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

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced its panels and events for the 2nd Annual cineGLAAD program, taking place at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, according to a press release. Topics will include "Generation in Crisis: LGBT Youth in Film and the Media" and "TRANS-Lucent: The Ongoing Evolution of Transgender Images," and events will include "Cocktails with cineGLAAD." RSVP at www.glaad.org/cineGLAAD. Sundance will take place Jan. 20-30.

Former pro-basketball player Charles Barkley—who is known for being qute outspoken—spoke out against anti-gay discrimination during a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. before a Jan. 17 game between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, according to Advocate.com . Barkley said, "We have a thing going on now—people discriminating against homosexuality in this country. I love the homosexual people. God bless the gay people. They are great people." When he thought about being a politician a few years ago, Barkley supported same-sex marriage.

After saying that she'd love to be on the TV show Glee, actress Anne Hathaway will get her wish, according to Advocate.com . Glee creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed that Hathaway will protray the lesbian aunt of out student Kurt, played by Chris Colfer. Ryan acknowledged that several celebrities have asked about being on the show, adding, "I think they support the show because it's about the arts."

Susannah York, the British actress who starred in the controversial 1968 lesbian-themed drama The Killing of Sister George, has died of cancer at age 72, according to an Advocate.com item. The lesbian sex scene between York's and co-star Coral Browne's characters earned the movie an "X"rating in the United States. Among York's other films were Freud (alongside gay icon Montgomery Clift); They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (for which she was Oscar-nominated); and 1978's Superman.

This spring, talk-show host Anderson Cooper will make his Broadway debut as the narrator in the 50th-anniversary production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, according to Advocate.com . Legendary journalist Walter Cronkite was the voice of the narrator in the 1995 revival of the musical that starred Matthew Broderick. Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe will portray J. Pierrepont Finch in this revival, with previews starting Feb. 26.

Following the success of One Day in The Life of Daniel Radcliffe, New York-based photographer Tim Hailand continues his book series with music icons Rufus Wainwright and Jake Shears, according to a press release. One Day in The Life of Rufus Wainwright follows the singer-songwriter from New York City to Boston for his performance at the Boston Opera House; a portion of sales will benefit the Kate McGarrigle Fund for cancer research in honor of Rufus and sister Martha's late mother. Elton John provides the introduction and Kylie Minogue provides the afterword for One Day in The Life of Jake Shears, which follows the pop icon and Scissor Sisters frontman; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. See www.onedayinthelifeof.org .

It has been confirmed that out singer Ricky Martin will star as Che in the Broadway revival of Evita, opening the spring of next year, according to Advocate.com . Martin said, "I'm delighted to know that after I've had the chance to share new music and tour over the coming year, that I will then return once again to Broadway."Elena Roger, an Argentinian actress, will portray Eva Peron—a role she played five years ago.

On an appearance on The Gayle King Show, journalist/comedian/actress Faith Salie said that gay men are more endowed than their straight counterparts, according to an Advocate.com item. Discussing the phenomenon of gaydar, Salie said that endowment is one of many ways to identify gay me, as she also mentioned fingerprints and hair patterns.

Gay-rights icon Frank Kameny met recently with actor Leonardo DiCaprio and gay Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black for background on Clint Eastwood's upcoming film on former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, Advocate.com reported. Kameny talked about the early days of gay activism, including his work with the Mattachine Society, which the FBI targeted. DiCaprio will portray Hoover, with Armie Hammer slated to be Clyde Tolson, Hoover's protege and reputed lover.

Singer Jason Mraz has proposed to girlfriend Tristan Prettyman (and she accepted), but told attendees at the the Concert to Benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights on Jan. 19 that he won't get married until all same-sex couples in the United States can do the same thing, according to the Huffington Post. Mraz said, "We can't get married until [gay] marriage is legal and equal... I think giving people the right to marry will be a huge movement in civil rights."

At the same event, Sir Elton John (who also performed) sang a different tune about same-sex marriage, according to the Huffington Post. He said, "It seems so ridiculous I could be with my partner for 17 years and we have a son, and my partner and I can't get married," and then told opponents of marriage equality "fuck you." Two years ago, John said, "If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off."

