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

Chef Anthony Bourdain is putting his support behind the Human Right Campaign's Americans for Marriage Equality project, Gay Star News noted. The Emmy-winning cook makes a case for same-sex marriage in a one-minute video. He says, "A common thread of the people I admire—whoever they are, wherever they are—are people who are proud and do things with love, and feel a sense of responsibility to others. What sensible person could be against that?"

Photos have reportedly surfaced of performer/talk-show host Queen Latifah kissing another woman on the mouth on the beach in Sardinia, according to NewNowNext.com . In another candid snapshot, the talk-show host has her arm around the woman's neck. The Oscar nominee has stayed away from discussion of her sexuality, but hasn't shied away from performing at a Pride event—where she called the audience "my people"—and officiating a mass wedding at the Grammys.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recently hosted "Kickball for a Home," a celebrity kickball event to raise awareness for adoption from foster care, according to a press release. Several celebrities participated and attended, including former Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels, Alex Newell ( Glee ), Dolvett Quince ( The Biggest Loser ), Aubrey Anderson-Emmons ( Modern Family ), Brendan Robinson ( Pretty Little Liars ) and Casper Smart.

Netflix won seven honors at the Creative Emmys Aug. 16, thanks in large part to the women's prison series Orange Is the New Black. Among other awards, it won for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. In addition, Uzo Aduba won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for portraying lesbian character Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren. In other LGBT-related news, Jane Lynch prevailed as Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for her NBC show Hollywood Game Night. Also, the 67th Annual Tony Awards ( which Neil Patrick Harris hosted in 2013 ) won for Outstanding Special Class Program.

Hundreds of photographs, papers and historical objects documenting the history of LGBT people were added to the Smithsonian Institution's collection Aug. 19, including items from the TV show Will & Grace, the Associated Press reported. The collection includes original scripts, casting ideas, political memorabilia surrounding the show and the series finale. The network agreed to donate props, including a pill bottle and flask, a sign from "Grace Adler Interior Design" and Will Truman's framed college diploma.

Many celebrities have taken part in the ALS ice-bucket challenge, which involves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads; if they refuse, they're advised to donate $100 to the ALS Association. Page Six reported that Lady Gaga took part; in a 15-second video, she is dressed in a leather leotard and doesn't speak a word. Oprah Winfrey also took part ( with Gayle King doing the honors ), and the media titan challenged Steven Spielberg, Dame Helen Mirren and actor Manish Dayal ( all connected with the film The Hundred-Foot Journey ) to brave the ice. Bill Gates, Taylor Swift, Matt Lauer, Martha Stewart and Jennifer Lopez are among the others who have had ice water dumped on them.

Singer Ariana Grande has a song with a unique premise on her new album, My Everything, according to Out.com . The song "Break Your Heart Right Back"—featuring former Community star Donald Glover's rapping alter ego, Childish Gambino—is about "a boy who cheats on a girl with another boy," she told Attitude. She took the concept one step further by using a sample of the Diana Ross disco classic, "I'm Coming Out." Grande, who has the current hit "Problem," has said the song is about one of her own ex-boyfriends.

Michelle Duggar—matriarch of the Duggar clan in TLC's reality series 19 Kids and Counting—has recorded a robocall urging Fayetteville, Arkansas, residents to oppose an LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance, LGBTQ Nation reported. Under the proposal, landlords and business owners could be investigated and prosecuted for unjustly evicting or firing someone because of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic background, marital status or veteran status.

Ryan Murphy took to Twitter to announce the newest, and smallest, cast member of American Horror Story's fourth season—the world's shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, according to Deadline.com . The Indian-born Amge is 20 and just over two feet tall; she is considered the world's shortest woman by both the Guiness and Limca books of world records. Season four, subtitled "Freak Show," will debut in October.

Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith has apologized for calling Robin Williams "a coward" only hours after the actor committed suicide, The New York Daily News reported. Smith originally said on Aug. 11, "Something inside you is so horrible or you're such a coward or whatever the reason that you decide that you have to end it. Robin Williams, at 63, did that today." The newscaster said Aug. 12, "I would never presume to know anything about his private life. ... I would just like to apologize to the end of the earth to anyone who might think that I meant to openly call him a 'coward.'"

The records continue for out singer Sam Smith, as he has become the first UK male artist to ever to have his debut single, "Stay With Me," reach number one at AAA ( adult album alternative ), AC ( adult contemporary ) and pop-radio formats, according to a press release. The gospel-tinged soul ballad has been certified three times platinum. "Stay With Me" has been the top song on Spotify for three consecutive weeks, while Smith was the top-rated artist on the platform. His fall tour will hit cities such as Boston ( Sept. 15 ), Chicago ( Sept. 22 ), Portland ( Sept. 26 ) and Atlanta ( Oct. 6 ).

