Julianne Moore and Ellen Page will co-star in lesbian roles in the indie drama Freeheld, and Zach Galifianakis is poised to tackle a supporting role in indie drama, a press release stated. Based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning documentary short of the same name, the film chronicles the true story of the late Laurel Hester ( Moore ), a New Jersey police detective whose world was shattered when she became terminally ill and government officials prevented her from assigning her pension benefits to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree ( Page ). Galifianakis is on board to play Garden State Equality activist Steven Goldstein.
Out.com has listed the readers' choices for most eligible bachelors. The top 10 selections are ( in order ) singer Adam Lambert, actor/musician Chris Salvatore, actor Darryl Stephens ( Noah's Arc ), party promoter Eliad Cohen, politician Brian Sims, actor Chris Colfer ( Glee ), musician Steve Grand, writer Christopher Rice, actor/screenwriter Wentworth Miller and model Andrej Pejic.
Out.com has also compiled a list of the 20 most eligible gay male TV characters. Among those on the list are James Stinson from How I Met Your Mother ( brother of Barney, played by openly gay Neil Patrick Harris ); Downton Abbey's Thomas Barrow; Patrick and Dom from HBO's Looking; Omar from the show Single Ladies; Felix Dawkins on Orphan Black; Barton Scully ( played by Beau Bridges ) in Masters of Sex; Thor Lundgren on Nurse Jackie; and Nolan Ross on ABC's Revenge.
At the same conference where Ellen Page came out, singer Lance Bass said he's known he's gay since the age of 5, according to On Top Magazine. "You know growing up in the South, although I did feel very safe, I had a secret," Bass said. "Ever since I was 5 years old one of my memories, I knew I was gay. And I also knew that I would have to hide it the rest of my life. And that it was wrong. I didn't know why it was wrong; I just knew it was wrong." Bass received a round of applause when he said, "God … made me gay."
Perhaps boosted by pre-Oscar chatter in advance of her hosting gig, Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show recently drew its largest audience ever, according to Variety. In a Jan. 27-31 frame that saw the most popular daytime talk shows post impressive year-over-year gains, Nielsen estimates that The Ellen DeGeneres Show averaged a 3.3 household rating and 4.6 million viewers overall—both series bests for the show, which is now in its 11th season. ( Dr. Phil is tops among talk shows. ) DeGeneres is set to host the Academy Awards on March 2.
On The View, Good Morning America anchor Josh Elliott wondered if he might be gay when his father came out to him when Elliott was 13, Advocate.com noted. "My first feeling when my father told me was loyalty, thinking, I guess I have to be gay too. Maybe I'm gay," Elliott, who is straight, told the audience. "It's a lot to work through as an eighth-grade boy." A recipient of a 2012 GLAAD Media Award for his ABC World News segment "Battle Against Bullying," Elliott ( whose father died two years after coming out to him ) brought the audience at the ceremony to tears with his father's story, saying of his dad, "I got to see him as a man fulfilled and a man in full."
Madonna is launching a skin-care brand, according to Digital Spy. The singer's products will be available in Tokyo until Feb. 23; then, they will be available to the rest of the world. The products, called MDNA Skin, will consist of a clay mask, a skin rejuvenator and a facial serum.
The Justin Bieber waxwork figure at Madame Tussauds New York has been groped, fondled and grabbed by so many excited fans that exhibit organizers have had to withdraw his dummy from display, according to Page Six. One source said of the Bieber figure, which was installed in his younger, more innocent days, "With no ropes or barriers to stop them, thousands of fans have had their photographs taken with him since then—but it has taken its toll."
Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva is heading for the TV grave—again. According to TheWrap.com, the network has decided not to go forward with the drama after its upcoming sixth season. This marks the second time that the series starring Brooke Elliott has been placed on the chopping block. "Diva" had been canceled after its fourth season, but received a reprieve after Lifetime and the show's studio, Sony Pictures Television, arrived at a deal to make the show affordable.
There will be no second season for Bethenny, Bethenny Frankel's low-rated syndicated daytime talk show that Ellen DeGeneres executive-produced, according to Deadline.com . Despite efforts to renew the show, Bethenny lost its affiliate clearances ( which represented about 70 percent of the country ), mostly to the new Meredith Vieira talk show coming this fall. Bethenny launched in nationwide syndication last fall after a summer test in 2012.
Film director Adam Csaszi said he changed his movie based on a true story about a gay soccer player and his lover in rural Hungary because the reality was too brutal, according to Reuters. Speaking at the Berlin Film Festival, Csaszi said what actually happened in the incident on which his film Viharsarok ( "Land of Storms" ) is based is that two gay men were killed by a third man who chopped up their bodies. "If I told the real story ... then the motive of the murder would be jealousy and not this homophobia in society," Csaszi told an audience.
