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

Writer Annie Proulx regrets writing Brokeback Mountain, saying that since the film's release it has been a source of "irritation" for her, On Top Magazine noted. The story was adapted into a film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in 2005. Proulx said that people write to her with suggestions to "fix" Brokeback's unhappy ending. Proulx's story, released in 1997, follows Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar, who meet while herding sheep in 1960s Wyoming; their 20-year relationship ends with the murder of Twist, the victim of an anti-gay attack.

Singer Ricky Martin became a victim of an Internet death hoax, the Huffington Post reported. Martin took to Instagram to send images of #heaven after a YouTube video claimed to show images from an auto wreck in which the 43-year-old Grammy-winning singer was supposedly killed. Some fans fell for the hoax, and took to social media to express their anguish and share the video.

Speaking of Martin, a young man in Argentina has undergone several plastic surgeries to look like his idol Ricky Martin, Fox News noted. Fran Mariano, who is known for participating in the show Cuestion de Peso, had more than half a dozen surgeries on his face to look like his idol. Although he seems to be at his physical best, Mariano said he suffers because he has not found love: "In fact I have spent all day crying, I think that I seek perfection in me, but I cannot find someone to love me."

Out weatherman Sam Champion was on The Wrap's list of television's winners and losers for 2014—but, unfortunately for him, he was listed in the latter category. The Wrap put Champion on its list for leaving the top-rated program Good Morning America to join The Weather Channel as the host of its new morning show, which had a fraction of the viewers. Among the others on the list were "losers" such as Fox, Bill Cosby, embattled former 7th Heaven star Stephen Collins and Queen Latifah; and "winners" such as the show Gotham, Amazon ( thanks to Transparent ), NBC and dramas.

Oprah Winfrey talked with People.com about the recent protests that have taken place in New York City and Ferguson, Missouri. "I think it's wonderful to march and to protest and it's wonderful to see all across the country, people doing it," she said. However, Winfrey ( who's in the new civil-rights movie Selma ) added, "What I'm looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say, 'This is what we want. This is what has to change, and these are the steps that we need to take to make these changes, and this is what we're willing to do to get it.'"

Idina Menzel has defended her highly criticized New Year's Eve performance of the hit song "Let It Go" on Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, Fox News noted. The Tony-winning actress seemingly missed several notes, and the Twitterverse exploded with negative comments about her singing skills. In part, she stated, "Performing isn't only about the acrobatics and the high notes: It's staying in the moment, connecting with the audience in an authentic way, and making yourself real to them through the music."

Olivia Newton-John and Didi Conn—who played Sandy and Frenchy in the 1978 cult musical hit film Grease—reunited on stage recently at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at one of the former star's residency shows, according to E! Online. The pair sang the movie track "Summer Nights." Conn even wore a pink jacket, similar to the one Frenchy sports in the movie as a member of the Pink Ladies clique. Newton-John wore a black leather jacket, channeling her "good girl gone bad" Grease character.

There will be at least one new gay student at McKinley High when Glee returns for its sixth and final season Jan. 9: Marshall Williams, who competed on Canadian Idol in 2007 and 2008, will play Spencer, the school's new "football stud" with the voice of an angel, according to NewNowNext.com . Spencer is actually "post-Glee gay —no one messes with him about his sexuality because he will kick their asses if they do," a casting notice stated. Returning to the show is Max Adler, a.k.a. newly out jock Dave Karofsky—and rumor has it he's actually going to be a love interest for Blaine ( Darren Criss ). Santana ( the lesbian character portrayed by Naya Rivera ) will be back as well.

GLAAD has joined the many critics of TLC's My Husband's Not Gay, according to The Wrap. "This show is downright irresponsible. No one can change who they love, and, more importantly, no one should have to," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. The TLC special follows four married men living in Salt Lake City, Utah, who don't identify themselves as gay, despite being attracted to men. All cast members are devout Mormons belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Golden Globe nominee Emma Stone, who made her Broadway debut in the return of Cabaret last November, will extend her run as Sally Bowles for an additional two weeks, Playbill noted. Originally slated to depart the production Feb. 1, Stone ( who has been in such films as The Help, Easy A and The Amazing Spider-Man ) will now continue through Feb. 15. Her replacement has not been announced.

