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

Barbra Streisand will direct an as-yet untitled love story based on the relationship between photographer Margaret Bourke-White and author Erskine Caldwell, according to Deadline.com . Bourke-White was a photojournalist who became the first female photographer for Life magazine in 1936. She married Caldwell, the controversial Southern author of Tobacco Road and God's Little Acre, in 1939; they divorced in 1942. Streisand's other directing efforts have included Yentl, The Prince of Tides and The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Singer Adam Lambert has announced that he's broken up with boyfriend Sauli Koskinen, according to Gay.net . "It's been kind of on its way out in the last couple of months," Lambert revealed in a recent interview. "Sauli and I remain really good friends, and I know it's a cliché thing to say—but it's totally true." A Finnish entertainment reporter, radio personality and television host, Koskinen won his country's Big Brother show in 2007.

Ellen DeGeneres is hooked on the movie Finding Nemo, as she will be in its sequel, according to Fox News. Disney and its Pixar Animation unit announced that DeGeneres will reprise her "Nemo" voice role for Finding Dory. The sequel is due out Nov. 25, 2015, and will be directed by Andrew Stanton, who also made "Nemo." The new film picks up about a year after the action of "Nemo," with DeGeneres' forgetful Dory on her own adventure to reunite with loved ones.

Audrey Hepburn's son, Luca Dotti, told Vanity Fair that his mother never thought she was beautiful, according to the publication. To prepare for his new book, Audrey in Rome, Dotti gathered approximately 2,500 photos from the archives of the Reporters Associati that capture his mother throughout the Eternal City. He added that aging never frightened Hepburn: "She was always a little bit surprised by the efforts women made to look young."

Eight writers with E!'s reality show Fashion Police filed a claim with state labor officials alleging that they're unfairly compensated for the hours they've been working, according to TheWrap.com . "The most I've been paid for a show has been for eight hours of work," said "Fashion Police" writer Eliza Skinner. "In reality, I put in anywhere from 12 to 32 additional hours on each show—time I should have been compensated for." If upheld, the suit could result in the cable TV network having to pay more than $1 million in back wages.

Gawker has obtained an internal report from insurance claims made against John Travolta's production company, Constellation Productions Inc., according to the Huffington Post. The document reportedly shows that six parties alleged sexual assault by the actor, and that Travolta's insurer has paid out $84,000 against two of the claims. However, Travolta's attorneys told the Post that the document obtained by Gawker does not reflect that any settlement payments were paid out, but shows cost and expenses incurred that are consistent with legal fees from defending the actor.

The men accused of plotting to kill British singer Joss Stone have been found guilty on all counts, according to Digital Spy. Junior Bradshaw, 32, and Kevin Liverpool, 35, both of Longsight, Manchester, had denied conspiracy to murder, rob and cause grievous bodily harm. Liverpool has been given a life sentence and must serve a minimum term of 10 years and eight months; Bradshaw will be sentenced at a later date, pending medical reports. Liverpool and Bradshaw were arrested at the Devon home of the singer in June 2011 with a samurai sword, a hosepipe, a hammer and a bag containing a spike, black bags and tape in their vehicle.

Tony Award winner Elaine Stritch offered stories and songs April 2-6, an engagement—and her farewell to showbiz—at New York City's Cafe Carlyle, according to Playbill.com . Among those attending were Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Tony Bennett and Martin Short. Stritch, 88, called the opening night of the show, Elaine Stritch at the Carlyle: Movin' Over and Out, "the most frightening night of my life. There are stronger men than me in the audience."

Singer Ryan Cabrera has showed off his Ryan Gosling tattoo that he had inked on his leg as part of a game with friends, Digital Spy reported. Cabrera told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "We blindfold each other. You get to pick a tattoo for me, and I get to pick a tattoo for you. And you don't get to see it till they're both done."

Another man is suing former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash, 52, accusing him of sexual abuse, USA Today reported. Kevin Kiadii, 25, says he was 16 when he met Clash during an online chat. "Upon his arrival, Kevin Clash gave Kiadii alcohol and groomed him with attention and affection," the lawsuit says. The suit adds that they had consensual sex; however, the age of consent in New York is 17.

The Bears and former linebacker Brian Urlacher denied any involvement with the Ruth Institute—an affiliate of the National Organization For Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage—after an online promotion for the institute stated an involvement of the team, according to the Chicago Tribune. The California-based group stated it had two raffle items from the Bears: an autographed Urlached jersey and a photo of the late Walter Payton. The Bears issued a statement saying, "Neither was a club donation, nor do they represent the team's view on any social issues. Any remarks stating otherwise are false."

Police have confirmed that 21-year-old Buckwild star Shain Gandee died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to RollingStone.com . Gandee, was found dead in Sissonville, W. Va., with his 48-year-old uncle, David Gandee, and 27-year-old friend Donald Robert Myers; all three deaths have been ruled accidental. Although Buckwild had been renewed for a second season, MTV has subsequently canceled the show.