Betty Moffitt—the mother of lesbian tennis great Billie Jean King and former major league pitcher Randy Moffitt—died in Prescott, Ariz., at age 91, according to ESPN.com . King announced she would not attend the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics with the U.S. delegation because of her mother's failing health. Betty's husband, Bill Moffitt, died in 2006—the year the U.S. Tennis Center in New York, site of the U.S. Open, was renamed for King.
Women-in-prison drama Orange is the New Black will return for its second season on Netflix on June 6, according to Deadline.com . Netflix also slipped in the surprise announcement at the end of its House of Cards season-two debut. All 13 episodes of "Orange" will be available for streaming at launch.
The father of former Missouri All-American defensive lineman Michael Sam claimed The New York Times "terribly misquoted" him in a story about his reaction to his son publicly coming out as gay, according to a Huffington Post item. The 24-year-old NFL draft prospect revealed that he was gay in interviews with The New York Times and ESPN on Feb. 9. In a separate article, The New York Times quoted Michael Sam Sr. as saying he "couldn't eat no more" after his son told him via text message that he was gay.
Speaking of the out gay football player, Michael Sam received a standing ovation when he appeared on the arena video boards during Missouri's basketball game against Tennessee Feb. 15, according to ESPN.com . The All-America defensive end, who could become the first openly gay player in the NFL, later blew a kiss to the student section and shook hands with fans. Sam and the football team were honored at halftime for their AT&T Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State.
ESPN.com's NFL Nation and ESPN The Magazine conducted an anonymous survey of 51 NFL players in the wake of Michael Sam's coming-out—and 41 of the players said a teammate's sexual orientation didn't matter to them. Moreover, 39 said they would be comfortable showering around a gay teammate. However, 32 players said they had teammates or coaches who used anti-gay slurs last season, and when asked if an openly gay player would be comfortable in a NFL locker room, just 25 players said yes.
One week before the sixth-season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race on Feb. 24, Logo TV announced that the franchise has been greenlit for a seventh season, according to a press release. Logo TV pre-released the first episode ( without the elimination ) exclusively on the new Logo TV app. A week later, LogoTV.com debuted RuPaul's new single "Geronimo," from the forthcoming album Born Naked. Those interested in competing in the seventh season of "Drag Race" should visit RDRCasting.com .
Globally known DJ Avicii has unveiled his video for the song "Addicted to You"—and it features a lesbian duo in the vein of Bonnie and Clyde, according to US Weekly. The song, which features vocals by Audra Mae, is a dance anthem about passionate, obsessive love. The three-and-a-half-minute clip features Swedish actresses Hedda Steirnstedt and Madeleine Martin as the couple, but the video also shows a little male nudity.
Openly gay director Lee Daniels ( The Paperboy; Lee Daniels' The Butler; Precious ) is teaming with writer Danny Strong to film the hip-hop TV drama Empire in Chicago, according to Reel Chicago. Empire will headquarter at Cinespace and shoot for 12-13 days in mid-to-late March. Empire marks Daniels' debut into television production, while Strong is a TV veteran, having acted in many popular series for 20 years.
In her tell-all memoir Handbook for an Unpredictable Life, Brooklyn native Rosie Perez opens up about her on-going feud with Bronx native Jennifer Lopez, according to US Weekly. The actresses met in 1991 during the open casting call for Fly Girl dancers for the show In Living Color, and Perez claims she convinced host and creator Keenan Ivory Wayans to pick Lopez. However, Lopez has credited Wayans for discovering her, with Perez saying Lopez allegedly did not get along with the other dancers and that Lopez disparaged Perez after leaving the show to go to Hollywood.
Lesbian musical sisters Tegan and Sara, aided by comedy troupe The Lonely Island, scored their first Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs listing, as "Everything Is AWESOME!!!" opened at number 11 thanks to 32,000 first-week downloads sold, Billboard noted. The track is from the soundtrack to the box office-topping animated film The Lego Movie.
Fans of the movie Frozen's Academy Award-nominated song "Let It Go" will get to enjoy it on the Oscar stage, according to Billboard. Star Idina Menzel will perform the song during the live telecast of the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, Oscars show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said. The Tony winner voiced the animated character in Disney's hit musical pictire, which also starred the voices of Kristen Bell and Josh Gad.
Rosie O'Donnell has revealed that Cosmopolitan magazine stopped her from coming out in 1992, according to a Huffington Post item. The talk show host told Marlo Thomas, "At that time, nobody printed it. I remember [Editor-in-Chief] Helen Gurley Brown took it out of an interview that [a reporter] had done with me in, like, 1992." O'Donnell came out publicly in 2002 during a show at Caroline's Comedy Club in New York.
