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Entertainment: Josh Hutcherson; 'Atlanta'; Zachary Quinto; Adam Lambert
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times.
2015-08-25

This article shared 9025 times since Tue Aug 25, 2015
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Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson has said he wishes he could shut down Straight But Not Narrow, an LGBT charity he helped co-found in 2011, as a way to combat homophobia in schools, and "positively influence the perception of and behavior towards LGBTQ peers," NewNowNext.com . The organization is still going strong, but he's hoping that one day soon, it won't be needed at all, saying, "It starts there by making it legally acceptable, but socially there is so much prejudice and bias that is integrated into our culture—and that's going to be around for while. I hope one day in my lifetime we get to close the door on this group, but there's a lot more work to do."

On the heels of the news that Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes is moving on to other projects, Bravo is spicing up its high-rated series with two additions: Amiyah Scott and Kim Fields, E! News confirmed. Scott ( who is not a regular yet ) is a transgender model while Fields may be best known for her roles on the TV shows Facts of Life and Living Single.

Actress Emma Watson ( the Harry Potter series; Perks of Being a Wallflower ) has praised Britain's first active rugby league player, Keegan Hirst, to come out as gay on Twitter, calling him "courageous" and a "hero," The UK Telegraph noted. The 27-year-old captain of Batley Bulldogs is now the only openly gay professional rugby league player. Hirst responded to Watson's praise by tweeting, "Massive thanks to @stephenfry and @EmWatson for the follow. Surreal or what." Gay diver Tom Daley has also posted his support for Hirst.

Yellow Sound Label has announced the new album from Telly Leung, star of this season's new Broadway musical Allegiance, opposite George Takei and Lea Salonga, according to a press release. Songs for You will be released on Friday, Nov. 20, with the lead single—"New York State of Mind"—available on Friday, Oct. 23. Songs for You features songs originally recorded by Michael Jackson ( "Human Nature" ), Oleta Adams ( "I Just Had to Hear Your Voice" ), Mama Cass Elliot ( "Make Your Own Kind of Music" ), John Denver ( "Leaving On A Jet Plane" ), Des'ree ( "You Gotta Be" ) and more.

Zachary Quinto has responded to controversial remarks he made about HIV and PrEP last year, according to Gay Star News. The openly gay actor was criticized in November for saying that he did not think PrEP ( pre-exposure prophylaxis ) would lead to gay people becoming more sexually responsible. In a recent interview with SiriusXM radio station, Quinto said he knew "tons of people who are taking it" and but it was "not for me." He said, "I think if people use PrEP as part of a responsible regimen of taking care of themselves and preserving their bodies and their well-being and the well-being of the people they're having sex with, then more power to them."

Wonder Woman presides over the wedding of two brides in Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, Chapter 48, The Huffington Post reported. The new installment of the anthology series, which came out Aug. 20, was written and illustrated by Jason Badower. The artist told The Huffington Post in an interview that Wonder Woman is "the most logical candidate in the DC Universe," to officiate same-sex marriages because her creator, William Moulton Marston, specified that she originally hailed from an island inhabited only by women.

Caitlyn Jenner might face a manslaughter charge in relation to a Malibu car accident that left one person dead last year, TheWrap reported. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County sheriff's department told TheWrap that it has completed its report on the crash, and will submit its case to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. According to TMZ, the sheriff's department concluded that Jenner violated the vehicular manslaughter law, setting off a "chain of events" that ultimately led to a fatality.

In other Jenner-related news, costume company Spirit Halloween is facing serious backlash after offering a Caitlyn Jenner costume in time for Halloween, TheWrap reported. The costume re-creates Jenner's look when she debuted as a woman on the cover of Vanity Fair in June, complete with shorts, a padded top, a wig and a "Call Me Caitlyn" sash. Twitter blew up with expressions of anger about the costume, with some calling it "disgraceful," "hurtful" and "transphobic."

Singer Kelly Clarkson announced during a show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that she's "totally pregnant," according to CNN. This will be baby number two for Clarkson, 33, and husband Brandon Blackstock. The surprise announcement came after Clarkson broke down while singing "Piece by Piece," a song about her relationship with her dad.

The organizers of Pure Heat Black Gay Pride—which annually takes place on Labor Day weekend in Atlanta—have invited Chris Brown, Monica, Porsha Williams, Lil Kim, lesbian dancer Carter the Body and many others to perform over the course of their six-day holiday weekend festivities, AtlantaDailyWorld.com noted. The six-day-long event will also feature the 4th annual Pure Heat Community Festival, which takes place at Piedmont Park. See AtlantaPrideWeekend.com .

Northwest Press is slated to release The Collected Black Gay Boy Fantasy #1, the new series collecting the zines by Victor Hodge into full comics issues, according to a press release. The book will be released Aug. 26 and available on iTunes, ComiXology, Gumroad and directly from Northwest Press in a variety of digital formats.

