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

On Inside the Actors Studio, Jake Gyllenhaal talked about rumors concerning his sexuality, the Huffington Post reported. As for the whispers that surfaced after his role in the film Brokeback Mountain, Gyllenhaal said that being thought of as gay is "a huge compliment," but what he prefers is "tits and a**." He also said that losing "Brokeback" co-star Heath Ledger "...felt like losing a family member, and it still does to this day."

Out swimmer Diana Nyad defended her recent record-breaking swim from Cuba to Florida, Reuters reported. "I swam ... in squeaky-clean, ethical fashion," Nyad said in a conference call that included journalists and fellow marathon swimmers, some of whom have publicly questioned her feat. Nyad and her supporters have said that she got a significant boost from a favorable Gulf stream current, and independent ocean-current experts agree with her.

Speaking of Nyad, she will join the lesbian company Olivia Travel on its all-inclusive trip to the Club Med Resort in Ixtapa, Mexico, Nov. 2-9, according to a press release. Among other things, Nyad will talk about her record-breaking Cuba-to-Florida swim and share the challenges and determination she experienced before, during and following her victory.

Chicago musician Clive Tanaka has sued rapper Nicki Minaj, saying she used his 2011 song "Neu Chicago" to create the hooks of her hit song "Starships," the Chicago Tribune reported. In addition to Minaj, the lawsuit names RedOne (real name: Nadir Khayat)—a Moroccan producer and songwriter behind hits for stars like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull—in addition to writers Carl Falk, Wayne Hector and Rami Yacoub. Tanaka himself is shrouded in mystery, as he's never performed in public and fans don't even know his real name.

Teen actress Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass 2; the upcoming film Carrie) told Seventeen magazine that two of her brothers endured abuse from peers because they're gay—and that she won't tolerate any more bullying, according to the New York Daily News. The Atlanta-born Moretz said, "I will delete you and I will block you, and you will not be a part of my life if you ever say anything bad about my brothers. ... My mom has always taught us that blood is thicker than water. No one will ever understand the dynamic of your family. Ever. We are the closest family ever and we are the most insane family ever."

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Paul Gardephe has refused to toss a suit that Lady Gaga's former personal assistant, Jennifer O'Neill, has filed against the singer, according to the New York Daily News. In 2011, O'Neill sued Gaga for $380,000 of what she described as unpaid overtime, claiming that she was required to cater to the singer, or at least be on call, at "every hour of every day." Gardephe said a jury will decide how much or how little being constantly on call restricted what O'Neill could do in her private time.

People at the Lemont, Ill., Catholic church where singer Steve Grand used to sing have praised him for being openly gay, according to the Huffington Post. Since Grand's "All-American Boy" video went viral, church members have commended Grand for his courage to openly sing about his sexuality, and his priest, Father Kurt Boras, who heads St. Patrick Parish, has held him up as a model Catholic. Boras watched the video with some of the church staff, and any concerns were reportedly about the alcohol consumption in the video, not Grand's sexuality.

The Internet is buzzing with reports that basketball legend Michael Jordan's daughter, Jasmine, has come out as lesbian, according to On Top Magazine. Jasmine, a 20-year-old junior at Syracuse University, had reportedly confirmed she's a lesbian in a message to a user but failed to publish the exchange. After posting a picture of herself and Carmen Tyson-Thomas, a former guard for Syracuse University, she wrote, "This little closet is holding me back." But she later added: "Lmao I love how media took my 'little closet' video and flipped it. Haha. No, I seriously have a little closet."

Tony winner Lillias White, Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford and Hugh Panaro will perform at the fifth annual Broadway Salutes celebration Sept. 24, Playbill.com noted. Emmy winner and Tony nominee Holland Taylor will host the event, which the Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds are presenting. Directed by Marc Bruni (Old Jews Telling Jokes), the public celebration honoring members of the industry will recognize theater professionals who have worked 25, 35 and 50 years in their respective crafts.

Out actor John Barrowman gets cheeky in a photo for the NOH8 campaign, On Top Magazine reported. Barrowman—known for playing Captain Jack Harkness on the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who and Torchwood—married his husband Scott Gill after Proposition 8 was struck down. Barrowman's photo includes NOH8 tattoos on two cheeks, one of which rests below his waist. Celebrities who have joined the campaign include Liza Minnelli, actor Taye Diggs, singer LeAnn Rimes, and Hot in Cleveland's Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves.

