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

Speaking of Dancing, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has issued a statement praising ABC for selecting Bono and Kressley for the show. Also praising the CW for featuring transgender woman Isis King and lesbian Kayla Ferrel for the next cycle of America's Next Top Model, GLAAD stated, "With both gay and transgender contestants represented, ABC and the CW have created primetime firsts that reflect the growing acceptance of gay and transgender people in America today."

However, on the flip side, Dancing with the Stars' message board filled with anti-LGBT comments upon news of Bono's inclusion, Reuters reported. One person posted, "[W]hen I heard that Chaz Bono was going to be on, I was sick. Not that I have anything personally again her/him, I just don't want that lifestyle choice continually flaunted in the media, esp. ABC." Bono will dance with a woman.

The band Foo Fighters strip and shower together in a comedy video for its upcoming tour, according to Digital Spy. The clip sees Dave Grohl and the band stop at a gas station; however, they then go to the shower room and strip—except for their cowboy boots. Each band member has a slo-mo routine (literally dropping the soap, in Grohl's case) as a janitor catches them. The uncensored video is at hotbuns.foofighters.com .

The syndicated daytime show Divorce Show aired its first case involving a lesbian couple Aug. 30. Judge Lynn Toler resolved a case involving Lela Keys and Lakisha Dennis, who were legally married in California before the anti-gay-marriage initiative Proposition 8 was re-instituted. The couple had been together for eight years.

Leah Remini has confirmed that she will not be returning to the daytime chatfest The Talk, according to Deadline.com . "It's official: I am sorry to say that I have NOT been asked back on the show," Remini tweeted. Co-host Holly Robinson Peete initially confirmed that she "hasn't heard anything yet," but she was also placed on the sidelines alongside Remini.

Singer Sinead O'Connor has taken to her blog and Twitter to find a mate, according to the Huffington Post. She has issued a call for a "sweet sex-starved man" (although she is also considering women) who is into anal sex. Her list of requirements includes "Must be blind enough to think I'm gorgeous" and "Must not be named Brian or Nigel."

Writers Jennifer Crittenden (Seinfeld) and Gabrielle Allan (Scrubs) have sold a comedy project about a girl band to ABC, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The currently untitled project centers around a '90s all-girl band that attempts to reunite two decades later. Crittenden said, "We both loved Spinal Tap and The Go-Go's and this is a way to meld those together. What would The Go-Go's be like if they had a huge horrible break-up and then reunited 20 years later?"

It turns out that James Franco will not make his Broadway debut this fall, according to a Hollywood Reporter item. He has left the planned production of the Tennessee Williams play Sweet Bird of Youth, which co-stars Nicole Kidman. Scott Rudin—currently producing the upcoming revival of Death of a Salesman, with Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman and The Social Network's Andrew Garfield—is among those attached to Sweet Bird.

Director Steven Soderbergh—who is in pre-production on the male-stripper drama Magic Mike—plans to retire from the movie business to become a full-time painter, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "I'm interested in exploring another art form while I have the time and ability to do so," the Contagion director told the New York Times. "I'll be the first person to say if I can't be any good at it and run out of money I'll be back making another 'Ocean's' movie." Magic Mike stars Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey and Alex Pettyfer, among others.

Kevin Zegers (Transamerica; TV's Gossip Girl), Chris Noth (TV's The Good Wife), openly gay actor Derek Jacobi (The King's Speech) and Neve Campbell (TV's Party of Five; the Scream movies) are negotiating to join the $28-million, 12-part British miniseries Titanic: Blood & Steel, which has begun filming in Belfast, Northern Ireland, according to Deadline.com . The production, which does not yet have U.S. distribution, looks at the building of the famous ship. Noth is expected to play financier J.P. Morgan; Jacobi will be Lord William Pirrie, chairman of the company that built the ill-fated liner; and Campbell will play a reporter covering the liner's maiden voyage.

Some people may have an unholy reason to see the upcoming Biblical epic Goliath, as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson may star as the title character, according to TotalFilm.com . Meanwhile, Twilight star Taylor Lautner may play opposite Johnson as the future King David, whom warrior Goliath has been assigned to kill. The film's producers are Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, who have both worked on the Twilight franchise, leading to speculation that they can persuade Lautner to take the role of David.

Hugh Jackman is taking on the role of Valjean in Les Miserables—but A-list co-stars could be joining him. According to Totalfilm.com, Russell Crowe may play Javert, while Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter may play Thenardier and Madame Thenardier. Emma Watson, Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Anne Hathaway and Amy Adams are among those reportedly competing for other roles.

