Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’

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CLOUD ATLAS DIRECTOR TALKS GENDER

Lana Wachowski breaks her silence

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 10/24/2012 at 10:48AM | 1 Comment

Lana Wachowski stunned many fans several years ago when she made her gender transition. As one-half of the successful Hollywood team that created The Matrix trilogy and mostly recently Cloud Atlas, Wachowski has only recently told her own story, about struggling with her gender since she was a child and contemplating suicide as a teen. Now at a very charming 47, she took to the stage at a recent HRC event in San Francisco on Saturday to accept the Visibility Award with grace and no shortage of humor.

“Everyone one of us, every person here, every human life represents a negotiation between public and private identity, ” she said. “For me, that negotiation took a more literal form.”

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WATCH: THE NEW NORMAL

We got a sneak peek of the first episode of this anticipated gay-friendly TV show

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 8/30/2012 at 9:00AM | No Comments

Glee‘s Ryan Murphy’s at it again. This fall season, he’s debuting a new show – The New Normal – about two gay men who are having a child with a surrogate mom. The show stars Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells, the Tony Award winner who starred in Book of Mormon on Broadway. Ellen Barkin also plays a hilarious grandmother with quite the silver tongue.

One Million Moms has already criticized the show for its friendly portrayal of gay dads. And an affiliate in Utah refuses to air the series, saying it would offend Mormon audiences.

The series debuts on Sept. 11.

Click here to watch the pilot before it airs on NBC.

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MY GAY SITCOM LIFE

The characters and television shows that shaped my teen years. By R. Eric Thomas

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 8/22/2012 at 9:16AM | No Comments

Illustration by Kale Halperin

My parents sent me a postcard with a single line in my mother’s impeccable penmanship; it read, “Spending your inheritance! XOXO, Cliff & Clair.” My parents are on vacation. Again. They vacation a lot these days‚ a new development, as we couldn’t afford vacations growing up.

Things sure do change.

Cliff and Clair, I should note, are not really my parents’ names – you might recognize them as the Huxtables from The Cosby Show. But that’s what my brothers and I started calling them after they became globe-trotting ballers, ordering both the surf and the turf. This is what happens when you no longer have to put three boys through private school. They sacrificed a lot to give us a Cosby life without Cosby funds. We were a black family with caviar taste and a Mrs. Paul’s budget, weirdos wherever we found ourselves.

For me, turning on the television set as a kid and finding a family like the Huxtables was a revelation. They laughed with each other. They danced. They loved. They were anomalies, though in my mind we were the Huxtables. And, I guess if I had to pick, I was Denise, the weirdest of the weirdos, ready for my own spinoff.

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REN FAIRE’S BEST IN COSTUME

Van Nguyen won for the best getup at Gay Day in Mt. Hope

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 8/20/2012 at 9:08AM | No Comments

Last weekend (Aug. 12), the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire welcomed revelers from the LGBT community – many from Philly – during the official Gay Day. Produced by Suzi Nash (you may also know her as the karaoke hostess with the mostess at Sisters every Thursday) and the Stimulus family, the event was also supported by quite a few local organizations, including the William Way, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund and The Attic Youth Center.

As guests turned back time to enjoy some merriment (and jousting) on the 35-acre village at Mt. Hope Estate (hello, winery!), Nash also held a costume contest.

“Van Nguyen was our costume winner,” says Nash. And while many guests showed off their creative wardrobes from throughout the region, this Philly denizen walked away with top honors and a bottle of cheer.

 

Nash and Nguyen (courtesy of The Nash Experience)

 

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THE GAYEST EMMY NODS

Find out which of our favorite out celebs could take home awards this year

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 7/20/2012 at 10:19AM | No Comments

The gay dads on Modern Family have helped make the show a hit (courtesy of ABC)

The Primetime Emmy Awards are treating some of our favorite out celebrities very well this year. The nominations were announced earlier this week – and we wanted to give you the gay who’s who of possible winners. Turns out it’s a good year to be gay – and play gay – on television.

A whopping 14 nominations went to Modern Family, including supporting actor recognition for both Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet who play two gay dads on the hit ABC comedy. Another funny guy, Jim Parsons, is also up for an Emmy for best actor – he’s won two already for his role on The Big Bang Theory.

