%20comparing%20it%20to] for trans youth; and ban trans women and girls from competing [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-signs-transgender-athlete-ban] on women’s and girls’ sports teams. Through all of this, Bryon Noem never denounced his wife’s policies.  In addition, experts have raised concerns about Bryon Noem’s relationship with sex workers from a national security standpoint. “If a media organization can find this out, you can assume with a high degree of confidence that a hostile intelligence service knows this as well,” Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA officer, told the Daily Mail [https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15685877/kristi-noem-husband-bryon-crossdressing-pictures-south-dakota.html]. “Damaging information like this can be a tantalizing lead for a hostile intelligence service.” In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Sotomayor speaks about her nine-year online relationship with Bryon Noem and describes the terrifying moment where she was almost caught by Kristi, who at the time was one of the country’s most powerful intelligence officers. “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChu2TFT8tC_1kNxZTlExOkw] // Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0naD6C9bz6pYhSpddWSxid?si=c14a127b8f024bd3&nd=1&dlsi=3f2b9586a8c24d8f] // Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncloseted-with-spencer-macnaughton/id1886465537] Note: If you are questioning your gender identity and don’t feel safe reaching out to anyone you know, The Trevor Project has a handbook [https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/the-coming-out-handbook/] on how to navigate this as well as 24/7 crisis support via calls and messaging [https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/] with counselors. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Editor: Sean Robinson Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Additional Reporting: Hope Pisoni Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Canadian Porn Star Milo Miles Was Banned From the US for 10 Years. Now, He's Speaking Out.

“UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChu2TFT8tC_1kNxZTlExOkw] // Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0naD6C9bz6pYhSpddWSxid?si=c14a127b8f024bd3&nd=1&dlsi=3f2b9586a8c24d8f] // Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncloseted-with-spencer-macnaughton/id1886465537] Milo Miles, a Toronto-based adult film actor, was recently banned from entering the United States for the next 10 years after he says he was detained [https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/04/gay-model-detained-at-airport-banned-from-the-us-it-was-the-most-painful-day-of-my-life/] and questioned by Customs and Border Protection agents over the course of two days.  Miles, who was trying to fly to Las Vegas from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, says he had never faced significant issues at the border ahead of this instance.  While U.S. Customs does have the right [https://www.pace-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/319466_6d9267a6d4a2434e98cf2ac6a788d350.pdf] to deny entry to people they believe have engaged in sex work, Miles says he was questioned for upwards of eight hours, often about his sexual orientation. He says one agent asked him why he has so many “gay clothes” and if he was “sick” upon seeing his PrEP medication and his fiber pills.  In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Miles sits down for his first on-camera interview to explain his experience, what he thinks Prime Minister Mark Carney should do in response to this treatment and why he believes all LGBTQ travelers should avoid the U.S. right now. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Peppermint Made Her Mark on Drag Race. Now, Her Advocacy Is Front and Center

“UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChu2TFT8tC_1kNxZTlExOkw] // Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0naD6C9bz6pYhSpddWSxid?si=c14a127b8f024bd3&nd=1&dlsi=3f2b9586a8c24d8f] // Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncloseted-with-spencer-macnaughton/id1886465537] You may know Peppermint as a runner-up on season 9 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Or for her stint as the first trans competitor on the runaway hit “The Traitors.” Or for her relentless activism at a time when the Trump administration is waging an unprecedented attack [https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/a-full-year-of-trump-and-lgbtq-rights] on the LGBTQ community.   Now, Peppermint is getting set to be one of New York City Pride’s official grand marshals. And she’s doing that while upholding the legacy of the trans women of color who were at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.  In this episode of “UNCLOSTED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Spencer sits down with Peppermint to hear about what it means to be a Black trans woman at the forefront of the LGBTQ movement during the second Trump administration. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Laury Peyssonnerie Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.