This year, the box office has been dominated by the genre with hits like Obsession — a Monkey’s Paw-inspired film that depicts the disastrous outcome of a love wish made by a young man named Bear (played by out actor Michael Johnston). Another, Backrooms, shows how a hidden door in the basement of a furniture store leads into a mad, Alice in Wonderland-like descent into the subconscious.
Out’s cover star, Hunter Doohan, stars in Evil Dead Burn, the latest entry in Sam Raimi’s horror franchise that centers on a family reunion plagued by demonic possession. This premise will likely connect with many queer viewers, who know firsthand that, in 2026 America, it doesn’t require a Book of the Dead to turn family members into possessed foes. As Doohan states in our cover story on page 36, “Gay audiences are really drawn to horror…because horror as a genre takes these social commentaries and wraps it up in a super entertaining movie to watch.”
Doohan is widely known for portraying Tyler Galpin (aka the Hyde) in the hit Tim Burton Netflix series Wednesday, another character that shows how an ally might shapeshift overnight into a murderous monster. These stories reflect the volatility of our world right now, as well as a deepening distrust of friends, neighbors, and even our own minds. In this view, love is no savior — it is a gateway to hell.
There’s hope yet, however. It is heartening to see Doohan, in his portrayal of and battle with the demonic, break new ground as a Hollywood leading man. And in a climate that is souring on the prospects of long-term relationships, Doohan is bucking the trend. The 32-year-old actor is celebrating 11 years together with his husband, film producer Fielder Jewett. As Jewett will tell others who ask about the secret to their relationship’s longevity, “When you find someone you really like, it will be easy.”
This is Out’s Love Issue, an opportunity to showcase that queer love, historically and today, is a powerful force for good against the evils of the world. To this end, Out editors spotlight fictional and real-life stories of romance that inspired them — and hopefully, you (page 8). While there have never been more digital options for seeking companionship, queer folks are now going offline to find a spark, and the Finance column profiles several couples who have found success through LGBTQ+ matchmakers (page 25).
Today’s entertainment world is also full of odes to queer connection. In Music, Madonna fan Jade Delgado speaks to the Queen of Pop’s unmatched power to share love with our community (page 14). In Books, Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman reflects on the surprising journey of a comic that has become a global Netflix hit about young gay hearts (page 12). A Dior show from a gay creative director turns into a love letter to Hollywood and its queer icons (page 34). Love for Céline Dion inspired a queer Broadway hit, Titaníque, which star Deborah Cox unpacks (page 20). Tatiana Maslany talks about navigating a tryst with a camboy and a midlife crisis in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (page 22). A bond between two drag stewardesses averts disaster in Stop! That! Train! (page 16). And speaking of trains, see how LGBTQ+ travelers are embracing the tracks (and summer camps) in Travel (page 50).
Love does have its downsides, of course. In Health, Kim Petras, a new ambassador for the telehealth company MISTR, stresses the importance of taking treatments like PrEP to prevent the spread of HIV. We also provide an overview of some emerging STIs to watch out for this summer. And in Last Call, columnist Alexander Cheves, moved by the relocation of Savannah’s Club One, waxes on the importance of preserving beloved queer spaces.
There’s more to love in these pages. Make sure to flip over this magazine to read The Advocate, where Don Lemon and his husband Tim Malone talk navigating the aftermath of the journalist’s arrest as a couple. This is The Advocate’s Legacy Issue, and in celebration, you can find a treasure trove of stories from our history, like the “Stonewall of the South” Lonesome Cowboy raid and the story of Marilyn Monroe’s gay choreographer, Jack Cole, that can inspire those fighting in the present day.
There is so much hate in the world right now, dear reader. Let’s resolve, as best we can, to leave the horrors in the movie theater. There are bright summer days ahead. Step outside, and let love guide us through them.
Sincerely,
Daniel Reynolds
Editor in Chief, Out and The Advocate
Hunter Doohan on the cover of Out's July/August 2026 print issue
