Canadian Town Bans Rainbow Flags & Crosswalks + More News

LGBTQ Pride flag

Some news items you might have missed: • Xtra Magazine: A town in Alberta, Canada, has approved a new bylaw that bans crosswalks or flags that support “political” or “social” movements. The town council must now move to ban rainbow crosswalks and Pride flags on public property. Continue reading “Canadian Town Bans Rainbow Flags & Crosswalks + More News”

Out All-American Swimmer + Meatball Takes On George Santos + More News

Nick Albiero (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: The 28-time All-American swimmer, Nick Albiero, recently opened up about representing the U.S. as an openly gay athlete. “I felt like there was a time for this, and I don’t think I was ready for this five years ago.” Continue reading “Out All-American Swimmer + Meatball Takes On George Santos + More News”

News Round-Up: February 27, 2022

Out actor Ariana DeBose won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her star turn as "Anita" in West Side Story
Ariana DeBose as ‘Anita’ in West Side Story
Some news items you might have missed: SAG Awards: Out actress Ariana DeBose was honored tonight with the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her acclaimed turn as “Anita” in the Steven Spielberg reboot of West Side Story. Continue reading “News Round-Up: February 27, 2022”

SAG Awards Will Be A One-Hour Pre-Taped Affair

This year's Screen Actors Guild Awards will be a one-hour affair broadcast on April 4 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on TNT and TBS Instead of attempting a Zoom-adapted awards show, this year’s SAG Awards will be a short and sweet one-hour pre-taped, fully edited affair including the reveal of the winners. From Variety:

The SAG Awards, which airs Sunday, April 4, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on TNT and TBS, won’t have a host, a red carpet or even a set. Instead, the show will include comedy bits mixed in with the SAG Awards’ signature “I Am An Actor” mini-speeches from performers. Those will be sprinkled throughout the hour along with winner announcements in 13 categories and the “In Memoriam.”

Days before the broadcast, nominees from each category will gather together in their own Zoom room, where the winner will be revealed and can give their acceptance speech.

That means, in a departure from normal protocol for the show, winners and their category mates will know the results days before the rest of the world sees them on the SAG Awards telecast.

In all honesty, a pre-shot, edited, packed-to-the-gills awards gala will probably attract more viewers than a rambling, hours-long special. According to Nielsen, this year’s Golden Globe Awards Show viewership (6.9 million) was barely one-third the size of 2020’s viewership (18.3 million) and by far the least-watched ceremony in modern Globes history.

News Round-Up: December 13, 2019

Three bearded police officers from Norfolk Police Dept

Three bearded police officers from Norfolk Police Dept
(image via Norfolk Police Department)
Some news items you might have missed: • WSET: The Norfolk Police Department has updated its uniform policy to allow officers to grow a beard and openly display tattoos while on-duty. So, if you see me speeding through Norfolk, you know why 🙂The Verge: YouTube announced an expansion of its anti-harassment policy that will ban video creators from insulting individuals or inciting violence against people on the basis of their race, gender expression, or sexual orientation. But will YouTube enforce the new rules? • Bloomberg News: The share of credit card borrowers who are at least 90 days past due on their accounts will probably tick up to 2.01% next year, the highest level since 2010. • KIT212: Kenneth has the low-down on the what’s what happening the gay rags across the country. Gaily Grind: The Senate voted to confirm homophobic nominee Lawrence VanDyke to serve as a Ninth Circuit appeals court judge, despite being rated as “not qualified” by the American Bar Association (ABA) over concerns of anti-LGBTQ past. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was the only GOP ‘no’ in a 51-44 vote. • Washington Blade: The Screen Actors Guild has announced the nominees for its 2019 awards presentation, and like the Golden Globes nominations earlier this week, there are multiple nods for projects with LGBTQ-relevant content and performers. • ESPN: Marijuana will be removed from the list of drugs of abuse and will be treated the same as alcohol as part of changes announced Thursday to the joint drug agreement between MLB and the players’ association. • Tweet of the Day: After Donald Trump trolled 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg, saying she need to “work on her anger management” and should “chill,” former First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted her encouragement. #GodILoveHer

Nominations For 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards Announced

The nominations for the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced this morning by trans actress Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black) and Awkwafina (Ocean’s 8, Crazy Rich Asians).