Scott Thorson—an ex-lover of Liberace who was the subject of Behind the Candelabra, a recent HBO film on the pianist's life—was back in jail in Reno, Nev., after failing a drug test, according to SouthFloridaGayNews.com . Nevada Parole and Probation officials say Thorson was arrested on a parole-violation charge after he failed the court-ordered test. Thorson, 54, was sentenced to probation in July after earlier pleading guilty to unlawful possession and use of a credit card stolen from a man at a motel next to a Reno strip club.

Well Go USA has acquired all U.S. rights to the police drama McCanick, which features one of Glee star Cory Monteith's final onscreen roles, according to TheWrap.com . The film follows a narcotics detective who pursues a teenage criminal (Monteith) who has been released from prison. McCanick had its world premiere Sept. 9 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Monteith died from a drug and alcohol overdose last July.

Nicholas "Nikko" Pietro, the 19-year-old son of Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White, is reportedly exploring a gay relationship with 34-year-old Hare Krishna monk Jaycee Akinsanya while both attend the University of Arizona, according to the Daily Mail. Pietro has allegedly described the relationship as "close" but "not sexual in the full sense." He said he remains "undecided" about his sexual orientation.

Isaiah Washington—who was embroiled in controversy years ago when he used an anti-gay slur on the set of the TV show Grey's Anatomy—is playing the sympathetic dad of a gay tern in the new Patrik-Ian Polk film Blackbird, according to Gay Star News. In the film, the teen is a talented singer who is struggling with his sexuality while living in a small Southern Baptist town. Washington has played gay roles in the past and, in 2009, posed for the NOH8 campaign in a silent protest against California's Proposition 8.

New York City's Hot 97 DJ Mister Cee has resigned over persistent gay rumors, according to Out.com . Two years ago, he was arrested for receiving oral sex from another man in public and, earlier this year, he was again arrested for picking up a male prostitute. In leaving the station, Mister Cee—who has not come out as gay—said, "When you're dealing with corporate America and you're dealing with a station you love as much as this station, I don't want to put this station through more than what they've been through."

Actor, writer and producer Dan Bucatinsky is behind the new series Show & Tell, which ABC bought, Out.com noted. The show is inspired by Bucatinsky's book Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?, a personal work documenting Bucatinsky's experiences as a gay father. Show & Tell has been described as a "fast-paced dramedy about the lives, loves and scandalous secrets of a group of parents whose kids attend the same school." Bucatinsky will executive-produce the show with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers; the trio has worked before, on the ABC show Scandal.

Anderson Cooper lived it up Sept. 11 at the opening of his boyfriend's new gay bar, according to the Daily Mail. Cooper was pictured alongside out Bravo exec Andy Cohen at Atlas Social Club in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. (Cooper's beau, Benjamin Maisani, is one of the bar's co-owners.) Among those attending the opening were Whoopi Goldberg, Alan Cumming, rapper/actress Eve, Ellen Barkin and Kelly Ripa.

Out Chicago singer-activist Scott Free has released his latest single, "Happy Pride Day Moscow," according to a press release. Free has called it "a musical response to Russia declaring that their anti-gay laws are applied equally to all people, and therefore not discriminatory." The single is available as a free download at www.thescottfree.bandcamp.com/track/happy-pride-day-moscow. Scott Free has appeared on LOGO and BET, and has won numerous awards from OUTMusic and Pride in the Arts.

Grant Gustin—known as baddie Sebastian on the Fox TV series Glee—has landed his first major role, signing on to play Barry Allen (aka superhero The Flash) on the CW's proposed Arrow spinoff, according to Deadline.com . He will appear in three episodes of Arrow this coming season before headlining his own spinoff series.

Janet Tamaro—the showrunner behind the female-cop series Rizzoli & Isles—is stepping down, Deadline.com reported. The departure of Tamaro, who will remain as a consultant while developing new projects, comes less than a month after production on the show shut down following the suicide of co-star Lee Thompson Young. Under Tamaro's helm, Rizzoli & Isles became TNT's number-one show of all time, eclipsing The Closer.