After nearly being shut out all night, 12 Years a Slave was named the best film of 2013 at BAFTA's EE British Academy Film Awards, according to TheWrap.com . Gravity won six BAFTAs, including Outstanding British Film and Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron. Chiwetel Ejiofor of "Slave" won Best Actor, while Cate Blanchett ( Blue Jasmine ) won Best Actress, Jennifer Lawrence ( American Hustle ) won Best Supporting Actress and Barkhad Abdi ( Captain Phillips ) was named Best Supporting Actor. Oscar frontrunner Matthew McConaughey ( Dallas Buyers Club ) was not nominated in the Best Actor category.
In a talk with Out.com, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, 89, talked about everything from her feelings about Rock Hudson to her own female crush. Of Hudson, she said, "I adored Rock. He was one of my best friends ever. I had no idea what I was dealing with, and it wouldn't have made any difference to me." Stritch also revealed that she had a crush on Greek actress/politician Melina Mercouri, although "I wouldn't go through with it." Last year, Stritch moved out of New York City's Carlyle Hotel and transplanted herself to Birmingham, Mich., to semi-retire and be around family.
Rihanna backed a campaign for gay rights in Russia and at the Sochi Games, according to LGBTQ Nation. A photo posted on Instagram and linked to Rihanna's verified Twitter account showed the "We Found Love" singer wearing a hat with the logo "P6." P6 is the Principle 6 campaign that aims to challenge Russia's crackdown on gay rights, including its law banning so-called gay "propaganda."
Pickens, S.C., resident Kayla Finley was recently jailed for failing to return a copy of the Jennifer Lopez-Jane Fonda movie Monster-In-Law nine years after she rented it, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Officers took her into custody after Finley came to the station to report a crime, and officials realized there was a warrant out for her arrest. Finley rented the cassette from the now-defunct Dalton Video; she was sent several letters from the store warning her to return the videos, as well as a certified warrant on Sept. 12, 2005.
Gay-porn company Falcon Studios has announced that the upcoming movie California Dreamin' 1 will be the first-ever film to featured condoms that are digitally removed, according to Betabeat.com . The company said it's going to shoot the video with the models using protection, but will use Photoshop to give the impression it was shot without condoms. Apparently, bareback videos sell better; however, the company is also complying with state safer-sex laws.
During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bradley Cooper admitted to facing a bit of a wardrobe challenge prior to attending the White House State Dinner that resulted in him going commando, according to E! Online. Cooper said he had gained 15 pounds prepping for a new movie and his old tuxedo didn't fit, so he "had to go commando ... because there was no room at all."
The Guardian mistakenly outed actor Patrick Stewart in an op-ed celebrating Ellen Page coming out, according to TheWrap.com . Columnist Jane Czyzselska wrote, "Some gay people, such as Sir Patrick Stewart, think Page's coming-out speech is newsworthy because a high-profile and surprisingly politically aware young actress has decided not to play by the rules that so many closeted Hollywood actors are advised to follow if they are to enjoy mainstream success." Stewart—who is very good friends with actual out actor Sir Ian McKellen—has been married to jazz singer Sunny Ozell since September 2013.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick appeared on ESPN's Sunday Conversation alongside a bowtied Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to discuss the hot topic of openly gay athletes entering the locker room, according to Queerty. When asked if NFL draft prospect Michael Sam would be accepted in their respective locker rooms, both agreed with a resounding "absolutely." Kaepernick added, "No one cares if you're Black, white, straight gay, Christian, Jewish—whatever it may be. When you step on that field you're a member of, in my case the 49ers, or the Carolina Panthers, that's your job."
Fast and Furious actress Michelle Rodriguez, 35, has confirmed that she is dating 21-year-old British supermodel Cara Delevingne, according to Huffington Post UK. Rodriguez told the Mirror, "It's going really well. She's so cool. When we started hanging out I just thought she was awesome, and we have the best time together." The pair made news recently when they spotted all over each other at a pro basketball game in New York City.
Singer Kelis is taking her "Milkshake" to the Cooking Channel with her own food show, according to Digital Spy. Saucy and Sweet will premiere Feb. 26, and will feature her own recipes. Back in 2010, Kelis revealed that she nearly quit music to become a chef, after training at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school. Last year, she also announced that she will be releasing her own range of sauces called Feast. The R&B singer will release her latest album, Food, on April 21, containing songs titled "Breakfast" and "Jerk Ribs."
American Psycho writer Bret Easton Ellis has revealed he's written a film for rapper Kanye West based on the musician's album Yeezus, according to The Huffington Post. Ellis confirmed the collaboration in an interview with Vice; however, he said he couldn't reveal any details, adding, "It's in Kanye-land and that's subject to a whole other timeframe. He came and asked me to write the film. I didn't want to at first. ... [But I wrote it] seven or eight months ago. We'll see what happens."
CeeLo Green has left The Voice, according to TheWrap.com . The "Forget You" singer announced his decision to leave the NBC singing competition in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, saying he does not plan to return to the show "at all." However, Green—who will continue touring with Lionel Richie—did say that he will "continue [his] relationship" with NBC.