Sir Elton John has also spoken of his collaboration with Glee star Matthew Morrison for Morrison's upcoming solo CD, according to the Post. John said, "I just did it! It's a duet. It's great, really fantastic. He sings great on it," he told Parade Magazine. "It's a medley of 'Mona Lisas and Madhatters' going into 'Rocket Man.'" Morrison, who plays the glee club's teacher on the show, will release the CD in February.

Former Dancing with the Stars contestant Kelly Osbourne's now ex-fiance Luke Worrell, 21, cheated on her with a transgender individual, Elle Schneider, according to Hot Momma Gossip. Schneider, who was born Reynaldo Gonzalez, has been on female hormones for almost three years and has breast implants. Schneider said, "I was open with Luke that I was born a boy. He didn't mind—in fact, it turned him on more. He always insisted he was single and I had no idea he was engaged to Kelly ­Osbourne."

When the all-star edition of TV's The Amazing Race airs Feb. 20, there will be two teams of gay contestants, according to Advocate.com . Activist Mel White and his screenwriter son, Mel, will compete, as will deaf gay individual Luke Adams and his mother, Margie. Mel White became an LGBT activist after coming out in 1994; he had been writing for conservative ministers before the development. Mel White—who has written School of Rock, among other films—is bisexual.

Logo's The A-List: New York, which focused on the lives of a group of gay friends, has been renewed for a second season and will debut this fall, according to PerezHilton.com . Logo Senior Vice President of Original Programming Dave Mace said, "The cast of 'The A-List: New York' burst onto the reality scene and grabbed everyone's attention. The series topped many 'guilty pleasure' lists and we're glad to bring the boys back for their fans." Season two will focus on Reichen Leimkuhl's relationship with Rodiney Santiago as well as Ryan Nickalus and his partner's adoption process.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced the nominees for its 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Among those getting nods are the films Howl, Easy A, Burlesque, I Love You Phillip Morris and The Kids Are All Right; TV shows Anderson Cooper 360, Modern Family, Glee, True Blood, Nurse Jackie, Greek and 30 Rock; and musicians Scissor Sisters, Chely Wright and Big Freedia. The Oprah Winfrey Show also was nominated for Ricky Martin's first televised interview after he came out. The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 19 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square; in San Francisco on May 14 at San Francisco Marriott Marquis; and in Los Angeles.

Among the ads that might be seen during the Super Bowl clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers is a Doritos spot with gay overtones. As a neighbor trims his hedges he notices something very appetizing next door. He licks his lips repeatedly—but is it at the Salsa Verde Doritos or the two very gay men sitting by the pool eating the chips? At the end of the ad, one of the men turns to the other and says, "Told you so."

Multi-platinum rock band Green Day will release a brand-new live album, entitled Awesome As Fuck, on March 22 on Reprise Records. The set, which includes a CD plus bonus DVD, features explosive performances captured during the band's 2009-2010 World Tour in support of their Grammy® Award-winning album 21st Century Breakdown. 21st Century Breakdown debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, won a 2009 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album," and has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.

The Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association has announced the winners of its Dorian Awards, according to InContention.com . I Am Love topped Black Swan, Toy Story 3, The Kids Are All Right and The Social Network for film of the year while Annette Bening won for performance of the year. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work was named documentary of the year, I Love You Phillip Morris was LGBT-themed film of the year, Easy A was tabbed unsung film of the year and Angela Landsbury was named the recipient of the Timeless Award.

The Kids Are All Right—a lesbian-themed movie starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore—received Academy Award nominations Jan. 25. The movie is up for best film (against nine other movies, including Black Swan, The Social Network, Toy Story 3 and Inception). Bening received a Best Actress nod, pitting her against probable favorite Natalie Portman (Black Swan). In addition, Mark Ruffalo received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as the sperm-donor father; and director Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg were nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The Oscars will air on ABC Sunday, Feb. 27.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Razzies (which honor the worst in film) were announced Jan. 24—and the vampire movie Eclipse received nine nods, according to People.com . Worst Picture nominations went to Eclipse, The Last Airbender, Sex & the City 2, Vampires Suck and The Bounty Hunter (with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler). The Razzies will be handed out at Hollywood's Barnsdall Gallery Theatre Feb. 26.