Madonna and her kids—David, 8, Lourdes, 16, Mercy, 8, and Rocco, 12—received a warm welcome from hundreds of orphans in Malawi when the family visited recently, according to USA Today. The star and her family visited the orphanage where Madonna adopted David Banda in 2006. They also went to see his former crib, which has been preserved in his honor. Trevor Neilson, Madonna's philanthropy manager, said the singer has built 10 schools in the impoverished African country with an organization called BuildOn.

Two Republican members of Congress have asked the U.S. Treasury Department for information on what type of license pop star Beyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z obtained for a trip to Cuba to celebrate their wedding anniversary, the Chicago Tribune reported. Beyonce and Jay Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in the capital of Havana, where big crowds greeted them. In a letter, U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart (who represent areas of Florida with high Cuban populations) asked Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, about the license.

Actor Jeremy Irons posted on his website that he isn't anti-gay at all, according to Advocate.com . His argument against same-sex marriage during an online interview was "valid," Irons said, but presented "perhaps rather too flippantly." Irons initially theorized that, among other things, gays people are just after the name "marriage." After the uproar on his posts, he stated that reports that he's anti-gay are "as far from the truth of me as to say that I believe the earth is flat," and blamed the Internet for interpreting his words the wrong way.

Bravo has cancelled Kathy Griffin's late-night talk show, Kathy, after two seasons, according to TVLine.com . Griffin confirmed the show's demise during a recent stand-up performance at Cincinnati's Taft Theatre. Kathy premiered last spring and, despite low ratings, was renewed for a second season (which kicked off in January).

Former child actor Danny Pintauro (Who's the Boss?) is engaged to boyfriend Wil Tabares, according to US Magazine. The couple, who live and work in Las Vegas, headed to Palm Springs, Calif. to celebrate their one-year anniversary; over a romantic dinner, Tabares popped the question by playing a homemade video—featuring a ring. Pintauro said he and Tabares plan to "move to California once Prop 8 is overturned."

Late-night host David Letterman described himself as "just sick and tired" of the arguments against marriage equality and the characteristics of the debate itself, according to Gay Star News. "'I think it has really crossed the line of being nonsense," he said during a chat with guest Rachel Maddow. "This ongoing, politically nuanced, religiously nuanced discussion of gay marriage, gay rights. It is absolute stupidity."

Rapper Daddy Yankee has dismissed rumors that he is gay, blaming them on social media, as a photograph that sites claimed was of him kissing another man circulated, Pink News reported. "Online blogs and social media are once again to blame for the spread of false news reports, which other media outlets have also shared regarding a public figure," spokesperson Mayna Nevarez said in a statement. Some sites also reported that Yankee, 36, had released a statement confirming that he is gay; however, the statement was revealed to be false.

The duo Indigo Girls has released a statement concerning the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival's (MWMF's) ban on transgender individuals. On its website, the musical act wrote, in part, "The community of MWMF has a responsibility to fight this hate and be a beacon of love and light for all womyn suffering under hate and oppression, and this includes our Trans Sisters. ... This kind of hate and aggression will rip our community apart and we all know who benefits from 'divide and conquer and it's not womyn or queers.'"

Kelly Clarkson revealed at the Academy of Country Music Awards that Blake Shelton will be conducting her wedding, Fox News reported. The "Stronger" singer said Shelton, who had already agreed to perform at her wedding, is now set to have an even bigger role at her December nuptials. Clarkson, 30, is engaged to Shelton's manager Brandon Blackstock, the stepson of singer Reba McEntire through her marriage to Narvel Blackston—who is Clarkson's manager.

Out film director Roland Emmerich recently divulged some details about the long-awaited sequel to his 1996 sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day, according to RealityTVWorld.com . Emmerich says he doesn't want Will Smith to headline the director's two Independence Day film sequels because Smith is "too big a star" now. The sequels—"ID Forever Part 1" and "ID Forever Part 2"—will take place 20 years after the alien invasion in the original film.

In Chicago, mourners packed Holy Name Cathedral to remember acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert, according to ABC News. Pallbearers carried Ebert's casket up the steps of the cathedral for the April 8 Mass that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended. (During the Mass his widow, Chaz, said, "It didn't matter to him your race, creed, color, level of ability, sexual orientation—he had a heart big enough to accept and love all," according to wgntv.com .) Ebert died April 4 at age 70 after a long battle with cancer; he worked for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than 40 years. A memorial for Ebert will take place April 11 at the Chicago Theatre.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it has received a $25 million commitment from The David Geffen Foundation for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Deadline.com reported. The gift was made as part of the Academy Museum's $300 million capital campaign and is the largest commitment received to date. In recognition of this gift, the academy will name the Museum's premiere-sized theater The David Geffen Theater.

Annette Funicello, who was on the original 1955-'59 incarnation of Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club, died April 8 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis (MS); she was 70. Her family told Extra that Funicello passed away from complications of her illness, and they were by her side when she was taken off life support; Funicello had been in an MS coma for years. Even after leaving Disney, she was in such movies as 1959's The Shaggy Dog and 1961's Babes in Toyland.

