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SHOWBIZ 'Faye,' Sophia Bush, Janelle Monae, Laverne Cox, Peabodys
The HBO Original documentary Faye, about iconic actress Faye Dunaway, will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on Max later this year, a press release noted. The film will have its world premiere ...
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GLAAD releases 19th 'Where We Are on TV' study
--From a press release
Los Angeles, CA - Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - GLAAD released its 19th edition of the annual Where We Are On TV study, which maps the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) characters ...
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WCT's Jerry Nunn is among inaugural Critics Choice LGBTQ+ celebration organizers
Chicago-based entertainment writer Jerry Nunn, a regular contributor to Windy City Times, is among the organizers of the upcoming Critics Choice Association (CCA) Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television on June 7 in Los Angeles. The ...
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Critics Choice Assn. to host inaugural celebration of LGBTQ+ TV, film
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the date and honorees for its inaugural Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television. The Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television event will take place during Pride Month on Friday, June ...
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The importance of becoming Ernest: Out actor Christopher Sieber dishes about the Death Becomes Her musical
Out and proud actor Christopher Sieber is part of the team bringing Death Becomes Her to life as a stage musical in the Windy City this spring. Sieber plays Ernest Menville, who was originally portrayed by ...
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SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, '9-1-1' actor, Kayne the Lovechild, STARZ shows, Cynthia Erivo
Gay comedian/filmmaker Jerrod Carmichael criticized Dave Chappelle, opening up about the pair's ongoing feud and calling out Chappelle's opinions on the LGBTQ+ community, PinkNews noted, citing an Esquire article. Carmichael ...
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WORLD Uganda items, HIV report, Mandela, Liechtenstein, foreign minister weds
It turned out that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam traveled to Uganda on Feb. 19-27, per The Washington Blade. He visited the capital of Kampala and the nearby city of ...
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RuPaul finds 'Hidden Meanings' in new memoir
RuPaul Andre Charles made a rare Chicago appearance for a book tour on March 12 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. Presented by National Public Radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM, the talk coincided with ...
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Oprah, Niecy Nash-Betts honored at GLAAD Media Awards
Oprah Winfrey and Niecy Nash-Betts were honored at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards that took place in Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton on March 14. Winfrey received the Vanguard Award, introduced by iconic Chicago ...
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SHOWBIZ Jinkx Monsoon, Xavier Dolan, 'Frida,' Lena Waithe, out singer
Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is headed back to the New York stage, joining off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey beginning April 2, according to Playbill. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag ...
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Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret
Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...
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SHOWBIZ Queer actors, icons duet, Hunter Schafer, Oscars, Elizabeth Taylor
Queer actor Kal Penn is set to star in Trust Me, I'm a Doctora film that chronicles the final days of actress/model Anna Nicole Smith, whose overdose death in 2007 at age 39 sparked a tabloid ...
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SAG Awards honor Streisand, few LGBTQ+ actors
Queer entertainers made their markalthough not a major oneat the 2024 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, held Feb. 24 in Los Angeles. The event was live-streamed on Netflix for the first time. Indigenous and Two-Spirit actor ...
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THEATER Dot-Marie Jones talks Goodman production, 'Glee,' 'Bros'
Running through Feb. 18 at the the Goodman Theatre, the production Highway Patrol works with a script conceived entirely from Emmy-winning actor Dana Delany's (TV's China Beach) digital archive of hundreds of tweets and direct messages ...
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GLAAD finds missed chances for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Super Bowl ads
--From a press release
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 — GLAAD is reacting to a lack of LGBTQ storytelling in ads that aired duringSuper Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 and is reminding brands, corporations and advertising agencies why including the LGBTQ ...
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SAVOR 'The Bear,' new pizza lounge, Chicago Black Restaurant Week
"Bear" necessities: The third season of the Chicago-set series The Bear will debut in June, per Variety. FX chairman John Landgraf made the announcement during the network's presentation at the Television Critics Association's winter 2024 press ...
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Quantum Leap reboot springs into LGBTQ+ representation
Through the magic of television, Quantum Leap is once again jumping into the past to bounce back into the futureand in a recent episode, "The Family Trasure," non-binary artist and performer Wilder Yuri and writer Shakina ...
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SHOWBIZ Raven-Symone, women's sports, Wayne Brady, Jinkx Monsoon, British Vogue
In celebration of Black History Month, the LA LGBT Center announced that lesbian entertainer Raven-Symone will be presented with the Center's Bayard Rustin Award at its new event, Highly Favored, per a press release. She joins ...
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SHOWBIZ JoJo Siwa, Tom Holland, Bowen Yang, Pet Shop Boys, Mariah Carey
In the wake of Nigel Lythgoe exiting So You Think You Can Dance, queer personality JoJo Siwa is returning to the series, per Deadline. Siwa, who was a judge on season 17 of the Fox show, will replace Lythgoe, who left ...
