In the Netherlands, lockdown measures to protect against COVID-19 have affected one industry in particular: sex work. According to official figures, 7,000 sex workers make their income in Amsterdam, primarily from visiting tourists. However, since the imposed lockdowns past March, the city’s infamous Red Light District (or “De Wallen”) has suffered a significant financial blow as tourism came screeching to a halt and window brothels shut down. Without income for nearly four months, many sex workers had to return to their home countries in eastern Europe,...

Locked down pizza fans across the nation have had to go without their smoky, fresh Neapolitan pies from their favorite restaurants. Though most pizzerias have stayed open during the pandemic, eating a to-go slice is nothing like sitting at a nice table having it served al fresco. New York pizza maven Shealyn Brand saw what was missing and is working with Hormel Foods to bring the fanciest of pizza into our very own homes. "I suppose I always loved pizza," Brand told BUST. "Like a friend just shared a...

A fifteen-year-old girl was incarcerated in Michigan during the coronavirus pandemic. The reason? A judge ruled that her uncompleted schoolwork violated probation. Grace had been charged with assault after someone called the police when hearing her mother, Charisse, cry “Help me!” and honk her car’s horn. According to the police report, Grace had reached inside the car to try to get Charisse's phone and had bitten her mother’s finger and pulled her hair because she was upset she could not go to a friend’s house. Weeks later,...

When the coronavirus hit the United States and schools began to shut down across the country, a lot of parents were faced with the prospect of having their children back at home. Having their kids home from school was definitely a burden for all parents. But for some, schools and childcare centers closing came at a great cost to their livelihoods. Essential workers, especially low-income essential workers, cannot afford to stay home, let alone spend extra time educating their children. The achievement gap between affluent and...

It looks like Florida is going to continue holding the title of “Worst State.” As the state we have to thank for giving us “Florida Man” headlines and Perez Hilton, we can now add another thing to the list. On Sunday, Florida broke the national record for the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases at 15,299 positive tests on Sunday. Corona-related deaths have also been on the rise. Three weeks ago, the state averaged 30 deaths a day; last week, that number jumped to about 73 a...

India just banned TikTok, along with 58 other mobile apps developed by Chinese technology firms. And, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the United States is also considering it.  TikTokers when they hear that Secretary Mike Pompeo is looking at a possible TikTok ban in the US pic.twitter.com/C5g0K3OxVl — litquidity (@litcapital) July 7, 2020 The Indian government said on Monday it was banning 59 Chinese apps over concerns that the apps were engaging in activities that threatened “national security and defense of India, which ultimately impinges upon...

Planning a socially distant BBQ? Boost your offerings' flavor with these barbecue sauces crafted by women. 1. With a slight teriyaki profile, this saucy sauce from Pamela Jones is made with real bourbon. Charboy’s Bourbon Sauce, $8.99, charboys.com 2. A Queer Eye feature shot sisters Deborah and Mary Jones to fame and this classic sauce keeps them there. Jones Bar-B-Q Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce, $6.99, jonesbbqkc.com 3. Megan Day and her husband Jason bring traditional Kansas City flavor with their sauces and rubs, including this slightly smoky pick....

Lots of people talk about making podcasts, but don’t follow through. Maybe time, funding, and patience – or confidence – are in short supply. None of this should stop you. Unique, personal experience is what makes a podcast work, along with good sound quality and some careful planning. With all the big changes happening in society right now, your podcast can serve as a message in a bottle to those at a distance or for future generations. It can help you build community and make...

Today is July 7, 2020 and it is #BlackoutDay2020. The campaign is organized by Blackout Coalition’s founder Calvin Martyr. What does this mean? Instead of supporting big businesses such as Amazon, opt for local stores that are Black-owned. This can also mean don’t eat at your usual go-to spots. Or you don’t even have to buy anything at all, if you are trying to save money. Blackout Day is not a new concept, in fact it has been around for decades. However, especially now, there...

While professional basketball, baseball, and college football have been botching attempts to re-open despite health experts’ advice, women’s roller derby has been putting together a master plan that is so efficient, so scientifically informed, so precise that it’s sexy. Enough for Emory University epidemiologist Zachary Binney, who has been a prominent critic of how other sports are reopening, to confess its spectator policies are so good it “almost made me cry.” Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the international governing body for the sport, has been on...