Chelsea O'Donnell, the 17-year-old daughter of comedian Rosie O'Donnell, was found safe after being reported missing, TheWrap reported. "Chelsea has been found and is safe in police custody — thank u all for the help and light #missingchildren," O'Donnell wrote. New Jersey police arrested Steven Sheerer, the 25-year-old man found with Chelsea. Sheerer faces charges of third-degree distribution of obscenity to a minor as well as third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

In other Rosie news, her father has passed away, The New York Daily News reported. O'Donnell's father, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, has died from cancer at age 81. The electrical engineer has had a strained relationship with the 53-year-old comedian and former TV host since the passing of her mother, Roseann O'Donnell, when she was only 10.

Trans entertainer Candis Cayne has been supportive to Caitlyn Jenner as the former Olympian adjusts to her new life, but their close relationship, as seen on I Am Cait, has sparked speculation that the pair are more than friends, according to People. However, Cayne recently told Access Hollywood that it's just that—a friendship. "Caitlyn and I are really good friends. I really love her a lot, and it's been amazing being by her side through this whole process," the actress said. Cayne added that she's into men and that Jon Stewart is her crush.

From director Casper Andreas ( Going Down in LA-LA Land ) and screenwriter David Michael Barrett ( Such Good People ) comes Kiss Me, Kill Me, a new gay murder mystery starring Queer as Folk icon Gale Harold and As the World Turns three-time Emmy nominee Van Hansis, Out.com noted. A contemporary film noir set in West Hollywood, California, the movie makes its world premiere Sept. 18 at REELING: The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, followed by an after-party with cast and filmmakers.

After hearing that the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church ( WBC ) was going to protest the Foo Fighters' Aug. 21 concert at the Kansas City Sprint Center, the band performed a counterprotest in front of the venue, Alternative Nation reported. The counterprotest included the band in the back of a truck that was also blasting the Rick Astley hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" while drummer Taylor Hawkins waved a sign that read "You Got Rick Roll'd, Again" and his drum tech sporting nothing but thong underwear below the waist. During the Foo Fighters set, Dave Grohl dedicated "My Hero" to those who "fight for what they believe in," in reference to U.S. soldiers—who are often the foci of the church's protests.

On Aug. 26-27, HLN's Dr. Drew will examine the social and medical issues facing the transgender population, according to a press release. On Aug. 26, his guests include trans comedian and Transparent actor Ian Harvie; Dr. Marci Bowers, a well-known gender-reassignment surgeon who is also transgender; and Jessica Taylor, a trans pilot. The following night, Dr. Drew will focus on race in the trans community, with guests Bamby Salcedo, a trans woman who is president of the TransLatina coalition, and trans comedian D'Lo.

Singer Adam Lambert will make his first-ever UK festival appearance when he performs at the Fusion Festival in Birmingham's Cofton Park on Aug. 30, VirtualFestivals.com reported. Lambert, runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol, has found international fame for partnering with Queen since 2011. He was due to appear at Sonisphere 2012 with the band, now represented by Roger Taylor and Brian May, but the festival was later cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

John Oliver, host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, made his thoughts known recently about gay people and equality, according to The Washington Post. "Wow, a gay wedding just got applause at a Republican debate," Oliver said. "Add that to the list of things that would have been unthinkable in 2004—like Matthew McConaughey winning an Oscar." Oliver then spent the next 15 minutes explaining how, in 31 states, gay people are at risk of being fired, evicted or refused service because of who they are. Oliver reached out to all 2016 presidential candidates to ask if they would support a federal bill essentially prohibiting LGBT discrimination. He heard back from one Republican presidential campaign—Sen. Rand Paul ( Ky. ): "We'll pass, thanks."

Kristen Stewart hit the red carpet for the premiere of her new flick, American Ultra—only to be joined by Twilight co-star Taylor Lautner, Page Six noted. The two last appeared on the big screen together in 2012's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2, which wrapped up the supernatural series centered on the love triangle between Stewart's Bella Swan, Lautner's werewolf Jacob Black and vampire Edward Cullen, played by Stewart's former beau, Robert Pattinson.

Project Runway's Heidi Klum and fashion designer Zac Posen had to trade the catwalk for a hospital recently after both stepped on a rusty nail, Entertainment Weekly reported. Klum posted a photo of the two making ( understandably ) unhappy faces and sporting bandages on their feet. "DONT STEP ON A RUSTY NAIL ….. Well we both did," she wrote. Project Runway is currently in its 14th season, airing Thursday nights on Lifetime.

