LGBTQ news and entertainment
In the September 5 issue of US, Joe Manganiello shares “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me”
Number 26 is clearly I didn’t know he owned so many clothes…
Click on the pic to see a larger version.
(via boyculture)
The “Cuban Brad Pitt” has officially said ‘no thank you’ to a role in Steven Soderbergh’s soon-to-be male exotic dancer movie “Magic Mike.”
William Levy was supposed to star in his big breakout role next to Matt Bomer, Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matthew McConaughey and Alex Pettyfer, but People En Espanol says it’s not going to happen anymore.
William is famous for telenovela TV appearances and for rolling around on the sand with JLo. So I’m not sure what he’s thinking. What huge Hollywood offers are falling on William’s lap?
Who knows – but when Steven Soderbergh is directing and a huge list of A-listers are lining up, I’d certainly be there. Believe that.
On August 25, 2011, the White House will honor The Trevor Project as a leading innovator in the realm of suicide prevention as part of the “Champions of Change” initiative.
The Trevor Project is the leading organization selected for this honor representing youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, specifically.
Accepting the honor and speaking with Administration officials about priorities for improving suicide prevention nationally will be David McFarland, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. The event occurs ten days prior to National Suicide Prevention Week, (Sept. 4-10, 2011).
ABOUT CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE
The White House initiative, “Champions of Change, Winning the Future across America” profiles individuals and organizations that are helping the country rise to the challenges of the 21st century. Champions of Change are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world. Each week, the White House invites new Champions to share ideas and best practices to win America’s future. Beginning the week of August 29, 2011, The Trevor Project will be featured on the Champions of Change website.
ABOUT THE TREVOR PROJECT
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, ages 13-24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. For more information, visit TheTrevorProject.org.
How happy am I to write this?
I spent lunch yesterday with my college roommate Mark Kaplan, who I just adore.
In 1981, at Syracuse University, as a freshman I met Mark as a fellow freshman in the new class of music theatre students. Sometimes in life you are drawn to kindred spirits; sometimes you are drawn to pure talent; sometimes, you are drawn at the same time to both. I don’t give myself credit for being as gifted as Mark, but I had the smarts to at least hang around him hoping something would rub off. Mark, and my dear friend Matthew Whitaker, formed what would be the nucleus of my ‘freshman year friends.’
We quickly became good friends and lived together for two of our four years in college. It was clear from day one that Mark not only had a fantastic voice and passion for the theatre, but a sense of humor that would transcend time. Mark made me laugh, Mark made me think, and more than anything Mark made me proud to know him as a person and as an artist.
One of the wonderful lessons that you can’t grasp until you are “older” is the value and quality of true friends. When I write that, I mean people that you may go 10, 15 years without seeing – but can count on the connection and bond that you share. That is what I was reminded of spending three hours at lunch with Mark and his husband Michael (yes, we both married ‘Michaels’ – life is funny that way).
Mark is currently back on tour playing the role of “Zazu” with the national company of “The Lion King” for which he has worked off and on over several years. He’s also been honored with 2 Jefferson Awards for his work as an actor in “Forbidden Broadway” and “Ragtime” in Chicago. Plus a ton of other credits I won’t go into listing – just trust, they are there. The point of my listing those is to point up what an accomplished actor and artist he is. Much is made of being a ‘star’ in the world today, but my respect always goes out first to the actors who make a living doing what they love and are clearly good at what they do. Even just skipping over thoughts and ideas at lunch, Mark was clear and ‘on point’ about what a lot of people who work in the theater would barely comprehend.
Some days I like to think I’m pretty astute about theater and entertainment in general. Yesterday I listened to Mark in casual conversation and I was reminded how smart and clear his instincts are – about theater, about working in the theater and his appreciation for the theater. It’s not often I stop talking about theater. But when someone is speaking with more clarity and comprehension than I – and it’s waaaaay obvious – I at least have the good sense to stop and listen.
Mark Kaplan is such an artist. And a friend. My life is best when I get to enjoy hours like I spent in Mark and Michael’s company talking about these things that mean so much to us. The restaurant literally closed around us as we continued to talk and catch up.
We all need days like I just had. We all need friends who may be somewhere out there, but always ‘present’ in our lives that we can talk to this freely.
Good times.
🙂
New York Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez on the cover and featured in the September GQ Magazine.
Read an excerpt here with additional pics.
Whoo-hoo!
Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, who was killed in Afghanistan, is guarded one last time by his faithful dog, Hawkeye, at his funeral. While this is difficult to even post, I’m always so moved by the loyalty our furry family members give us.
The heartbreaking photo taken by his cousin, Lisa Pembleton, shows Tumilson’s dog Hawkeye lying by the casket. At the funeral in Iowa, Hawkeye paid his last respects, walking up to the casket, lying down in front of it, and heaving a sigh.
The 35-year-old Tumilson died Aug. 6, when a rocket-propelled grenade disabled a helicopter. It crashed, killing 30 Americans and eight Afghans.
(via boyculture)
Toxicology tests showed there were no illegal substances in British singer Amy Winehouse’s system when she died last month aged 27, her spokesman said on Tuesday.
In a statement, he added that alcohol was present, but that it could not be determined what part, if any, it played in her death.
“Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy’s system at the time of her death,” the statement read.
“Results indicate that alcohol was present but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death.”
It added that Winehouse’s family were awaiting the outcome of an inquest into the “Rehab” singer’s death. The inquest was opened in July and is due to resume on Oct. 26 in London.
The soul singer, famed for her beehive hairstyle and erratic behaviour on and off stage, was found dead at her home in north London on July 23.
Matt Zarley has been an openly gay singer/songwriter for over a decade now and his brand of straight up pop music has gotten rave reviews from critics all over the music spectrum. While he may be an indie artist, this is high-quality, well-produced material.
Chuck Taylor at Billboard Magazine: “Stunning tenor range, crafty harmonic layers and spine-tingling money notes… Tweens have plenty of idols to swoon over. Hereʼs a crush for grown-ups, whose earthy machismo is quite the complement to his musical muscle!”
The Advocate: “Lead dance single “WTF” (currently on the Billboard Dance Chart) anchors a sexy collection of swoon-worthy songs about falling in love and healing from heartbreak. The standout title track benefits from backup vocals by Broadway Inspirational Voices.”
Change Begins With Me by mattzarley
My personal favorite tracks on the new album are “Apology” – stripped down arrangement and vocals lets the song and voice do it’s thing, and “Change Begins With Me” – great build and who doesn’t love big vocals with a gospel choir?
Matt’s campy, funny video for “WTF” has gone viral with over 100,000 views on youtube and vimeo since it was released. Gossip and music sites like DListed.com have picked up on the ‘over the top’ sense of humor (and the hunky men) displayed in the music video.
Matt Zarley’s new album “Change Begins With Me” is available today at all digital download retailers. See links below.
Nick Ashford, one half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned classics for the likes of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and funk hits for Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70, his former publicist said.
Liz Rosenberg, who also was Ashford’s longtime friend, told The Associated Press that Ashford — who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits — died in a New York City hospital. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment.
Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand” by Ross and “You’re All I Need To Get By” by Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ashford & Simpson also created classics for others, like the anthem “I’m Every Woman” by Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston).
They also had success writing for themselves: Perhaps the biggest known hit sung by them was the 1980s hit “Solid As A Rock.”
Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters.