Lesbian Grammy winner k.d. lang is making her Broadway debut, according to Billboard.com . The Canadian singer-songwriter will take over from Fantasia Barrino as the second star vocalist in After Midnight, a musical celebrating Duke Ellington's years at the famous Cotton Club nightclub in Harlem. Lang starts performances Feb. 11, 2014, and will end her run March 9. The musical will debut Oct. 18, 2013, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, with an official opening night set for Nov. 3.

Bronze medal-winning Olympian Johnny Weir appeared on the ESPN2 talk show Olbermann (in a Russian uniform) to once again state his opposition to any boycott having to do with the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi, Russia, according to Frontiers L.A. However, several LGBT activists reacted to Weir's appearance with outrage. Out.com columnist Michael Lucas said Weir "doesn't actually care about the athletes or the workers. He only cares, as usual, about himself." In addition, John Aravosis at AmericaBlog wrote "Nothing good can come from Johnny Weir."

Jamar Rogers, 31, a former contestant of NBC's The Voice, was placed in intensive care recently after initially seeking treatment for a lung infection, according to his website. In 2006, Rogers was diagnosed with HIV. Since then, he has been actively working in his community to demystify HIV and to remove the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

Pop singer Billy Joel, Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine and jazz composer Herbie Hancock were among the annual recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States' top cultural awards, according to Reuters. Rock guitarist Carlos Santana and opera soprano Martina Arroyo also will be honored at the ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C. The honors have been bestowed on more than 180 performers, including Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul McCartney and Willie Nelson.

The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team has announced its first LGBT night, to be held Sept. 27, Advocate.com noted. The Dodgers' LGBT Night OUT will feature "a celebrity First Pitch" and "the national anthem performed by a surprise guest with the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles," according to an announcement on the team's website. There will be fireworks after the Friday night game, in which the Dodgers play the Colorado Rockies.

Cher reportedly turned down a chance to give the opening performance at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia because of all the "gay hate" there, Advocate.com reported. "I can't name names but my friend called who is a big oligarch over there, and asked me if I'd like to be an ambassador for the Olympics and open the show," she told Canadian newsmagazine Maclean's. "I immediately said no. I want to know why all of this gay hate just exploded over there. He said the Russian people don't feel the way the government does." During the interview, Cher also discussed her support for transgender son Chaz.

Speaking of Chaz, he appeared on the syndicated show The Doctors one year after weighing in at 250 pounds and being advised to lose "between 50 and 80 pounds"—and he revealed a markedly slimmed-down body, according to US Magazine. "I just feel much more comfortable in my skin now," Bono said (via Entertainment Tonight). "Everything is easier. Everything physically is easier. Everything feels better. And then emotionally, I just feel more comfortable and more confident."

Original Beverly Hills, 90210 actress and former SAG-AFTRA LA Local co-President Gabrielle Carteris is running for the union's powerful executive vice-presidential position, according to Deadline.com . Former National co-President Roberta Reardon won't be seeking the gig and has, instead, endorsed Carteris. Carteris played Andrea Zuckerman on the original 90210 from 1990 to 1995.

Embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen got a standing ovation when she attended a Texas cooking show—her first public appearance nearly three months after she begged for forgiveness and watched her empire crumble after admitting she had used a racial slur, according to ABC News. At the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Houston, Deen, 66, tearfully reflected on what she called "a rough patch" she experienced this summer. Deen held two cooking demonstrations, and tickets cost up to $400 to see her at the show.

Nina Davuluri is the first Miss America of Indian descent, according to CNN.com . The 24-year-old former Miss New York is the second consecutive winner from that state. However, outlets have reported that after her win, social media was inundated with racist posts such as "If you're #Miss America you should have to be American" and "Well they just picked a Muslim for Miss America. That must've made Obama happy. Maybe he had a vote." Davuluri competed on a platform of "Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency."

For the first time, Butterball is enlisting the help of men as well as women for its Turkey Talk cooking-advice line during the holidays, according to a NewsNet5.com item. Also, the turkey seller is seeking the first male talk-line spokesman this year. Butterball will offer an application for men to apply on its Facebook page. Most operators have a background in food or nutrition and have culinary degrees, or are dietitians, food stylists or scientists.