In the new drama About Ray, Elle Fanning plays the title character, who is undergoing gender transition ( from Ramona to Ray ), according to Vanity Fair. Despite the title, the film is not just about Ray—Ray's mother ( Naomi Watts ), father ( Tate Donovan ), and grandmother ( Susan Sarandon ) are all deeply impacted by his identity. Directed by Gaby Dellal, from a screenplay Dellal co-wrote with Nikole Beckwith, About Ray comes to theaters on Sept. 18.

Trans actress Trace Lysette ( yoga instructor Shea on the Netflix show Transparent ) talked with Out.com about her role of Gisele on the Starz series Blunt Talk, which stars Patrick Stewart as a misguided anchor who aims to conquer the news. "I feel there's a huge stigma around 'survival sex work' and what trans women engage in," said Lysette. "This showed a sweeter side to the sex work industry." Regarding her nude scene with Stewart, she said, "The biggest concern for me was that the tenderness stayed intact. Who better to be my first than Patrick Stewart? I'm thankful that [the scene] was classy and sweet."

When E!'s Fashion Police returns Aug. 31 for the MTV Video Music Awards, Kelly Osbourne said she'll be rooting for the show to succeed, TheWrap reported. However, she added that not all the panel will have her support: "I will never admit to liking Giuliana [Rancic] because I don't. I don't think she's a good person and I think she's a liar." Osbourne's exit followed host Joan Rivers' death and, months later, a brouhaha with Rancic over actress Zendaya's dreadlocked hairstyle at the Academy Awards.

The new four-disc Jagged Little Pill: Collector's Edition will mark the 20th anniversary of the Alanis Morissette CD's release. The edition, which will be released Oct. 30 for $49.98, includes remastered audio of the original album plus an entire disc of 10 unreleased demos from the era that Morissette hand-picked from her archives. The set includes an unreleased complete concert from the Jagged Little Pill tour as well as Jagged Little Pill Acoustic. A two-disc collection ( for $19.98 ) will be released the same day. Among some of the songs in the set are "You Oughta Know," "Ironic," "Head over Feet" and "Hand in My Pocket."

Nick Jonas will head out on own his own headlining "Live In Concert" tour, which kicks off on Sept. 6 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a press release stated. The tour will make stops in cities across North America, with dates in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Jonas will also return to TV this fall in Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens ( premiering Sept. 22 on Fox ) as well as the second season of Kingdom ( debuting Oct. 14 on DirecTV's Audience Network ).

NBC has announced that its upcoming holiday film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors will air Thursday, Dec. 10, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT, a press release stated. Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors is based on the true story of Parton's upbringing. Three cast members were recently added to the production, which recently began in Atlanta: Jennifer Nettles ( who will portray Parton's mother ), Gerald McRaney and Ricky Schroeder.

There's some griping over the winners of the Meryl Streep-funded New York Women in Film & Television ( NYWIFT ) writers lab—which aims to give women older than 40 a springboard into the movie business—after a former NYWIFT board member ( Janet Stilson ) landed one of the coveted places, Page Six noted. One writer said, "Out of over 3,500 applicants for the writers lab, Janet Stilson's script was just that good — and she just happens to be a leader of the group presenting the writers lab? ... So much for finding 'new' voices."

In the past, Marvel Comics has hinted that its take on Hercules has had affairs with both women and men, including an alternate version who was in a relationship with Wolverine. But ahead of its new All-New All-Different Marvel Hercules series, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso has stated that the hero of myth is heterosexual, Digital Spy noted. "Hercules and James Howlett's relationship in X-Treme X-Men took place in a unique alternate universe, similar to how Colossus was gay in the Ultimate Universe, but is straight in the 616. Same goes for Hercules here," he told CBR.

A reality-TV star who spent $100,000 to look like Justin Bieber has gone missing, The New York Daily News reported. Tobias Strebel, 35, was last seen on North Orange Grove Avenue in West Hollywood, California, KABC-TV noted. The aspiring singer may be driving a gray 2009 Toyota Camry. A music video released by GR Media in May 2014 shows Strebel as a member of a trio singing a song called "The Plastics." Strebel identified himself as "Justin No. 2" in the video.

Yvonne Craig, the prolific actress best known for her role as Batgirl on Batman in the 1960s, has passed away, ComicBook.com noted. She died at age 78 from complications brought about from breast cancer that had metastasized to her liver. During her career, Craig appeared as a guest star in many television series, including The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Mod Squad, Kojak and many more.

Former Charmed and Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Shannen Doherty has sued her former manager, claiming that they were negligent in paying her health insurance and, thus, worsened her breast cancer, TheWrap noted. In papers filed in Superior Court in California, Doherty sued the firm Tanner Mainstain Glynn & Johnston as well as manager Steven D. Blatt. Doherty claims the firm failed to pay the coverage for her insurance for 2014—a period, the actress claims, that would turn out to be crucial for her health.


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