Glee actor Kevin McHale is helping to launch The Trevor Project's "Talk to Me" awareness campaign for National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 4-10) in a new public service announcement, according to a press release. The multidimensional campaign aims to encourage individuals to engage in interpersonal communication, like phone and video calls, and other positive behaviors that can help prevent suicide. The campaign is also aligned with The Trevor Project's core crisis intervention program, the Trevor Lifeline, a 24/7 phone-counseling service for LGBTQ youth, ages 13-24. See www.TrevorTalkToMe.org for more information.

The movie Green Lantern, starring gay fave Ryan Reynolds, will be the first film released on DVD and Blu-ray to include UltraViolet technology when it's released Oct. 14, according to a DMWMedia.com item. UltraViolet allows consumers to purchase a movie once and play it anywhere; the UltraViolet copy is of the 2-D theatrical version of the film, without any of the special features, and includes streaming and up to three downloads that can be accessed for three years.

Superstar Janet Jackson will not perform at the upcoming tribute to her late brother, Michael, Digital Spy reported. The "Michael Forever Tribute" event will take place at Cardiff, Wales', Millennium Stadium Oct. 8, and will feature performers such as Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera. Janet's rep said that it would be "too difficult" for her to appear due to the timing—the show coincides with the manslaughter trial of Michael's doctor, Conrad Murray.

John Lithgow, Matt Bomer (TV's White Collar) and Bradley Whitford have joined the roster of the one-night-only reading of Dustin Lance Black's Prop 8-themed play, 8, according to Broadway.com . Whitford will play defense lawyer Charles Cooper while Bomer will portray Jeff Zarillo, the real-life husband of fellow Prop 8 litigant Paul Katami (played by Cheyenne Jackson). The reading—which already includes Marisa Tomei, Morgan Freeman, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner and Yeardley Smith—will take place Sept. 19 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

K-Y is reaching out to the lesbian demographic with its first female same-sex advertisement, according to a press release. The ad touts K-Y INTENSE, an arousal gel specifically for women. The product is available at food, drug and mass retailers worldwide; the commercial started airing Sept. 5.

A gay sex scene on BBC's Torchwood between John Barrowman and another man received 500 complaints (from 3.4 million viewers), according to Advocate.com . The scene featured a flashback with Barrowman's "omnisexual" character, Captain Jack Harkness, in bed with an Italian immigrant in 1927. The BBC—which had earlier cut a separate gay scene from the series—released a statement saying, "We aim to depict sexual relationships in an honest and realistic way. These scenes are not meant to cause offense."

Keahu Kahuanui, the actor who plays the gay character Danny on the MTV series Teen Wolf, said that Danny isn't stereotypical because gay people come in "all shapes and sizes," according to On Top Magazine. Danny is an out student who plays on the school's lacrosse team and has a boyfriend. Kahuanui said, "Nowadays it's becoming more and more apparent that your typical gay in a situation or in a scene is not what you usually define as stereotypical. I mean they come in all shapes and sizes. And this one, Danny, happens to be a jock."

The Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing" is no longer censored in Canada, Advocate.com reported. In January, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council banned the song from radio after a complaint about what some say are the tune's homophobic, sexist and racist lyrics. However, after a public backlash, the council has changed its mind. Guy Fletcher, Dire Straits' keyboard player, recently posted that in the song lead singer Mark Knopfler "uses real everyday U.S. street language to describe how a numbskull worker in a hardware department in a television/custom kitchen/refrigerator/microwave appliance store, feels about a video being shown in the store."

Out singer Ricky Martin met with Uruguay's president, Jose Mujica, to discuss the singer's campaign against child slavery and the youth sex trade, according to Advocate.com . "I received an invitation from the presidency, and of course it is an honor to speak," Martin said. "If I can talk with leaders who believe in equality, how could I not do [that]." Martin added that Puerto Rico, his birthplace, will soon open a center for young victims of exploitation.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman hinted that he might get violent with sportswriter Skip Bayless for speculating on his sexuality, according to Advocate.com . In a 1996 book, Bayless said that Aikman might be gay. When recently asked about the book, Aikman made it clear he was still upset about it: "When a guy like that comes out and, whether it's intimated or stated, and there's no substance to that claim, and he's doing it purely to gain interest in a book, that's a problem. ... I still kind of wonder what I might do to him when I do see him."

GLAAD has criticized comedian/talk-show host Chelsea Handler for making fun of Chaz Bono being on Dancing with the Stars, according to Instinct Magazine. On her Chelsea Lately show, Handler said, "The Dancing with the Stars cast has been announced and, this is season 13, it includes Chaz Bono, otherwise known as Chastity Bono [laughs] before she got her penis [laughs]." In a separate segment on the show, comedians Bill Bellamy and Jo Koy (who previously has apologized for using anti-gay slurs during a Chicago show) made fun on Bono. GLAAD wants Handler and the show to invite Bono or another transgender celebrity (such as model Isis King) on the show.