One of the real-life subjects of Sony Pictures Classics' acclaimed wrestling drama Foxcatcher is unhappy with director Bennett Miller's portrayal of his character, The Hollywood Reporter noted. Gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz ( portrayed by Channing Tatum in the fim ) took to social media, calling Miller a "punk," "pussy" and "liar," and threatening his career. Schultz was particularly angered by critics' references to an undercurrent of homosexuality in the film's portrayal of his relationship with his coach, millionaire John du Pont, played by Steve Carell.

In a tech-themed interview with Engadget, RuPaul talked about being a "gaymer," the importance of Apple CEO Tim Cook's coming out and why Netflix is the key to his current media empire. Regarding Cook, the RuPaul's Drag Race host said "my reaction was ... 'Right on. Do your thing.'" Also, in creating the mobile game Dragopolis 2.0, RuPaul said, "I love games; I have game nights at my house. And anything to do with modern technology, I want to be a part of it."

Tony Award-winning comedian Martin Short succeeds Nathan Lane as a world weary-television actor navigating the egos, emotions and reviews of a Broadway opening night in Terrence McNally's hit comedy It's Only a Play, according to Playbill. On Jan. 5, the day after he brings down the matinee curtain on It's Only a Play, Lane was slated to travel to Chicago to start rehearsing Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, which will be at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Feb. 5-March 15 and, conceivably, Broadway after that.

U.K. actor, comedian and TV personality Stephen Fry ( of the film Wilde ), 57, is getting hitched to his 27-year-old partner, comedian and writer Elliot Spencer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The two are reported to have made a formal application to marry at a register office in Fry's home county of Norfolk, and now have a year to tie to knot. "Oh. It looks as though a certain cat is out of a certain bag," Fry tweeted to his 8.35 million followers. "I'm very very happy of course but had hoped for a private wedding. Fat chance!"

Las Vegas may be making room for one more diva, as Mariah Carey is reportedly about to sign a deal for a residency at Caesars Palace, according to Page Six. The deal could be worth more than Britney Spears' two-year, $30-million contract, and Carey could hit the Strip before the 2015 holidays. Carey recently wrapped up a minitour around Asia, "The Elusive Chanteuse Show," where her performances received mixed reviews.

Openly gay director Lee Daniels ( Lee Daniels' The Butler; TV's Empire ) has recently shed some weight—reportedly from a carrot-only diet, according to Page Six. Daniels had said in October he had gained too much weight and wants to open a "vegan soul food" restaurant.

Madonna shared a Photoshopped image of herself locking lips with another diva: Miley Cyrus ( taking Madonna's image of her kissing Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards ), The Daily Mail noted. The Vogue singer reposted the snap from the 22-year-old's Instagram page onto her own account as the pair have been recently admiring each other. To show how much she loves her role model, Miley has been placing her face on throwback photos of Madonna in a series of social-media posts.

In more news involving Madonna, she's caused more controversy by released altered pictures of iconic figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. to match the artwork for her upcoming album, Rebel Heart," according to CNN. She was accused of racism, although she had also issued altered faces of Marilyn Monroe, Frida Kahlo, Homer Simpson and others. In a rambling post, the singer defended herself, saying, "This is niether [sic] a crime or an insult or racist! ... I'm saying they are Rebel Hearts, too." She later apologized.

Sony did eventually release the Kim Jong Un-focused comedy movie The Interview, despite threats from North Korea. Nevertheless, the studio made a number of edits to appease critics—and perhaps minimize outrage from Kim—including scenes of the aftermath of a bisexual orgy with Kim Jong Un, James Franco's Dave Skylark character, and four women, according to Inquisitr.com . The movie's main characters go on about Kim Jong Un's sexual abilities, saying, "Moreover, he is champion at fellatio. He can suck a 12 inch c**k while ice-skating backwards."