Sadly, not much in terms of nominations for LGBTQ projects and/or actors except for two nominations for out producer/director Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace (Darren Criss and Penélope Cruz).

A Star Is Born, starring LGBTQ favorite Lady Gaga, received several nominations including one for Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott and for the entire cast (which is the closest the SAG Awards comes to a “Best Picture” award).

Rami Malek was nominated for his acclaimed star turn as bisexual rocker Freddie Mercury in the hit film, Bohemian Rhapsody.

It was refreshing to see wide-ranging diversity in the category of ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture,’ which included Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody as well as A Star Is Born.

The most obvious snub, to this writer, is no mention of FX’s Pose, which chronicles the ballroom culture of the 1980s.

With the most LGBTQ cast in history, the groundbreaking series garnered Globe nominations last week, but apparently failed to score with the SAG nominating committee. It’s easy to imagine nominations for both Best Cast and Billy Porter’s turn as “Pray Tell” in the ‘Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series’ category.

Alan Alda will receive the SAG Life Achievement Award for his career accomplishments and humanitarian work. Past recipients include Morgan Freeman, Betty White, Carol Burnett and Debbie Reynolds.

The 2019 SAG Awards air live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 27, at 8 p.m. ET.

See the full list of nominations below!

FILM:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
A Star Is Born
Black Panther
Crazy Rich Asians
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
John David Washington, BlackKklansman

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Timothée Chalamet, Beautiful Boy
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, Vice
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place
Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots

TV:

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Americans
Better Call Saul
The Handmaid’s Tale
Ozark
This Is Us

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Joseph Fiennes, The Handmaid’s Tale
John Krasinsky, Jack Ryan
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series
Julia Garner, Ozark
Laura Linney, Ozark
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Barry
Atlanta
Glow
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Series
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader, Barry
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Henry Winkler, Barry

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Brie, Glow
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alex Bornstien, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series
Antonio Banderas, Genius: Picasso
Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Anthony Hopkins, King Leer
Bill Pulman, The Sinner

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Penélope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Emma Stone, Maniac

Complete List Of 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards looked like a repeat of the Golden Globe Awards with Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell taking home honors for their respective work.

The SAG Awards doesn’t present a “Best Picture” honor. Since the voters are actors, the closest thing to “top honors” is the Outstanding Performance By a Cast in a Motion Picture.

At this point, I’d be looking at the Globes and SAG Awards as serious precursors to what we can expect come Oscar night.

Sad to see Timothée Chalamet missed out again for his acclaimed turn in the gay coming-of-age film Call Me By Your Name, but after the year he’s had its certain he has a glowing career ahead of him.

Here’s the list of honorees last night.

Film Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Judi Dench, “Victoria & Abdul”
Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”
Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” WINNER
Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
James Franco, “The Disaster Artist”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”
Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” WINNER
Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”
Hong Chau, “Downsizing”
Holly Hunter, “The Big Sick”
Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” WINNER
Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Steve Carell, “Battle of the Sexes”
Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” WINNER

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“The Big Sick”
“Get Out”
“Lady Bird”
“Mudbound”
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” WINNERS

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

“Baby Driver”
“Dunkirk”
“Logan”
“War for the Planet of the Apes”
“Wonder Woman” WINNER

Television Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies” WINNER
Jessica Lange, “Feud: Bette and Joan”
Susan Sarandon, “Feud: Bette and Joan”
Reese Witherspoon, “Big Little Lies”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock: The Lying Detective”
Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
Robert De Niro, “The Wizard of Lies”
Geoffrey Rush, “Genius”
Alexander Skarsgård, “Big Little Lies” WINNER

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”
Claire Foy, “The Crown” WINNER
Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, “Ozark”
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us” WINNER
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
David Harbour, “Stranger Things”
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Alison Brie, “Glow”
Jane Fonda, “Grace and Frankie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” WINNER
Lily Tomlin, “Grace and Frankie”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
Aziz Ansari, “Master of None”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Sean Hayes, “Will & Grace”
William H. Macy, “Shameless” WINNER
Marc Maron, “Glow”

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“The Crown”
“Game of Thrones”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Stranger Things”
“This Is Us” WINNERS

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“Black-ish”
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Glow”
“Orange Is the New Black”
“Veep” WINNERS

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“Game of Thrones”
“Glow”
“Homeland”
“Stranger Things” WINNER
“The Walking Dead”