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SHOWBIZ Sundance items, Green Day, 'Wednesday,' Queerties, 'The Wiz'
At the Sundance Film Festival, Jodie Foster told Variety that the $1.4-billion success of Barbie helps confirm that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. She said, "With a big success ...
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GLAAD announces nominees for the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards
--From a press release
Following its acceptance of the iconic Governors Award at the 2023 Emmys Ceremony presented by the Television Academy, GLAAD announced the nominees for the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The GLAAD Media Awards honor media for ...
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EMMYS RuPaul, Niecy Nash-Betts win; Elton's EGOT status; GLAAD's award
Succession, The Bear and Beef dominated the 2024 Emmys, held Jan. 16. The ceremony was televised on Fox. Succession was named best drama series, The Bear was named best comedy series and Beef was named best ...
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GLAAD holds reception ahead of Emmys honor
On Jan. 10, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and Kathy Hilton hosted a pre-event cocktail reception celebrating The Future of Representation ahead of GLAAD's historic Governors Award Emmy honor at Hilton's private L.A. residence. ...
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Few LGBTQ+ individuals score Golden Globes wins
The Golden Globes took place Jan. 7but, for the LGBTQ+ community, there wasn't much to cheer about. For example, queer actors Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) and Colman Domingo (Rustin) fell short, as Cillian Murphy ...
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SHOWBIZ Indigo Girls, best songs, queer 'Nutcracker,' Colman Domingo, 'Gilded Age'
Following appearances at multiple film festivals, the documentary Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All is getting a theatrical release next spring, The Advocate noted. Directed by Alexandria Bombach, the film dives into the four decades ...
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Billy Masters: The tea that got spilled in 2023
"No offense, but you look like Billy Masters." I don't know which part of this quip from a stranger insulted me morethat he didn't realize I am Billy Masters, or he thought someone would take offense ...
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SHOWBIZ Streisand, Kristen Stewart, James Baldwin, Cher, 'Relighting'
Video below
Barbra Streisand will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild, TheWrap noted. The honor will be seen live at the 2024 SAG Awards, which will take place at the Shrine ...
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Billy Masters: Barry Manilow really was just interested in the articles
"I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. I'm never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves." —Cher tells Kelly Clarkson her thoughts on being snubbed by ...
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Bradley Cooper conducts a symphony of queer history in Maestro
Composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein was one of the most important musicians of his time, receiving many accolades—the Kennedy Center Honor among them, in 1981—before passing away in 1990. Behind the scenes ...
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Billy Masters: Fun messiness from the Ladies of the '80s
"Everybody wants a bf like Timothée Chalamet...until it's time to change a tire." I> —Meghan McCain. OK, so she only retweeted it. But I'm filled with the spirit of giving. Alas, I suspect Timmy could only ...
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'Barbie,' 'Succession,' LGBTQs receive Golden Globe nods
WarnerBrothers' Barbie (with nine nods) and Universal's Oppenheimer (with eight) led film nominations for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards that were announced Dec. 11, while TV's leaders included HBO's ...
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SHOWBIZ Former Disney star, women's sports, Latifah, Lenny Kravitz, 'Barbie'
Videos below
In an essay about mental health that ran in Teen Vogue, former Disney star Karan Brar came out as bisexual, Out noted. In the essay, Brar talked about moving out of his parents' place —something that ...
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Billy Masters: The icing on the cake at a gender-reveal party
"To hell with this place!"—George Santos's parting comments after being ejected from Congress. He also said that Congress "is full of felons galore." At least, that's what I think he said. With his lisp, it sounded ...
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Jussie Smollett loses appeal, might head back to jail
Embattled out gay actor Jussie Smollett could soon be back behind bars after an Illinois appeals court backed the ex-Empire actor's disorderly conduct convictions stemming from a faked 2019 hate crime and lying to Chicago cops, ...
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Billy Masters: The Dolly Cowboy Cheerleaders
Whoever intended to dumb down the citizens of America have done a FANTASTIC job. We are dumb as shit!"Patti LuPone in an interview with broadcaster Tom Power prior to her touring show Don't Monkey with Broadway ...
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Disney exhibition chronicles a century of entertainment history
Disney100, a large-scale traveling exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, has opened at the Exhibition Hub Art Center, 2367 W. Logan Blvd., in Bucktown. Hundreds of props and artifacts from the company's ...
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Billy Masters: Was Kim Kardashian officiating your wedding worth it?
I'd hoped to never again type the word "Jada" again. But this week, it's inevitable. It is being alleged that actor Duane Martin (don't feel badI had to look him up as well) slept with Will ...
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GLAAD to receive Television Academy's Governors Award
The Television Academy announced LGBTQ+ media-advocacy organization GLAAD as the 2023 Governors Award recipient. Founded in 1985 by Vito Russo, author of The Celluloid Closet, and other LGBTQ advocates, GLAAD works with leaders in television, film, ...
