Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Planet Green's Fabulous Beekman Boys, have become the latest celebrities to join the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in a new video in the "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" project, according to an HRC press release. The upstate New Yorkers are the first same-sex couple to appear in the campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in the Empire State and can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.
The world television premiere of the documentary Becoming Chaz, the story of Chaz Bono's transformation from a woman to a man, will launch the OWN Documentary Film Club on Tuesday, May 10 (7 p.m. CT), on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Immediately following the film, OWN Documentary Film Club collaborator Rosie O'Donnell will host a one-hour primetime special event, during which she will talk with Chaz; his girlfriend, Jennifer Elia; the filmmakers and other transgender people and their families about this life-changing experience.
Radio host and author Garrison Keillor has announced that he'll retire in 2013, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The writer/humorist told the AARP Bulletin, "I sure don't want to make a fool of myself and be singing romantic duets with 25-year-old women when I'm 75."
Music producer Frank Ocean, who has worked with Brandy and Justin Bieber, has revealed that he is collaborating with Beyonce on her most recent album, according to ContactMusic.com . Beyonce has been working on the follow-up to 2008's I Am... Sasha Fierce since the end of last year, but has mostly been associated with more R&B producers including Ne-Yo, Jim Jonsin and The Dream. Of the new album, Beyonce said, "I have a lot of live instruments that I'm putting into the tracks to try to change the sound and make my own genre of music."
Space Monkey Studios has announced the release of out gay singer Adam Lambert's brand new Glam Nation Live CD/DVD (19 Recordings / RCA Records). Shot in Indianapolis, Ind., at Clowes Hall on Aug. 31, 2010, the CD/DVD features 12 tracks plus a bonus cut; among the songs are "Ring of Fire," "If I Had You" and his Grammy-nominated track, "Whataya Want From Me."
Starz has confirmed that the fourth season of the sci-fi series Torchwood will premiere July 8, according to Digital Spy. The 10-part season, subtitled "Miracle Day," will look at a global conspiracy in which no one is able to die. Openly gay actor John Barrowman will again lead the Torchwood team as Captain Jack Harness; Eve Myles will also return, and new cast members include Bill Pullman, Lauren Ambrose and Mekhi Phifer.
Ellen DeGeneres will produce a movie adaptation of the best-selling book Sing You Home, Digital Spy reported. The book, written by Jodi Picoult, is about a woman who loses her husband after having a stillborn child; the woman later develops a romantic relationship with a female guidance counselor. DeGeneres will team with Storyline Entertainment partners Neil Meron and Craig Zadan to back the project.
Lanford Wilson—the openly gay, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright behind works such as Burn This, Lemon Sky and Fifth of July—died March 24 at the age of 73, according to an Advocate.com item. Wilson was one of the founders of off-off-Broadway theater, and won the Pulitzer for Drama for Talley's Folly in 1980.
Actress Kate Walsh—best known for her roles on the TV shows Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice—said that she enjoyed playing a "gruff, no-nonsense" lesbian in the movie Angels Crest, according to Advocate.com . Walsh said, "Jane was a great role for me to play and a real departure." She described the film, which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival April 22, as showing "how residents of a small town deal with a tragedy that disrupts their lives."
When Charlie Sheen surprised talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel with a kiss recently, it was too much for Washington, D.C., resident David O'Hara, RobotCeleb.com reported. After viewing the kiss, O'Hara grabbed a gun and pointed it at his girlfriend and a 14-year-old girl. O'Hara was subsequently arrested.
At the 25th annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 19, host Andy Cohen called actress/screenwriter Tina Fey on stage for a game called "Fey on Gay," during which she answered questions about gays and lesbians in pop culture, according to New York Magazine. At one point, Fey said she would want Jack from the TV show Will & Grace as her TV neighbor "because Sean [Hayes, who played Jack] is the exact mix of adorable, Irish and gay that confused me my entire high-school career."
After former Jersey Shore co-star Angelina Pivarnick claimed that Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is in the closet, his rep has fired back, according to HollywoodNews.com . The rep said, "Obviously the only way she can get press is to slander my client. She's become a circus sideshow. Kinda sad to see," adding that Pivarnick's claim is "ridiculous."
In an interview, the stars of the controversial TLC series Sister Wives have spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage, according to Terra.com . Patriarch Kody Brown, who has four wives and 16 children, said, "I actually believe the state should never be involved in marriage. That is a religious choice, or it is a personal choice. It should not be something that the state is dictating." Wife Janelle added, "Every adult should have the right to marry and love who they want."
