THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Larry Kramer and Barbra Streisand's saga over his play The Normal Heart has been publicized for decades, with Kramer criticizing Streisand's failure to bring his story to the silver screen. However, according to The Huffington Post, Kramer now says that Streisand is uncomfortable with gay sex, saying he "bought [Barbara] a book of very beautiful art pictures of two men making love, and she found it very distasteful." Gay-rights advocate Streisand responded that her goal is "to promote the idea of everyone's right to love. Gay or straight!" Streisand optioned the play in 1986, but no film materialized because she reportedly could not raise the money.

RuPaul has responded to the controversy surrounding the word "tranny" as well as the use of "she-mail" on popular reality television show RuPaul's Drag Race, The Huffington Post noted. RuPaul—sitting down with comedian Marc Maron on his WTF Podcast—said that he "loves the word 'tranny,'" and "[D]on't you dare tell me what I can do or say. It's just words." When said that some may be offended, RuPaul replied, "No, it is not the transsexual community. These are fringe people who are looking for story lines to strengthen their identity as victims."

Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders revealed at a Welsh festival the film adaption of the cult comedy will be released next year, according to The South Wales Evening Post. While at the Hay Festival, show creator Saunders, 55, who played Edina Monsoon alongside co-star Joanna Lumley, said she was in the process of writing the movie—and Glee star Chris Colfer, 23, is expected to be among the stars in the movie. Saunders also hit back regarding her West End show Viva Forever being criticized as a box-office flop, saying it pulled in more patrons than other productions.

Former American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox told The Advocate that she disagrees with the trans-exclusive nature of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival ( Michfest )—but that she will still headline the event. "I believe in equality for everyone, and I do hope that in the future the Womyn's Fest will choose to include transgender women," Bowersox said. "In your heart, in your mind, in your lifestyle, in your body—if you're a woman, you're a woman. That's that."

In a new interview with Salon about his book President Me: The America That's in My Head, comedian Adam Carolla makes it clear that he remains upset about being criticized for making anti-gay comments allegedly in jest and claims the LGBT community has "turned into a mafia … demanding everyone apologize for every joke and retract every statement," The Advocate reported. He added, "There's plenty of gay people, and they're in positions above you. [If you're antigay] you're not going to get your movie directed."

Singer Janelle Monae recently had to cancel shows in Australia due to illness, US Weekly reported. While she made it to the area before falling ill, Monae reportedly cancelled a weekend show at The Forum after the band had already been assembled in front of a packed crowd. Her next show was listed as a May 31 gig in Philadelphia.

The WNBA is kicking off a campaign to market specifically to the LGBT community—a development that makes it the first pro league to specifically recruit LGBT fans to its games, The Huffington Post reported. The effort, which began with the debut of a website, includes having teams participate in local pride festivals and parades; working with advocacy groups to raise awareness of inclusion through grassroots events; and advertising with lesbian media. Also, a nationally televised pride game will take place between Tulsa and Chicago on Sunday, June 22.

X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer has filed a motion to dismiss the case brought by Michael Egan that alleges teen sex abuse, according to The Wrap. The case alleges that Singer committed the abuse in Hawaii in 1999. In filing for the dismissal, Singer references Egan's own 2003 sworn deposition during which he states that he had never been to Hawaii.

Miley Cyrus recently drew cheers from a crowd in London when she proclaimed that everyone's a little bit gay," The Huffington Post reported. Cyrus, a longtime LGBT ally, was reportedly performing at the iconic G-A-Y Nightclub and brought a straight friend out on stage with her in order to wish him a happy birthday. However, she also said, All it takes is one cocktail. And if that doesn't work, sprinkle something in their drink. That's what I always do."

Katy Perry and Madonna posed for photographer Steven Klein ( for the cover of the summer issue of V Magazine ) in a bondage-themed photo shoot that has Perry, 29, and Madonna, 55, wearing leather and lace while employing some rope, according to The Huffington Post. Madonna has been doing the whole bondage and S&M-themed thing in photo shoots since the early '90s, while Perry played pseudo-dominatrix for Complex magazine in 2009. The summer issue of V Magazine is now out on stands.

Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett will make her directorial debut with the Lifetime original oovie Whitney Houston ( working title ), according to Zap2It.com . Scheduled for a 2015 world premiere, Whitney Houston chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer, songwriter Bobby Brown—from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Last year, Bassett and Lifetime worked together on the original movie Betty & Coretta, which tells the dual real-life stories of Coretta Scott King ( played by Bassett ) and Dr. Betty Shabazz ( played by Mary J. Blige ).