Out actress Lily Tomlin won a Creative Primetime Arts Emmy Sept. 15 for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (for An Apology to Elephants), according to Deadline.com . HBO's Behind the Candelabra, about the life of Liberace, was the most awarded program with eight Emmys. CBS' Undercover Boss won best reality show; South Park was named best animated show; and Project Runway's Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn were best reality hosts. In addition, openly gay actor Dan Bucatinsky won for guest-acting on Scandal while Bob Newhart snagged his first Emmy ever for his role on The Big Bang Theory.

My Fair Wedding host David Tutera's ex is claiming the TV personality is to blame for splitting up their fraternal twins after their break-up, according to TMZ. Ryan Jurica called in to TMZ Live, claiming Tutera made the decision to separate the children at birth when their 10-year relationship ended. Tutera and Jurica had the twins through a surrogate in July, and the births launched a bitter custody battle, stemming from the fact that each man fertilized an egg from the same woman. Jurica added that splitting the children is a temporary measure until a final custody arrangement is made.

The CW has greenlit a new drama about a transgender teenager, Gay Star News reported. The series, known as Ze, will revolve around a female-to-male transgender teen and his family. Ze will be penned by Brooklyn-based writer-playwright Kyle Jarrow and executive produced by Michael London; London is known for his work on the Oscar-winning biopic Milk, about the late San Francisco gay-rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. The show's title, Ze, is an often-used gender-neutral pronoun among people with non-conforming gender identities.

While performing at the Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Beyonce was happily singing when she stooped down to shake hands with fans—and one almost pulled her off the stage, according to USA Today. A security guard immediately ran up on stage and grabbed her to pull her back up. The singer seemed unfazed and kept right on singing "Irreplaceable" throughout it all. She later spoke to the fan, saying, "It's all right. ... Thank you; I love you, too."

Britney Spears is getting paid almost $30 million to take her talents to Las Vegas, according to the New York Post. The pop star landed a deal to perform 48 shows for two years at Planet Hollywood, earning $310,000 per show. The "Toxic" singer, who had been hyping the first track off of her upcoming eighth studio album for weeks, debuted the single "Work Bitch" Sept. 15, a day earlier than anticipated after a version leaked online.

Speaking of Spears, performer Mykki Blanco claims that Spears is attempting to exploit gay culture with the song "Work Bitch," claiming "this is not 'gay pride,' it's 'gay marketing,'" the Huffington Post noted. Blanco—a gender-bending queer performer, artist and musician—lashed out at Spears on Twitter, calling the single "tacky" and asking "Is it just me or is EVERY female pop star currently in a war to secure as many GAY fans and gay $ as possible?"

Steve Young, the former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, urged tolerance and acceptance of the LGBT community in a speech at a conference for gay Mormons in Salt Lake City, according to the Huffington Post. Young said his goal is to "build bridges with my gay brothers and sisters. We need to see each other as Jesus sees us." Young is Mormon and played football at Brigham Young University. In 2008, he made news when his wife, Barbara, put "No on Prop. 8" signs in their front yard.

Out fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi had New York City's Jewish community in an uproar because he sold his collection Saturday, Sept. 14—Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar—on QVC, according to the New York Daily News. Mizrahi was not on air Friday, Sept. 13, before or after sundown, when Yom Kippur officially began. However, the holiday stretches 24 hours, and the designer was active on Twitter and appeared live on TV before sundown on Saturday, a period when observant Jews are supposed to refrain from work of any kind. Mizrahi, 51, is from an observant Jewish family and is an alumnus of Brooklyn's Yeshiva of Flatbush, a Modern Orthodox private Jewish school in Midwood.

The animal-rights group PETA is criticizing Katy Perry's video for her song "Roar," which features several animals, including an elephant and a monkey, according to the Hollywood Reporter. PETA alleges that casting animals for a music video traumatizes them. To emphasize its point, the organization sent a letter to the video's directors and producers, protesting their use of real animals in the clip. Perry has responded by obtaining her own letter from the American Humane Association, which had representatives present throughout the three-day shoot.