The pro-wrestling organization WWE is partnering with GLAAD after the former organization received complaints about some comments from wrestler John Cena that people have interpreted as anti-gay, according to ProWrestling.com . In a statement, GLAAD said it was first made aware of Cena's comment following the Feb. 21 broadcast of WWE Raw; during the show, Cena mocked Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's film roles by rapping, "He wore lipstick in Get Shorty, and rocked a skirt for The Game Plan. ... Just don't go racing to Witch Mountain, Rock, cause your mountain is Brokeback." GLAAD added, "We reached out to WWE Incorporated, which responded swiftly and positively."
Lindsay Lohan is dropping her last name, according to an US Magazine item. Her mother, Dina, told PopEater, "Lindsay is dropping the Lohan and just going by Lindsay. Plus, me and [younger daughter] Ali will be officially changing our last names back to my maiden name, Sullivan." On April 22, a judge will decide whether to proceed with a trial for Lindsay, who is accused of stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Venice, Calif. store. If she is found guilty, Lindsay could get up to three years in prison.
Natalie Portman's dance double in Black Swan is complaining about the executives involved with the movie, US Magazine reported. Sarah Lane, an American Ballet Theater dancer who doubled for Portman, claims that Fox Searchlight executives told Lane to stop talking publicly about the movie so Portman could take credit for the dance moves herself. Lane is not included in a DVD extra showing the special effects in the film.
Speaking of Black Swan, co-star Mila Kunis will appear in the upcoming movie Oz: The Great and the Powerful, according to Digital Spy. Kunis will star in Oz alongside James Franco, who was confirmed for the lead role in February. The new film is a prequel to the original 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz; Kunis will play Theodora, the youngest of the three witches.
Include Phil Oakey from the '80s British band The Human League among those criticizing Glee executive producer Ryan Murphy for criticizing musical acts who ban their works from the show, according to Digital Spy. Oakey said that he was happy that his band's hit, "Don't You Want Me," was used in a recent episode, but added that musicians should be able to say if they want their music featured on the series. Murphy criticized the band Kings of Leon for refusing to let Glee spotlight the song "Use Somebody," but singers such as Slash and Dave Grohl supported the band.
The last original episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show will air Wed., May 25, according to E! Online. However, Winfrey will certainly not rest on her many laurels. Reruns of the show will continue to air in syndication on her cable network, OWN, and she will launch a prime-time show, Oprah's Next Chapter, that will air two to three nights each week.
Rosie O'Donnell—an Emmy winner for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and former co-host of The View—is planning on moving into Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios in Chicago after Winfrey ends her nationally syndicated TV show May 25, according to the Chicago Tribune. Harpo employees were told March 28 that O'Donnell's new one-hour daytime talk show, set to launch this fall on cable's OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, will tape in the West Loop studio.
Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have formed a joint venture with rapper Jay-Z Carter may develop and produce the re-imagination of the classic Broadway musical Annie, with Willow Smith starring, according to Broadway World. However, Glee creator Ryan Murphy—who was considered one of the top choices to direct—has been dropped from consideration. Annie originally opened on Broadway in 1977, winning seven Tony Awards; a movie was released in 1982.
Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet will star in the movie adaptation of Yasmina Reza's Tony-winning play, God of Carnage, according to Broadway World. Roman Polanski will direct, with Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Matt Dillon (Crash) playing their husbands. Although the film is set in Brooklyn, N.Y., the filming started in Paris because of Polanski's legal troubles in the United States. God of Carnage deals with the aftermath of a playground altercation between two boys, and what happens when their parents meet to discuss it. The film is slated to be released later this year.
Lyricist/playwright/composer John Scoullar has passed away at the age of 62, according to Broadway World. Scoullar began his performing career at 12 with the American Tour of the Bolshoi Ballet and made his Broadway debut in Over, Here with the Andrew Sisters. Off-Broadway credits include Hot L Baltimore, written by the late gay playwright Lanford Wilson. Scoullar is survived by his son, Nick; his daughter-in-law, Faryl; and his partner, Bradshaw Smith.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) figure Michael Cole has apologized for an anti-gay slur he posted on Twitter, according to TWNPNews.com . Cole called announcer Josh Mathews a "faggot" in response to Matthews writing "Chicago!," the host city of the March 28 episode of WWE RAW. "I apologize to any and all who were offended by my tweet toward young Josh Mathews," Cole wrote. "It was obviously not meant the way it was taken." He later added, "I was not ordered to apologize I said I am sorry because I am. Now can I get back to being a character again please?"
Sheryl Swoopes has returned to the WNBA at age 40. According to UPI.com, the openly lesbian basketball player has returned to the league, signing with the Tulsa Shock after sitting out for two years. Swoopes—who previously had played with the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm—was the league's MVP in 2000, 2002 and 2005, and has won three Olympic gold medals.