Molly Shannon will join the CBS daytime show The Talk during September, according to Theatermania.com . The series will return with hosts Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne, and Sheryl Underwood; Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete are not returning. Shannon's TV and movie credits include Bad Teacher, Superstar, Saturday Night Live and Glee.

Critics are split over Madonna's latest directorial effort, W.E., according to Sky.com . The Guardian's Xan Brooks said, "What an extraordinarily silly, preening, fatally mishandled film this is" while The Daily Telegraph stated, "Madonna's W.E. is a bold and confident story about an American woman's obsession with the Windsors." At the Venice Film Festival, Madonna said, she identified with the character blamed for the abdication crisis in 1936: "I think it's very common when people become celebrities or public figures or icons that we are often reduced to a sound bite."

X Factor judge Simon Cowell said that Mariah Carey fits his definition of a "diva," according to Digital Spy. He said, "Mariah is everything you want a diva to be. ... She gets it and it's everything a star should be. Great, great, great singer, unbelievable songwriter and I just adore her." Cowell also praised Sir Elton John, saying, "[H]e's still relevant now, he's a pain in the ass, he's a drama queen, he's interesting and he's a brilliant songwriter."

TNT has cancelled Jada Pinkett Smith's medical drama, HawthoRNe, Digital Spy reported. The show—also starring Marc Anthony and Michael Vartan—will not return for a fourth season. On her WhoSay page, Pinkett Smith announced to fans: "I want to say thank you to all the fans for being HawthoRNe soldiers. All our facebook fans...twitter soldiers and viewers...you held us down. Of course you know there is more to come...believe it!"

Jennifer Lopez that the American Idol judges' panel has had its first fight when Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson passed on a contestant she liked, according to MTV.com . She said on the radio show On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, "I got really, really upset," adding that Tyler asked the contestant to sing a second song. Afterwards, Jackson and Tyler passed on her; Lopez said she felt like she "was being punk'd."

Adele has postponed the first two dates of her U.K. tour because of illness, according to Digital Spy. A message on her website read, "It is with regret that due to a severe cold and chest infection, Adele has had to postpone the first two shows of her UK tour in" Plymouth and Bournemouth. Adele, who is rumored to be recording the next James Bond theme song, performed at the recent MTV Video Music Awards; however, she had to cancel the remaining dates of her U.S. tour earlier this year because of laryngitis.

Legendary rock singer Alice Cooper said that he has a link to Lady Gaga, according to Digital Spy. Cooper told the Associated Press, "Lady Gaga is the female Alice Cooper. She totally gets it. ... She created a character named Lady Gaga and wrote songs for Lady Gaga, just as I write songs for Alice. But when you meet her off-stage, she's nothing like that person... and neither am I." Cooper recently performed a duet with Ke$ha entitled "What Baby Wants."

Actors Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto will play gay in the upcoming series American Horror Story, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The FX show—from Glee co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy—had already cast Quinto as the gay former owner of the home where the protagonist couple (played by Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) live. Sears, who played the blue-eyed man on Torchwood, will play Quinto's partner.

Sting is teaming with Tony Award-winning book writer and lyricist Brian Yorkey, best known for Next to Normal, for a new musical entitled The Last Ship, according to a Hollywood Reporter item. Although no official summary has been released, the production appears to be set in the city of Newcastle in the 1980s. Sting will likely write new songs for The Last Ship instead of using his catalog of hits.

The American Repertory Theatre's The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess has officially opened, and will run through Oct. 2, according to Theatermania.com . (It's slated to start Dec. 17 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.) Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre Murray have collaborated on a revised version the show, which has a score by George and Ira Gershwin and an original libretto by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. Critics have uniformly praised Audra McDonald's performance as Bess; however, reactions to other facets of the show have been mixed.

Boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya has admitted to dressing in drag and considering suicide because of cocaine and alcohol addiction, according to the New York Post. de la Hoya, 38, confirmed that photos of him in high heels, fishnets and lingerie are real, adding in a Spanish-language interview, " I am tired now of lying, of lying to the public and of lying to myself." However, after the interview—during which he also admitted paying an ex-girlfriend Milana Dravnel $20 million to go away—Tres Generaciones tequila dropped him as a spokesman, MyFoxDFW.com reported.

Longtime All My Children star Susan Lucci has criticized ABC daytime chief Brian Frons in the epilogue to the upcoming paperback edition of her memoir, All My Life, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Lucci, who has been on the soap since 1970, says of the show's cancellation, "I think our being in this position is the result of some very bad decisions by" Frons. She also writes that Frons told her in April that the food show The Chew would replace All My Children because the new series is more cost-effective, prompting her to state, "An iconic show was losing out to greed."

Speaking of All My Children, former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar will head back there for one day before the daytime show's final episode on Sept. 23, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Gellar once played Susan Lucci's daughter on the how, but another actress now plays that role. "I have no idea what I'm going to be doing," said Gellar, who now stars on the fall TV drama Ringer.