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Billy Masters: The times Streisand failed to make a splash
"Fame is a hollow trophy. No matter who you are, you can only eat one pastrami sandwich at a time."—Wise words from Barbra Streisand. You all know that Barbra Streisand's book is out. And I ...
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Billy Masters: Barbra's bio hits stores...but don't rain on Cher's parade either
"I will be forced to be in a position where I will have to openly say how I feel about the film and go against you, my mother and this film publicly."—Lisa Marie Presley's e-mail to director Sofia Coppola after reading ...
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Emerald Fennell takes audiences on a twisted trip to Saltburn
The new film Saltburn, directed and produced by Emerald Fennell, is the twisted tale of a student named Oliver Quick, played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who visits a classmate's estate in the seaside town of ...
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WTTW doc chronicles the activism of Danny Sotomayor
Practically everything the late Chicago AIDS activist Danny Sotomayor did was "a fight." So says fellow activist Victor Salvo in the new WTTW documentary The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor, which is part of the station's Chicago ...
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Billy Masters: Britney spills the tea
"Brad Pitt, I think, in 'Troy'. That's a beautiful man. There's no denying it."Jacob Elordi tells Jimmy Fallon his first celebrity crush. (If you can't place Jacob, you'll soon see him playing Elvis Presley in Sofia ...
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Former 'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter talks bisexuality, mental health
t's safe to say that 2023 is probably one of the most pivotal years in Josh Seiter's life. During the summer, Seiter—a former Bachelorette contestant who's also a Chicago resident, Chicago-Kent College of Law grad, mental-health ...
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Billy Masters: Madonna sets her watch to Diva Time
"It is truly obscene what they're charging for tickets to 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Broadway. $500 to $800. PLUS—$40 a ticket 'handling charge.'"—Kevin Chamberlin voices his outrage at the price of Broadway tickets. Imag ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Shucked,' Melissa Etheridge, 'Elite,' composer dies, Orville Peck
The Broadway production Shucked has set a closing date of Jan. 14, 2024 at the Nederlander Theatre, Playbill noted. At closing, the Tony-nominated musical will have played 28 previews and 327 regular performances. A North American ...
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Billy Masters: I remember Momma
"If Trick were made today, I'd not have been cast in it. I consider myself lucky to have been part of this beautiful film." Christian Campbell discusses his role in the 1999 classic, which ultimately defined ...
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BILLY MASTERS: Vegas, Cher and Kathy Griffin
"It's been a challenge just because, honestly, my son being gay.…it was unknown for me. I think a lot of people are afraid of the unknown, whereas I'm not. To me, it's intriguing. And I want ...
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SHOWBIZ 'True Detective,' Rock & Roll HoF, Sheryl Lee Ralph, RuPaul, Outfest
Video below
The six-episode HBO Original drama series True Detective: Night Country—starring Oscar-winning and Emmy-nominated Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, with Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc and John ...
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Billy Masters: Cher (allegedly) goes on the offensive
"Let's face it, Ronif the campaign was going well, you wouldn't be on this show." Bill Maher to Ron DeSantis on Real Time with Bill Maher I don't know what to make of this story about ...
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SHOWBIZ Outfest, Halo, 'Sex Education,' trans singer, 'Doctor Who'
Outfest announced that it will honor Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine with the James Schamus Ally Award and trans actress Trace Lysette with the Trailblazer Award at the 2023 Legacy Awards presented by Genesis Motor America, per ...
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Billy Masters: Boebert's Beetlejuice bachanalia
"God, here I am...closer to the gutter than ever!" —John Waters quipping at the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It bears mentioning that he was fÀ�ted by his former muses Ricki ...
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Billy Masters: The world is full of amicable separations
"The people had to meet a couple of criteria, but it was just kind of my personal interest and love of them. Insofar as the women, just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level." Jann Wenner (co-founder ...
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SAG-AFTRA and WGA join GLAAD in releasing Studio 11th Responsibility Index
--From a press release
HollywoodSept. 14, 2023 — GLAAD released its annual Studio Responsibility Index in a joint press event in Hollywood alongside the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio ...
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Billy Masters: Russell Tovey and the new Superman both go to the dogs
"I just can't believe I will be 80 at some point, sooner than I wish. And I will still be wearing my jeans. And I will still be wearing long hair. And I will still be doing the same stuff I've ...
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Dykes to Watch Out For Audible series returns listeners to the '80s
By Ro White
From 1983-2008, Alison Bechdel's comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For captured the drama and hilarity of lesbian life. Now it's been adapted into an Audible Original series that draws parallels between the queer past and ...