Michelle Duggar, of the very large anti-gay Duggar family ( and the TV show 19 Kids and Counting ), has reportedly been hiding a family secret—she has a lesbian sister, according to Radar Online. The 63-year-old sister, Evelyn Ruark, has been in a long-term relationship with Ohio native Sharon Callahan, 52, and the two live together in Cincinnati. In November, the Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar deleted photos of same-sex couples kissing from their official Facebook page and, later that month, their oldest son, Josh, led an Arkansas rally protesting same-sex marriage.

In an interview with HIVPlusMag.com, supermodel Tyson Beckford talked about his efforts to support those who are HIV-affected and to help find a cure. In part, Beckford said, "Long before I was known to the world as anybody, I always was a strong believer in the gay community and a big supporter of finding a cure for HIV and breast cancer." He also said that it's possible for amfAR to reach its goal of finding a cure for HIV by 2020. Beckford will star in the upcoming movie Chocolate City, about a group of male African-American exotic dancers.

Clive Davis couldn't have dinner without interruptions at Prime 112 in Miami recently, according to Page Six. First, he was asked to greet Michael Caine, who dined with newlywed Martina Navratilova. Later, Davis, 82, emerged to be introduced to Miami Heat stars -Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and their wives. Finally, David Letterman's bandleader Paul Shaffer ran over from a few doors down to meet the music mogul.

Lindsay Lohan's French Polynesian holiday came to a halt Dec. 27 when she revealed to fans she's suffering from chikungunya—a rare, untreatable virus, US Weekly reported. According to the World Health Organization, chikungunya is transmitted through mosquito bites and causes fever, joint paint, fatigue and a rash, and is sometimes mistaken for dengue.

Luise Rainer, a star of cinema's golden era who won back-to-back Oscars but then walked away from a Hollywood career, has died at the age of 104, the Associated Press noted. Rainer—whose roles ranged from the 1930s German stage to television's The Love Boat, died at her home in London from pneumonia. She took the Best Actress prize for The Great Ziegfeld in 1936 in and The Good Earth in 1937; only four other actors ( Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Jason Robards and Tom Hanks ) have won Oscars in consecutive years.

Actress Donna Douglas has passed away at age 81, according to WSMV.com . Douglas was best known for her role as Elly May Clampett, the only daughter of Jed Clampett, in the CBS television series The Beverly Hillbillies. In 2011, Douglas sued toy manufacturer Mattel Inc., claiming the company used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without authorization; the suit was settled.

CNBC is trying to find a new audience on gay hookup app Grindr after ratings for the business channel fell to a historic low, Page Six revealed. While the NBCUniversal-owned network's audience has traditionally been Wall Street bankers and avid watchers of the financial markets, after a huge drop in ratings in 2014, television industry insiders are joking that CNBC is now being more creative about attracting hot new viewers. The Grindr move comes after 2014 turned out to be CNBC's worst year since 1994, when ad revenue fell 4.6 percent in the third quarter.

Joan Collins—who played the scheming Alexis Carrington in the hit 1980s TV show Dynasty—was made the female equivalent of a knight in Queen Elizabeth II's annual New Year's honors list, Page Six noted. London-born Collins, 81, said it was "humbling to receive this level of recognition from my queen and country, and I am thrilled and truly grateful." Some of the others on the list include actress Kristin Scott Thomas ( dame ), actor John Hurt ( knight ), fashion designer Mary Quant ( dame ) and actress Emily Watson ( Order of the British Empire ). Also, Britain's first female poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy—who's openly lesbian—has been made a dame in the Queen's New Year's Honors list, Gay Star News noted.

Singer-songwriter Kid Rock says he's not opposed to same-sex couples marrying but he's not looking forward to marrying them, On Top Magazine reported. In part, he told The Guardian, "I am no fan of abortion, but it's not up to a man to tell a woman what to do. As an ordained minister I don't look forward to marrying gay people, but I'm not opposed to it." Rock also described the rap-rock period that helped launch his career as "pretty gay."

Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour helped inaugurate the new Oscar de la Renta Tennis Center at Puntacana Resort & Club during an annual two-day Oscar de la Renta Tennis Tournament for charity in the Dominican Republic, Page Six revealed. De la Renta, who passed away in October at 82, was a partner and resident of the Dominican enclave.