After a long journey, it seems that Wonder Woman will be a TV series, as NBC has picked up David E. Kelley's project, according to Deadline.com . New NBC entertainment president Bob Greenblatt made the decision—and it didn't hurt that Kelley's new show Harry's Law (starring Kathy Bates) has made a promising start. The superhero project has been described as a reinvention in which Wonder Woman—aka Diana Prince—is a vigilante crime-fighter in L.A.; however, she is also a corporate executive who tries to balance all the elements of her life.

The rumors about former U.S. President Bill Clinton appearing in the sequel to The Hangover are untrue, according to a CNN.com item. Ed Helms, who stars in The Hangover 2, told MTV that Clinton "came and visited us [in Thailand]. I'd be surprised if there's a scene in the movie." However, Helms did confirm that former boxer Mike Tyson will make a cameo in this movie as well.

Sir Elton John has described fatherhood as "enchanting," CNN.com reported. John said, "I thought I would be frantic, worrying about when [the baby is] crying. I got to understand that's what babies do—crying, and you put him over your shoulder, you carry him in front of you, you change him, you feed him, you read him a bedtime story, you bathe him. It's all so wonderful." John and partner David Furnish are the fathers of Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, who was born via surrogate last Christmas Day.

Eighties singer Tiffany has apologized for apparently outing a member of the band New Kids on the Block, according to CNN.com . While promoting her upcoming TV movie Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, Tiffany, 39, said of dating singer Jonathan Knight, 42, "He's fabulous. But he became gay later," and added, "[N]ow looking back when we were dating, he was so much fun—we used to do facials together, he was so easy to talk to." Knight (who has never officially come out) tweeted about the incident, prompting Tiffany to tweet, "Really didn't know that was the wrong thing to say. Never meant to hurt Jon."

Actress Michelle Williams talked about ex Heath Ledger's death and the aftermath on the TV show Nightline—but she now feels that she's revealed too much, according to CNN.com . Among other things, Williams said that she still struggles with talking about the late actor to their 5-year-old daughter, Matilda. Of the interview, Williams said, "It was a three-hour interview that was edited in such a way that was devastating to me." An ABC News rep said that the work "was done fairly and thoughtfully." Williams, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work in the film Blue Valentine, met Ledger on the set of Brokeback Mountain.

Robert Downey, Jr., has dropped out of the Sam Raimi film Oz: The Great and the Powerful, according to the Hollywood Reporter. However, Disney is hoping that Johnny Depp will take over the role in the movie, which is seen as a Wizard of Oz prequel of sorts. The film is about a young illusionist who flees a traveling circus. His balloon is caught up in a tornado and he is transported to the land of Oz, which is run by two evil witches.

Lesbian talk-show host Rachel Maddow has praised Keith Olbermann in the wake of his departure from MSNBC, where they were both employed, according to the Huffington Post. On her first show without his lead-in program, Maddow thanked Olbermann for bringing her to the station and for being "freaking successful" in having liberals being heard. She added, "If you want to be a pioneer, don't just be the first person like you to do something; be the first person like you to do it brilliantly." Maddow also said that Olbermann's departure had "no effect on the editorial independence that makes it possible for me to do this work."

Tammy Etheridge—the ex of Melissa Etheridge—is blasting the singer's current romance with Nurse Jackie creator Linda Wallem, according to US Magazine. On her blog, Tammy blasted suggestions that Melissa and Wallem are a relatively new couple, writing, "She said it would help [to move out in 2009]. I was convinced it would/too and I trusted there was/no one else/I didn't know/there was someone moving in/as I was moving out." Wallem was "best man" at the Etheridges' wedding in 2003. Melissa's response to Tammy's rant was "I do not comment on haikus."