Tina Turner has denied reports she suffered a stroke, saying she is in "excellent health," Page Six reported. Several German and Dutch publications claimed the 74-year-old fell ill last February, but was on the mend. Turner's driver Albert B. Cologne reportedly confirmed the stroke, saying, "She had a mild stroke, but is well on the road to recovery." However, the singer's spokesperson said, "The fact is that Tina enjoys excellent health."

A video recording of Duck Dynasty television star Phil Robertson making more anti-gay remarks has emerged, The Times-Picayune has reported. Robertson made the most recent set of controversial comments during a sermon he delivered at his church in West Monroe, Louisiana—during which he lumps gay people in with prostitutes, thieves and drunks. Robertson also got in trouble over anti-gay remarks he made to a GQ reporter last year. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has repeatedly defended Robertson.

In Chicago, a gay establishment was named among the top 10 sports bars in the city by USA Today's 10Best.com . Crew Bar + Grill, located in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, is an LGBT bar that came in at number seven. The website describes Crew thusly: "It's Chicago's premiere gay sports bar, that's also straight-friendly." WestEnd Bar & Grille came out on top, with Joe's on Weed Street and Cubby Bear Lounge among the others on the list.

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music Melissa Ferrick will be performing a live pop-up concert on Monday, June 2, at 7 p.m. ET via Wizeo's crowd-funding platform, according to a press release. Wizeo offers an interactive, live-streaming experience, geared toward changing the way people raise money and awareness for worthy causes. Melissa's pay-what-you-want concert will benefit Oxfam America, and will feature a Q&A component.

Artist and photographer David LaChapelle has been targeted by a far-right wing Austrian group that claims the posters he created for this year's Life Ball on May 31 are pornographic, Page Six noted. The poster, displayed in Vienna, has two images of transgender model Carmen Carrera naked in a garden with alternately female and male genitalia ( "I'm Adam. I'm Eve. I'm Me," reads a tagline. ) Organizers said the artwork celebrates the HIV/AIDS benefit's 2014 theme, "The Garden of Earthly Delights."

A former CNN employee who claims he was fired for being "too flamboyant" has filed a $60-million discrimination lawsuit against the news network, The Advocate reported. William Kane, a microphone technician who began working CNN in 2002, is claiming that his supervisor ( who cited Kane's colorful wardrobe as the reason for termination ) fired him last June only after he discovered Kane is gay. Kane has said that the "flamboyant" comment was rooted in a gay stereotype, as it had followed the announcement of his engagement to his partner.

Director Cheryl Furjanic and producer Will Sweeney announced that their feature-length documentary film Back on Board: Greg Louganis will make its world premiere at the AFI DOCS Film Festival on Friday, June 20, at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, according to a press release. Back on Board is an intimate, present-day portrait of the private struggles and public triumphs of openly gay Olympic champion Greg Louganis. The filmmakers have been working closely with Louganis since 2011 on the production of the film. More info is at www.LouganisDoc.com .

Violinist and mezzo-soprano Tona Brown will become the first African-American transgender performer to take the stage at Carnegie Hall when she does so in June, according to The Huffington Post. "I have dreamed of performing at Carnegie Hall since I was 14 years old, when I was attending the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia," Brown said. Brown's performance will feature music from her debut album This Is Who I Am, a tribute to African-American composers that includes songs such as "Deep River" and "Dream Variations."

LOGO has acquired two new episodes ( I'm a Stripper Too! and I'm a Stripper: Boylesque ) in its I'm a Stripper series from Border2Border Entertainment, according to a press release. The series takes a look at the lives of men who make a living by getting undressed. "With the ratings success of I'm a Stripper the obvious next step was to expand upon the brand," said the film's director, Charlie David. I'm a Stripper Too! will take its bow on Tuesday, July 8.

Queen and Adam Lambert will hit Australia for an arena trek this August and September, according to Billboard. The tour will visit the country's four biggest cities, and it'll mark the band's first in Australia since 1985. The shows will kick off in Perth Aug. 22, then travel to Sydney on Aug. 26 and Melbourne on Aug. 29, with the closer at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sept. 1.

Madonna apparently had no interest in rubbing elbows with a jury of her peers when she failed to report for jury duty at a lower Manhattan courthouse, according to Page Six. The Material Girl had been summoned to Manhattan Supreme Court near City Hall to perform her civic duty. New York jurors are automatically granted one postponement, but must apply for one.