Former Cycle 11 America's Next Top Model contestant Isis King visited The Tyra Banks Show yesterday and was surprised with news that Tyra will help her get her long-awaited sex reassignment surgery.

Isis, the first transgender contestant to ever appear on ANTM, was originally scouted for the show when she appeared in the background of an ANTM photo at a homeless shelter (where she was living at the time). She won a spot on the current cycle of ANTM, but was ultimately eliminated in the fourth week.

On Banks, Isis talked about growing up feeling like she was born in the wrong body, and how getting sex reassignment surgery has been cost prohibitive.

Below is a short clip of Isis on The Tyra Banks Show:

Her mother, Sharray (who is a ringer for rapper Eve) appeared on the show with Isis, and talked about watching her transition into being a woman, as well as her own process of coming to accept her daughter. … continue reading

Toronto-based queer band The Cliks is coming to a town near you this summer (catch them on their own tour or as part of the True Colors tour). When we talked with them earlier this month, lead singer Lucas Silveira had more inside scoop that wouldn't fit in the story, so here are some outtakes from that interview. Lucas tells us the truth behind his folksy background, how much the band loves their fans, and why the Cliks is called the Cliks.

AfterEllen.com: Did you really used to be a folkie?
Lucas Silveira: [in a sing-song voice] I used to be a folkie.

AE: I find that so hard to believe, because you're such a rocker now.
LS: It's true. It's so true. I had two solo albums under my previous name [Lilia]. I don't want to say they're super folkie. The first one is more than the second one. But the performances I used to do were a lot of really mellow music that I used to write. I was never as folk as some people would like to think, but it was pretty folksy, bluesy kinds of stuff. And in most of my performances I never picked up an electric guitar. I was always on acoustic. … continue reading