On her show The Talk, panelist Sara Gilbert announced her engagement to musician/songwriter Linda Perry, according to EW.com . Perry, 47, proposed marriage in a park with musicians and special T-shirts that read "Will. You. Marry. Me?" In 2011, Gilbert, 38, addressed her split from TV producer Allison Adler; the two share custody of son Levi, 8, and daughter Sawyer, 5.

In what will likely be one of the biggest cable sales of the year, Glee and American Horror Story co-creator Ryan Murphy is out shopping what's touted as a racy new project, according to Deadline.com . Open—which he is creating and writing with Dexter co-executive producer Lauren Gussis—is described as a "modern, provocative exploration of human sexuality and relationships." A fifth-season renewal for Glee is pending, and Murphy has revealed that the upcoming third installment of "Horror" will be titled American Horror Story: Coven, and will star Kathy Bates in addition to Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Taissa Farmiga.

X Factor co-creator/judge Simon Cowell has said he "couldn't care less" if people think he is gay, according to Digital Spy. Cowell said that persistent speculation about his sexuality doesn't bother him because it would be "nothing to be ashamed of" and "make no difference to [his] life or career." He also told Radio Times, "If I was living 200 years ago in a coal mine, maybe [it would bother me], but I work in possibly the gayest industry in the world, music and TV. It would make no difference to my life or my career."

Actress Lydia Cornell—best known for her role on the '80s show Too Close for Comfort—is backing same-sex marriage, the Huffington Post reported. On her blog, Cornell spoke of her lesbian sister not having a choice in her sexuality and how she's "heartsick at the bigotry" she sees. One of Cornell's co-stars on "Too Close" was now-out actor Jim J. Bullock.

Janet Jackson has reportedly retired from the entertainment industry following her recent marriage, Digital Spy noted. The singer-actress is said to have turned her back on music and film and has allegedly moved to the Middle East with her new husband, Wissam Al Mana. She has released 10 albums in her career, and is known for songs such as "Together Again" and "Nasty"; she has also starred in a number of TV shows and films.

Cyndi Lauper has announced the "She's So Unusual" Tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut album, according to a press release. During the 23-date tour—which will kick off June 12 at Humphrey's in San Diego and wrap up July 13 at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn.—Lauper will perform the album in its entirety. Among other stops are Portsmouth, Va.; Atlantic City, N.J.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and New Orleans.

UFC combatant Matt Mitrione's contract has been suspended after comments he made about transgender fighter Fallon Fox, according to BetweenTheRopes.com . On the show The MMA Hour, Mitrione called Fox a "lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak." The heavyweight also called Fox on numerous occasions throughout the interview as "he and him." Fox has a record of 5-0 as a professional and amateur fighter—with all five wins coming in the first round. However, controversy has centered around her potential opponents and whether they're entering into fair fights with her.

Tennis player Serena Williams told BBC Radio 5 live that overtaking the 18 Grand Slam singles titles won by Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova is a "big incentive" for her, according to BBC Sport. Williams, 31, currently has 15 to her name and says their mark of 18 is "in her sights." Australian Margaret Court holds the record with 24.

Producers of an ABC sitcom inspired by Latina singer Jenni Rivera have said they won't even try to retool the show after she passed away, according to the New York Post. The pilot for Jenni—a comedy about a singing single mom modeled closely on Rivera's life—was announced just four days before the musician died in a plane crash late last year. A movie about Rivera's life (called La Diva de la Banda) is in the works, and the director would like Jennifer Lopez to star.

Tina Simpson (the mother of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson) wrote a secret suicide note soon after finding out that her ex-husband Joe Simpson was having a gay affair, according to RadarOnline.com . Shortly before traveling to New York to confront Joe, 52, about his tryst with 21-year-old model Bryce Chandler Hill in August 2012, Tina reportedly scrawled a cry-for-help letter, threatening to shoot herself. In the note, Tina, 53, also allegedly said she wanted to shoot Joe, her husband of 35 years, for cheating on her.

Someone who allegedly stalked out singer Clay Aiken has been arrested, according to AOL.com . Barbara Saylor, 57, was arrested outside the singer's home in North Carolina earlier this month. She was booked on charges of misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor first-degree trespassing, and has a April 24 court date. Aiken was home at the time of the arrest.

Broadcast Music Inc. announced that Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine will receive the President's Award at the 61st annual BMI Pop Awards on May 14, according to Yahoo! News. The event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., and will also honor last year's top songwriters in pop.

Judge Judy will be on the bench for at least two more years, Yahoo! News reported. The former New York state judge presides over one of the top daytime TV shows, seen by approximately 10 million people each episode. Her current contract runs through 2015, and the new deal extends her through 2017. A spokesman had no comment on whether Sheindlin will be getting a raise from her reported $45 million annual salary.