Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
Theo James in ‘White Lotus’ (image via HBO)Some news items you might have missed:
• The Advocate: White Lotus star Theo James is the top contender for a big-budget film about George Michael’s rise from his days with Wham! to his solo career. Michael died in 2016. Continue reading “‘White Lotus’ Star Top Contender For George Michael Biopic + More News”
(still from Strange World)Some news items you might have missed:
• LGBTQ Nation: Folks are curious about the marketing strategy for its charming new film with a gay lead, Strange World. Continue reading “Strange Marketing For Disney’s “Strange World” + More News”
A moment from Disney Animation: Immersive Experience (photos via Lighthouse Immersive)Walt Disney Animation Studios today announced that it will team with Lighthouse Immersive Studios, the producers of the blockbuster Immersive Van Gogh, to develop Disney Animation: Immersive Experience. Continue reading “‘Disney Animation: Immersive Experience’ Will Take You Inside Disney Classics”
BIlly Reilich (via Instagram)Some news items you might have missed:
• Boy Culture: Billy Reilich, who was Ellen’s Nick the Gardener back in the day, is making his OnlyFans debut. He’s big, hairy, has a great smile and — what else do you need? Continue reading “Billy Reilich, Ellen’s Former Gardener, Heads To OnlyFans + More LGBTQ News”
Karine Jean-Pierre (photo via White House – public domain)Some news stories you might have missed:
• The Advocate: Karine Jean-Pierre held her first briefing as White House press secretary on Monday. Jean-Pierre, a lesbian and longtime political activist, is the first out member of the LGBTQ+ community to be White House press secretary. She is also the first Black person in the job. Continue reading “News Round-Up: May 16, 2022”
Some news items you might have missed:
• The Advocate: Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims (above) reports a record-setting fundraising haul in his bid for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. If elected, Rep. Sims would become the first out LGBTQ lieutenant governor of a U.S. state. Continue reading “News Round-Up: August 24, 2021”
L-R Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto (images via Instagram/Depositphotos)Out actors Billy Porter (POSE, Kinky Boots) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, The Boys in the Band) are joining the cast of the upcoming reboot of Disney’s The Proud Family.
The original series ran on Disney Channel from September 2001 to August 2005 with a 14-year-old African-American protagonist named Penny Proud.
The new series, titled The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, will stream on Disney+ and pick up with the straight A student and her coterie of friends.
As part of the new crew, Porter and Quinto will voice the roles of Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, respectively. The pair will play mixed-race adoptive parents to 14-year-old activist Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, to be voiced by Keke Palmer.
The animated characters of Barry and Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins (image via Disney)Plus, EJ Johnson (Rich Kids of Beverly Hills) will voice the role of Michael Collins, Penny’s bestie who is described as “a non-conforming trendsetter serving fierce looks at school and on the basketball court” by EW.
The animated character of Michael Collins (image via Disney)The new series is slated to launch on Disney+ in 2022.
In the meantime, you can catch Porter in the final season of FX’s acclaimed series POSE currently airing new episodes on Sundays. And Quinto can be heard as the voice of the Robot on the Amazon Original adult animated series, Invincible.
😳😱 Wow Disney said We want Zachary Quinto & Billy Porter as Queer Parents for the Proud Family on @disneyplus !!! We love to see it!!! Disney is taking representation to an 11! 🙌🏾 💜💜💜💜💜🙎🏻♂️🙎🏾♂️🙇🏽♀️ pic.twitter.com/ekWfeoed4q
— Bella (@belladonna1363) May 12, 2021
Promo photo for ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’Some news items you might have missed:
• NewNowNext: A new documentary special, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Corona Can’t Keep A Good Queen Down, takes fans behind the scenes to see how the Emmy Award-winning series pulled off shooting a new season amid COVID-19.
• Broadway Cares: The fan-inspiring, steamy stream of ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway, a nostalgic evening of song and conversation with the stars of All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital, raised a stellar $130,565 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway.
• Kenneth-in-the-212: It’s Wrestle Wednesday over on KIT212 – click over to see this week’s athletic twunk.
• Washington Blade: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) signaled he would oppose the Equality Act, legislation to expand the prohibition on anti-LGBTQ discrimination under federal law, unless Christians get a carve-out to discriminate based on religious grounds.
• Revry: The queer streaming platform celebrates Black History Month with an entire February calendar highlighting incredible Black Queer content made by and for the community. Check out the 2019 film Trade which tells the tale of two men, one a streetwise hustler, the other a straight-laced lawyer, who meet and form a relationship that brings to light who they really are.
• Disney: Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (La La Land) stars in Disney’s Cruella, an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. Due out May 2021.
• NBC News: Tim Boyd, mayor of Colorado City, Texas, resigned after lashing out at constituents who have been paralyzed by this week’s devastating cold snap. In a Facebook post, Boyd told town residents to stop complaining about the cold weather that has left millions across Texas stranded without power. “No one owes you or your family anything; nor is it the local government’s responsibility to support you during trying times like this! Sink or swim, it’s your choice!”
• CNN: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly laughed about Donald Trump’s recent attack statement and has no plans to engage the former President. He’s done talking Trump, with plans to focus on push to take back Senate and focus on Biden agenda. “He’s moving on,” one source said.
“You probably are not going to hear him utter the name Donald Trump ever again,” per one source. Trump also claimed McConnell “begged” for his support and gave McConnell a 20-point boost in polls. The claim has no basis in reality, per sources. McConnell is not planning to engage
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 17, 2021
In advance of Pride month, Pixar Studios has released an adorable animated short film that tells the tale of a young man coming out to his parents.
The nine-minute short, titled Out, is the story of Greg who is getting ready to move in with his boyfriend Manuel. The film’s conflict? Greg hasn’t come out to his family.
While packing to move, his parents unexpectedly show up to help. Aided by his trusty fairy god-pets, Greg has to figure out how to handle THE moment.
The short is written and directed by Steven Clay Hunter, a longtime animator for Pixar whose past credits include A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, and The Incredibles.
While there have been queer characters in supporting roles in past Disney projects, this is apparently the first time a gay character has taken the lead in a Mouse House release.
Longtime readers know that, due to my short attention span, I’m a fan of short-form content 🙂
You can check out the super-cute teaser below. The full nine-minute short is currently streaming on Disney+.
Broadway fans are about to lose their minds!
The filmed version of the mega-hit musical Hamilton – originally scheduled to hit theaters on October 15 – will now premiere on Disney+ on Friday, July 3.
The televised version was shot over three days in July 2016 with the original Broadway cast.
Squee!!!
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s creator, and Bob Iger, executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company, made the surprise announcement Tuesday on “Good Morning America.”