The laughs keep coming with Margaret Cho – she’s nominated for her hilarious portrayal of Kim Jong II and Kim Jong Un on 30 Rock. The show got 13 nominations. We have to hand it to the show’s creator Tina Fey. She handled Tracy Morgan’s anti-gay rant well last year by not only speaking out, but also incorporating a few more gay-friendly moments on the NBC comedy.

Ryan Murphy’s Glee also wrangled three nominations, but none for Jane Lynch. How’s that possible? Another musically charged show with no shortage of gay characters and moments - Smash – received four nods.

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LISTEN: PET SHOP BOYS

The British duo preview a brand new single today

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 7/3/2012 at 8:52AM | No Comments

The Pet Shop Boys have long been a part of our songbook since the 1980s (“West End Girls,” “New York City Boy” and the Results album for Liza). But today, the duo released a new single – “Winner” – which will be featured on their upcoming album Elysium in September. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe – the men behind the Boys – recorded the new album this year in Los Angeles, making it the first time they’ve ever recorded in the States.

The album, which is expected to feature a dozen new songs, is a collaboration between folks who have worked with everyone from Adele to the Jackson Five. “It was inspiring to make an album in Los Angeles, and to work with a producer from a different musical genre, who has brought a new dimension to our music,” the Brit duo said in a statement.

“Winner” will be available on iTunes and a limited CD with three bonus tracks, as well as a 12-inch by August 7, but we have a sneak preview today:

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SUGARHOUSE COMES OUT

The party on July 5 goes gay - really, really gay

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 7/2/2012 at 9:05AM | No Comments

Philadelphia may be welcoming America for July 4 festivities, but the following day, SugarHouse Casino is going gay. LGBT Out on the River (2 – 9 p.m.) is taking full advantage of the destination’s new riverfront beach – they shipped in 110 tons of sand and planted more than 30 palm trees from Florida, turning the casino’s 7,000 square feet of waterfront into a veritable Rehoboth on the Delaware.

“As part of SugarHouse’s commitment to being part of the Philadelphia community and delivering a positive experience for everyone who walks through our doors, we’re always hosting various events and activities for the city’s many organizations and groups,” says Wendy Hamilton, general manager of SugarHouse Casino. “The LGBT community is important to Philadelphia and ‘Out on the River’ is just one of the many ways we’re supporting our Equality Forum partners in the months ahead.”

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WEEKEND ROUNDUP

The ultimate LGBT events guide

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 6/29/2012 at 10:52AM | No Comments

Friday, June 29

Courtesy of Greg Louganis

Meet former Olympic swimmer Greg Louganis at Parx Casino (5 p.m.).

Join the Philly Dyke March for a vigil in Love Park (7:30 p.m.) in honor of the teens who were shot in Texas this week. Click here for the story behind the event.

In A.C. this weekend? The first 25 people to visit Pro Bar at Resorts win tickets to see the new Channing Tatum flick Magic Mike.

Sisters presents a burlesque showcase (9 p.m.) with Nikki Malicious of Rigor Mortis Revue and Annie A Bom of Cabaret Red Light, as well as Kiki Berlin, Therese and Timaree of the Sisters Sirens.

Celebrate Absolute’s 30th birthday at ICandy (10 p.m.) during Frat House Friday with special guest Chris LeBitch.

Sandy Beach presents Smashed (11 p.m.) at Venture Inn.

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EVER BEEN ON THE OUTS?

Check out this highly addictive gay web series

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 6/29/2012 at 10:19AM | 1 Comment

Adam Goldman is a New York City-based writer, director and actor who’s responsible for The Outs, a web-based series about gay life in the Big Apple. Even though it’s based in that “other” city, the premise is quite appealing to anyone who lives the oh-so-gay urban life. It also features a great soundtrack with some up and coming indie acts.

Click here to watch the first three episodes.

You can also follow the show on Facebook.

Don’t forget to tell us what you think!

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WATCH: CHEYENNE JACKSON’S DRIVE

The out singer gives us a preview of his upcoming EP

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 6/14/2012 at 11:20AM | 1 Comment

As he gets ready to release his new album this summer, out actor and singer Cheyenne Jackson released a new video for the acoustic version of his single “Drive.” Jackson is also getting ready to join the cast of the upcoming Liberace film – Behind the Candleabra – starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.

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