Some people are not like most other girls or boys. They might like people who are the same as them. Sometimes, they feel like they are not a girl or a boy at all. There is a word for these people. This word is "queer." A long time ago, "queer" meant something different. It meant strange or weird. Later, some people used this word in a bad way to talk about those who liked the same gender. But then, some people who felt different about who they like or who they are decided that "queer" is a good word. They started to use it to talk about themselves in a nice way. Now, "queer" is used a lot. It talks about many kinds of likes and feels. Some people study about "queer." They make art about it and have groups to talk and do things together. Not everyone likes the word "queer," though. Some people remember when it was used in a bad way. Others don't like the word because they think it is confusing. The word "queer" has been around for a long time. People have used it in many different ways. They sometimes used it when someone felt sick or when they had problems with money. But today, "queer" is mostly about who you like or how you feel as a girl or a boy.

Some movies are called independent or indie movies. They are not made by big movie companies, but by smaller ones. These movies might look different and have special stories. They don't cost as much money to make as other big movies. Sometimes, famous actors are in indie movies and they get less money. They might do this because they really like the movie's story, they want to help the director, they want to show what they can do, or they want to work with someone they like. For example, John Travolta and Bruce Willis did not get much money to be in the movie "Pulp Fiction" with Quentin Tarantino. Indie movies are not shown in many places at first. They might be in small movie theaters or at movie festivals. But if they have enough money, they can be just like big movies and lots of people can see them. A long time ago, in 1908, there was a group called the Motion Picture Patents Company. They were the only ones who made and showed movies. But now, we have many different movies, including indie movies.

Long ago, Asian people started to be part of shows in the United States. Some of them became very famous, like Afong Moy, a woman from China. She showed Chinese things and language to Americans. There were also two brothers, called Chang and Eng Bunker, who were very famous and became American citizens. Another Asian man, Sadakichi Hartman, wrote successful plays. But it was hard for Asian actors a long time ago. They could not play many different roles in movies or plays. Some of them, like Sessue Hayakawa, Anna May Wong, and Bruce Lee, were made to play the same kinds of roles. One actress, Merle Oberon, did not tell people she was Asian so she could have more chances. Now, more Asian Americans are becoming famous. Many young Asian Americans make funny videos and put them on the Internet. They have many fans, especially young students. Some of them are Ryan Higa and Kevin Wu, who are funny, and others like Dan Chan and Christine Gambito, who do fun things. There are also musicians like MC Jin and Far East Movement, and a group that makes movies called Wong Fu Productions. Some Asian American artists are now famous with all Americans, not just Asian people. We know Bruno Mars, Darren Criss, Awkwafina, and The Slants. They are very popular and make music and shows for everyone to enjoy.