David Lynch's 2011 concert film on Duran Duran will be hitting the big screen for the first time next month, appearing in more than 300 theaters for one night only on Sept. 10, Rolling Stone reported. The film, shot at Los Angeles' Mayan Theatre, features guest appearances by former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, the Gossip's Beth Ditto, Mark Ronson and Kelis. Filmed in conjunction with the band's 2011 album All You Need Is Now, the movie is part of American Express Unstaged, the series that pairs musicians with filmmakers, including Pharrell/Spike Lee, the Killers/Werner Herzog and Maroon 5/Gary Oldman.

Arizona State senior offensive lineman Edward "Chip" Sarafin has come out as gay, USA Today reported. He became the first active college football player to come out to the public, and followed in the footsteps of St. Louis Rams linebacker Michael Sam, who came out publicly after his collegiate career at Missouri ended. Sarafin—a 6'6", 320-pound walk-on—told the Phoenix-based gay sports magazine Compete of his sexual orientation in a nonchalant manner, adding he told his teammates last spring. "It was really personal for me, and it benefited my peace of mind greatly," he said in the magazine.

The NFL's Minnesota Vikings and outspoken LGBT ally Chris Kluwe have reached a settlement that would end the threat of a lawsuit over Kluwe's release from the team, Advocate.com reported. The suit would have alleged religious discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, defamation and tortious interference with contractual obligations, which Kluwe's legal team attests resulted in his release from the Vikings in May 2013. In an article for Deadspin early this year, Kluwe cited multiple instances of intolerant language by special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer. Priefer will serve a three-game suspension to start the 2014 NFL season, and has pledged $100,000 to LGBT-rights organizations.

Tickets for the new David Bowie documentary David Bowie Is are now available for online purchase at over 80 cinemas across the United States, according to a press release. The film is scheduled to screen on one day—Tuesday, Sept. 23—with additional cinemas being added to the list on a regular basis. Simultaneously, the V&A exhibition in London, which drew huge crowds and enormous praise, will be opening at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

Celine Dion has postponed her Las Vegas residency and her Asia tour to support her husband as he battles cancer, Page Six reported. "I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband's healing, and to do so, it's important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children," Dion told People. Last December, Dion's husband, René Angélil, 72, had a tumor removed from his throat; he was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999.

WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson are engaged, USA Today reported. Griner proposed to Johnson and both posted it on social media, with Griner showing a photo of her on one knee with a ring in her hand in front of Johnson on her Instagram account. The 6'8" Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury, while the 6'3" Johnson is a player for the Tulsa Shock. Johnson also had a photo on her Instagram account of Griner lying in bed with an engagement ring resting on her shoulder.

Neil Patrick Harris has spoken out on sleeping with women. The Huffington Post reported that Harris told Glamour magazine that he slept with a girl in the 1990s: "In high school all my friends were sleeping with girls, and it just seemed like that's what one did. So therefore that's what I did, but it left me feeling unsettled, as if I had somehow done it wrong. ... Today, it's cool to see a happy lesbian couple who are high school juniors. Better that than have those two girls marry people they're not attracted to, have three kids, and then come out when they're 50." Harris had previously told Howard Stern he had been with "12-15 women" before coming to terms with his sexuality.

Elayne Angel, the wife of trans porn pioneer Buck Angel, has separated from her spouse and claims the marriage isn't legit, Out.com reported. As originally reported in TMZ, she claims she shouldn't have to pay spousal support since, under Louisiana law ( the state where the two were married ), their marriage isn't legal because Buck never had gender-reassignment surgery, and that same-sex marriage is illegal in that state. The couple is featured in Dan Hunt's documentary Mr. Angel.

Amid a family feud, the body of the late radio personality Casey Kasem was most recently reported to be moved to Oslo, Norway, for burial, the BBC noted. His body was moved by his wife, Jean, to Ontario, Canada, after he died, aged 82, in June in Washington state. Kasem's son, Mike, said his father had no connection to Norway.

America's Next Top Model judge Kelly Cutrone recently sounded off on Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, saying that their Vogue cover doesn't mean they carry any "influence in the fashion world whatsoever," according to The Huffington Post. She also made the claim that no one who "really works in the fashion industry ... gives a flying f*ck about Kanye West." Cutrone added, "Anna Wintour can put him on the cover of Vogue all day long but is she front row at his fashion show? N to the O, which means no in fashion."

The late legendary actress Lauren Bacall was known by many to be tough as nails—as Anderson Cooper witnessed long ago. Former Congressman John LeBoutillier told Page Six about sitting next to Bacall at a 1982 dinner that Cooper's mom, Gloria Vanderbilt, threw at her Southampton house. LeBoutillier said, "Anderson [then 14] said, 'Something has to be done to help the Palestinians. We need a Palestinian state.' Bacall, a big supporter of Israel, went nuts. She eviscerates this kid in front of everyone, humiliates the hostess' son. Anderson was in tears." Through his rep, Cooper said there were no tears but didn't dispute the rest of LeBoutillier's story.