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice is enduring a different type of reality, having started her 15-month prison sentence for fraud, People.com noted. She is serving her time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, a minimum security prison for women that inspired the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, based on the Piper Kerman memoir. She could also be sent to the Alderson Prison Camp in West Virginia, where Martha Stewart served five months in 2004 and 2005.

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has secretly married girlfriend Tasha McCauley, according to People.com . The couple's under-the-radar nuptials took place Dec. 20 in their own home. McCauley is the CEO of Fellow Robots in Silicon Valley, California. Gordon-Levitt has been in such movies as Don Jon, The Dark Knight Rises, Brick and Mysterious Skin ( in which he played a hustler ).

Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams, in an interview, talked about everything from media-driven racism to what in means to be Black in Hollywood, Essence.com noted. Among other things, the biracial actor compared the burgeoning civil-rights movement to the gay-rights movement from the '80s and '90s. Williams said that it wasn't until people were exposed to gay men and women that they took a step back and realized that their comments, views and perspectives were inappropriate.

Neil Patrick Harris brought an interesting item to a party: an IV drip, according to Page Six. The actor/awards-show host actually arranged for IV drips—a quickie hangover "cure"—to be administered to pals at a party Jan. 1. "Everyone wore PJs, and I brought @TheIVDoctor, who rehydrated us all," tweeted Harris. For $150 and up, the I.V. Doctor service provides house calls, where medical professionals hook up drips filled with vitamins, minerals and meds, which may fend off hangovers.

There's another more superhero movie coming to theaters, as Twentieth Century Fox has set Channing Tatum's X-Men spinoff Gambit for Oct. 7, 2016, according to Variety. The Gambit character, who debuted in 1990, is an expert card-thrower and has the power to manipulate kinetic energy. Gambit will face off against Warner Bros.' Live by Night and Universal's Monster High.

Bee Shaffer, the daughter of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, has proved she is not shy about showing off her cleavage, according to The Daily Mail. In a new Instagram shot that the 27-year-old posted, she reaches down to grab her best friend Tracy Dubb's breast while Tracy reciprocates by copping a feel herself. The bikini-clad pair pose with a third woman, Molly Howard, on a yacht in St. Barths, where they appear to be having some fun in the sun while on a holiday vacation.

Celebrity hairstylist David Babaii credits his good friend, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, with helping him lose 135 pounds, Page Six noted. Standing 5' 5", the 40-year-old had grown to 285 pounds when he decided he wanted help three years ago. He eventually sought Paltrow's advice; also under the direction of Equinox trainer Will Castillo, Babaii dropped the weight in four months.

The American Cinema Editors have revealed nominations for the 65th annual ACE Eddie Awards, which recognize the year's outstanding editing in 10 film, TV and documentary categories, Deadline noted. A tie has resulted in six nominees in the marquee Best Edited Feature Film race, with nods going to American Sniper, Boyhood, Gone Girl, The Imitation Game, Nightcrawler and Whiplash. Ballots are due back Jan. 21 and the awards will be presented Jan. 30 at the Beverly Hilton.

Select IMAX theaters will screen two episodes from season four of the hit HBO drama Game of Thrones followed by the premiere of an exclusive season five trailer beginning Jan. 23, according to The Wrap. The weeklong event marks the first time a television network has featured its programming in IMAX theaters. The two episodes shown will be digitally re-mastered for the immersive IMAX format.

Rapper Iggy Azalea tweeted that she has been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ, according to E! Online. She added, "I'm gonna make more of an effort to take care of myself in 2015, stay away from all the drama & hopefully not have any flair ups. I don't think western medicine all the way acknowledges what a huge toll mental stress takes on our bodies." Azalea has recorded a song with Britney Spears, though its title and release date have not been revealed.

Calvin Klein launched its anticipated global e-commerce expansion plans, a venture the company says will lead to operations of online retail to more than 20 nations by the end of 2016, according to Pymnts.com . The fashion brand will launch customized calvinklein.com websites for individual markets while maintaining a consistent branding strategy. But first, Calvin Klein says, the company will relaunch its flagship U.S. site before remodeling its counterparts in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.