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Billy Masters: Billy unlocks the DaVinci Code
"Mmmkay! And I'm 110lbs and a virgin! I'm not a scale or a doctor but I have spent some time beneath 215 lb. men and Tiny was not one of them." —Stormy Daniels' Tweet about the alleged weight of the former president. ...
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Chicagoans remember Selena at downtown tribute concert
Despite a two-day heat wave topping 100 degrees, a near SRO crowd attended the second annual Selena tribute concert at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park on Aug. 24. The event, which was sponsored by the ...
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Bisexual ex-'Bachelorette' contestant: Hacker posted false death report
Josh Seiter, a former contestant on ABC's "The Bachelorette," posted a video on Aug. 29 saying reports of his death were due to someone hacking his Instagram account, according to NBC News and TMZ, among others. ...
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Billy Masters: The fine line between sonnets and restraining orders
"It exploded in my mouth. I wasn't expecting that." Nya on the "And Just Like That..." season finale, after she "ate the black one." Oh, that Michael Patrick Kingso clever. People these days are very quick ...
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Billy Masters: Does Nick Jonas owe Billy a thank you?
"I went to an English boarding school, dear. Trust me—you're in good hands." —The Prince's response to his inexperienced Yank in Red, White & Royal Blue. Picture it—your beloved Billy, lauded, admired, some might even say ...
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Billy Masters: Billy marks his 'orchid' (28th) anniversary
"I am disappointed, but keeping with my mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ family, any potential or future money made from this sale will be donated to LGBTQ+ organizations." —Jodie Sweetin's response when she found out her ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Scream,' 'Paris Is Burning,' Shea Coulee, Noah Schnapp, Broadway
Gay film director Christopher Landon—who's helmed Happy Death Day and Freaky—will take the reins of the next Scream movie, Out noted. While Landon usually also writes the projects he directs, it is not known if he ...
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Wayne Brady comes out as pansexual
Actor/singer/game-show host Wayne Brady has opened up about his sexuality, according to a Deadline item that cited People Magazine. "I am pansexual," Brady told People. "Bisexualwith an open mind." The entertainer said he had been researching ...
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Billy Masters: Ricky Martin takes it slow
"You guys were talking earlier about the news cycle and getting sick of it, and it's so hard to hear about it. I hope that 'Taste the Nation' is an anecdote to that." - Padma Lakshmi probably means to say "antidote" ...
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Sami White rules as king on Worst Cooks
Sami White is taking a whisk by competing on season 26 of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America and hopefully, it all pays off. She goes out of the frying pan and into the fire while navigating the new theme of ...
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Billy Masters: Cher entering her gelato queen period
"Why is LGBTQIA not allowed to be a good, loving, Christianyou know what I mean? You can be gay and you can look up to the Lord. Why not? And so that's where it's like, home girl, just go make your ...
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Controversial comedian Chappelle coming to Chicago
Controversial comedian Dave Chappelle is embarking on a summer/fall tour that will include stops in NYC, New Orleans, Nashville and Chicago, among other cities, per NBC Chicago. Chicago will be the last stop, with an Oct. ...
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Billy Masters checks out who's playing in Provincetown
"I give her all sorts of respect. It's not everybody that can turn an ass into an asset." —Ana Navarro during a discussion on The View about Kim Kardashian's wealth...and how she made it. I'm with ...
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Darius Caffey offers a seat at The Table On Air
Darius Caffey is making moves at Chicago Access Network Television with a new program titled The Table On Air. He's the host of the show focusing on the work and accomplishments of Black LGBTQ+ members of ...
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Opinion: Artificial Intelligence and the Hollywood strikes, and why you should care
The two primary issues in the Writers Guild and SAG/AFTRA strikes are streaming and artificial intelligence. In my judgement, the AI issue, in the long term, is the fundamental issue. But, let me begin with streaming. ...
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A Transparent Musical debuts at LA's Mark Taper Forum, first Amazon original series on stage
--From a press release
CULVER CITY, California—July 10, 2023—For the first time, Amazon Studios has debuted an original series on stage with A Transparent Musical. The musical began performances at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles ahead of Pride Month ...
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Billy Masters: Some guys are getting the six-year itch
"If you're around your parents a lot, you see them in ways that almost no one else does. And I never saw a hint of that. I think I would have picked up on itnot that I would've cared." Jennifer Grant ...
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Lori 'Ice' Fetrick reflects on the highs and lows of 'American Gladiators'
Before American Ninja Warrior and almost all other reality-competition shows, there was American Gladiators—a television program that ran from 1989-1996 and pitted everyday people in physical contests against extremely athletic ...
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SHOWBIZ Rocker comes out, Billie Eilish, Luke Evans, 'Housewives,' 'Masculinity' book
Josh Kiszka, frontman for the Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet, came out as gay in an Instagram post, according to Instinct Magazine. He wrote, in part, "The greatest mortal gift of all is our capacity ...
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