Debbie Reynolds will be honored by SAG-AFTRA with its Lifetime Achievement Award, The Wrap reported. The 82-year-old actress will receive the award during the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony airing live on TNT and TBS Jan. 25. Reynolds, who launched her career by starring in 1952 classic Singin' in the Rain, is the 51st recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest accolade.

During a recent interview, singer LeAnn Rimes talked about "all the love" she feels from the LGBT community, according to NewNowNext.com . However, Rimes added that she is fully aware that gay guys lust for her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian—and is totally fine with it, saying, "I've always said that Eddie and I are a gay man's wet dream. I sing, you can look at him, and it's perfect." Rimes has released Dance Like You Don't Give a…, her new remixed greatest-hits album ( which has hit number one on the iTunes dance album chart ), and the couple is featured in a reality show.

In his first major acting gig and in a synergistic move, Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough has joined the upcoming third season of ABC's country music drama Nashville for a multi-episode arc, according to Deadline. He will play Noah West, a movie star who will cross paths with the players of Nashville's music realm when he's tapped for a leading role in the biopic of a famous country singer. Hough's sister, Julianne, has acted in several projects, including the films Rock of Ages, Burlesque and Footloose.

Disney World is expected to close the "American Idol Experience" attraction at the end of this month, with Aug. 30 its last day, according to The Wrap. Just two months ago, Disney had indicated the attraction would close in January 2015. The American Idol Experience attraction opened to much fanfare in 2009, including appearances by "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest and several past winners of the once-mighty reality competition.

Film director Kevin Smith came out as gay—except it wasn't really him. According to NewNowNext.com, the filmmaker's Twitter account was hacked by someone who posted, "I have never told anyone this not even my family or close friends. Before this comes out I want to state that I am a gay proud man. #fear." The real Smith, who produced the documentary Small Town Gay Bar, later tweeted, "Not me. Been hacked. Proud to be bi-curious, not brave enough to commit."

Model/actress Cara Delevingne is in talks to play the female lead in Fox 2000's Beach Boys-themed musical All Summer Long, The Wrap noted. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who teamed on the hit movie musicals Hairspray and Chicago, are producing All Summer Long with John Stamos, although the film has not received an official greenlight yet. Delevingne recently made news when it was revealed that she and actress Michelle Rodriguez were dating. ( They have reportedly stopped seeing each other. )

Reality-TV star Kendra Wilkinson admitted on her show, Kendra on Top, that her marriage to Hank Baskett is "down the drain" after learning he cheated on her while she was eight months pregnant. ( Her husband of five years, 31, had sexual relations with trans* model Ava Sabrina London. ) She also confirmed she flushed her wedding ring down the toilet after learning of Baskett's infidelity.

On Your Feet!—a new musical based on the life story of seven-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan—will begin previews on Broadway Oct. 5, 2015, at the Marquis Theatre, according to Playbill. Directed by two-time Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, the production will officially open on Broadway Nov. 5 following a world-premiere engagement at Chicago's Oriental Theatre June 2-July 5, 2015.

Basketball Wives star Draya Michele may be facing a lawsuit after allegedly bailing on a paid club appearance because there were too many gay people at the venue, according to TheHollywoodGossip.com . The hostess at Penthouse Nightclub told TMZ that Draya apparently felt it was a waste her time to host a gig for such individuals and bolted immediately. However, Michele has denied making the anti-gay comment—or even showing up at the club that night.

Lesbian award-winning writer/filmmaker Caryn K. Hayes is joining a host of other indie directors trying online distribution, according to a press release. On Aug. 22, Hayes will be releasing her narrative short, Clean Hands, as a digital download and streaming rental, making the lesbian-themed film directly available at www.reelhouse.org/hardlyworkingtv/clean-hands as well as on her official website, www.HardlyWorkingEnt.com . The New Orleans native and current Los Angeles resident world-premiered the short earlier this year at the 2014 Pan African Film Festival.

Two days after flying a mysterious blimp over London, Aphex Twin revealed he's releasing his first new album in 13 years, entitled Syro, Billboard reported. Richard D. James made the announcement via Tor, a kind of underground Internet that protects users' anonymity. Aphex Twin—whow works were prominent on club floors in the 1990s—is known as a remixer/DJ whose music cover electronic and ambient genres.

Portia de Rossi surprised wife Ellen DeGeneres with a message written in the sky on their sixth wedding anniversary on Aug. 16, US Weekly reported. "Look what my wife did for our wedding anniversary. Six!" the talk show host captioned as she posted a photo of herself and de Rossi grinning from ear to ear with the word "six" written in the sky above them. Prior to their anniversary, the duo enjoyed a little R&R yachting off the coast of the Croatian island of Hvar last month.