In a magazine interview, Liza Minnelli discussed how much she enjoys being single, according to Digital Spy. The gay icon, 64, said, "I don't have somebody telling me to 'Be quiet!' ... It's just so wonderful not to be tied down. I've never been not dating or not with someone or not in love." Minnelli's last marriage was to concert promoter David Gest; it ended in 2007, after five years.

Legendary singer Debbie Harry has admitted to being jealous of mega-successful female singers such as Beyoncé, according to Digital Spy. Harry—best known for fronting Blondie, who had hits such as "The Tide Is High" and "Heart of Glass"—said, "I always felt I was more comfortable being a cult [figure], but the temptation to be such a great entertainer and performer like Beyoncé is so fantastic. ... Her track record with songs is phenomenal; I wish we had as many hits." Harry added, however, "I hope people don't misunderstand that. I'm very happy with what we've done."

Singer/actor Cheyenne Jackson married longtime partner Monte Lapka in the Hamptons Sept. 2, according to People.com . Jackson tweeted, "It's official, after 11 years together ... Married the best man I've ever known" along with a photo of the couple at the beach. Jackson is an accomplished movie and TV actor who's been on Ugly Betty, Glee and United 93 (the movie about 9/11 in which he played gay hero Mark Bingham); on Broadway, he's been in such productions as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Xanadu and Damn Yankees.

Director Kevin Smith's new movie, Red State, has a lead psychopathic character seemingly based on anti-gay pastor the Rev. Fred Phelps—so the church leader is planning to protest the film, according to Advocate.com . A spokesperson with Phelps' Kansas church said, "God hates fags, God hates fag enablers; therefore, God hates Kevin Smith." Smith told TMZ, "Well, Jesus told ME he loved Red State. ... He also said neither He nor His Heavenly Father have any affiliation with the Westboro Baptist Church."

Eddie Murphy has been named host of the 84th Academy Awards, according to the L.A. Times. Murphy, 50, is starring in the upcoming film Tower Heist, which was directed by Brett Ratner—who is producing the Academy Awards show with Don Mischer. Murphy was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for the 2006 film Dreamgirls. The show will be broadcast Feb. 26.

The singing group Wilson Phillips will be the focus of a TV Guide Network reality show, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Grammy-nominated girl group—featuring Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips—is known for "Hold On," among other hits. The show will look at them as they try to recapture the spotlight 20 years later. Phillips is currently on Dancing with the Stars.

The first guests on Anderson, Anderson Cooper's new talk show debuting Sept. 12, are the family and boyfriend of the late singer Amy Winehouse, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cooper said, "I've followed her career for a long time. Her music is extraordinary. And she's such a remarkable talent. What's remarkable about this family is they've been so public before her death about trying to get her help." Winehouse died in late July at age 27.

In an interview with Sir Paul McCartney, 87-year-old Doris Day discussed her new album, according to a Hollywood Reporter item. During the talk—which took place at Day's home in Carmel, Calif.—the longtime friends also shared memories of McCartney's daughter Stella and Day's late son, Terry Melcher. Day's CD, My Heart, includes covers of songs by The Beach Boys and Joe Cocker.

Rolling Stone's readers have decided what the top 10 worst songs of the '90s, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The song "Barbie Girl," by the European singing group Aqua, topped the list although it was number one on the charts of 11 different countries. Other songs on the list include Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" and Hanson's "MMMBop."

Regis Philbin has announced that his last appearance on the daytime show Live with Regis and Kelly will be Nov. 18, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Philbin, 80, announced that he would be leaving the show after 28 years back in January. "Kelly [Ripa] will be trying out new co-hosts, just like we did 11 years ago, when we found her," said Philbin of his current co-host; Ripa replaced Kathie Lee Gifford as co-host in 2001.

A video showing Madonna criticizing a gift at the Venice Film Festival has gone viral, the Hollywood Reporter noted. In the clip, Madonna—who was at the festival to promote her directorial effort, W.E.—receives a bouquet of hydrangeas from a fan. After saying "Thank you," she places the flowers on the floor, rolls her eyes and tells her fellow panelists "I absolutely loathe hydrangeas. He obviously doesn't know that."

Hip-hop artist The Game supported gay people during an interview and urged closeted rappers to come out of the closet, according to Advocate.com . The Game, 31, told Vlad TV, "Be gay and be proud," adding that Beyoncé should have titled her recent single "Gays (Who Rule the World)" instead of "Girls (Who Rule the World)." He said that the only gay people he has a problem with are those who remain in the closet.

Google recently paid tribute to the late singer Freddie Mercury with an animated doodle. The doodle featured a 90-second video set to the song "Don't Stop Me Now," with the Queen frontman performing—and vacuuming at home dressed as a woman, according to Advocate.com .