Logo, the channel for gays and their families and friends from MTV Networks, has launched "beCause," its first ever pro-social initiative focusing on self-respect and empowerment issues for the LGBT community and their allies, according to a press release. Logo is teaming with the Greater Than AIDS movement on a multi-platform media effort to combat the resurgence of HIV infections among gay and bisexual men. Information is at http://www.logotv.com/because/hiv/index.jhtml.
Singer/actress Beyonce will star in a remake of A Star is Born, which Clint Eastwood will direct, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The film co-starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in the 1976 version. The original film debuted in 1937 and starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March; the second film, released in 1954, featured Judy Garland and James Mason, according to AntiMusic.com . Beyonce's movie—rumored to co-star Will Smith—will hit theaters in June 2012.
Gay writer Perry Moore, a producer of the Chronicles of Narnia movies, has died at the age of 39, according to Pink News. Moore's partner, Hunter Hill, found him in Moore's bathroom. A postmortem has been inclusive; however, there were reports that Moore allegedly died of an overdose of OxyContin, a prescription drug. Among his other accomplishments, Moore won a Lambda Literary award best novel prize for his 2007 book Hero, which centers around a gay teenage superhero.
The Oscar-nominated film The King's Speech was filmed in the same location as a gay-porn movie, according to a Pink News item. Much of The King's Speech took place at London's 33 Portland Place in the office of speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. This is the same address where director Jonno shot the gay-porn movie Snookered for the website UK Naked Men in 2008. Singer Amy Winehouse also filmed her video for the song "Rehab" in the same building.
Lady Gaga will release two videos for her current number-one single, "Born This Way," according to Digital Spy. The first video was released Feb. 28; the second will be released through iTunes and will contain a "stripped-down" version of the song. Profits from the second video will be donated to charity to fight anti-gay bullying.
The music video for Kanye West and Rihanna's song "All of the Lights" has been removed from YouTube—for health reasons, according to Digital Spy. The promo was recently released, but raised concerns because of its flashing imagery. The video was criticized for not including a health warning because the pulsating lights could induce fits in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Speaking of West, singer Lily Allen tweeted an angry response to a post he made about abortion, accoding to Digital Spy. Allen, who had become friends with the "Gold Digger" musician, was apparently offended by a message from West that suggested that women would get pregnant to get money from men. West tweeted, "An abortion can cost a ballin' n***a up to 50gs maybe a 100. Gold diggin' bitches be getting pregnant on purpose." Allen replied, "@kanyewest never has a tweet put me in such a bad mood. This is wrong on so many levels."
Legendary singer Paul McCartney is debuting his first ballet, having penned the orchestral score for the New York City Ballet's fall production, Digital Spy reported. McCartney wrote the score for the four-act Ocean's Kingdom. McCartney said that he was drawn to project, which tells the story of lovers torn between two worlds, because it presented a new challenge. Ocean's Kingdom is slated to debut Sept. 22.
The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards, which will feature musical numbers from the nominated New York stage productions, will be held May 23 at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center, Playbill.com reported. The Drama Desk Awards ceremony will be filmed in HD for a television special that will be given two prime-time airings plus four additional national broadcasts on Ovation between June 2 and June 15. Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, currently co-starring in La Cage aux Folles at the Longacre Theatre, will host the awards ceremony and the TV special.
ABC has extended its deal to host the Academy Awards through 2020, according to EW.com . Academy President Tom Sherak said in a statement, "This contract ensures that the Oscar show will be an ABC tradition for 45 consecutive years." The network's current deal was set to expire next year.
Rosie O'Donnell and actress Ashley Fink, who plays Lauren Zizes on the TV show Glee, have patched things up, according to Advocate.com . In an interview with The Advocate, Fink responded to O'Donnell's complaints to Access Hollywood about Fink's plus-size storyline on the Fox show. O'Donnell tweeted, "oh ashley - i love ur swagger - ur acting - ur face - ur heart - as a famous fat person - i am often asked about the issue … i love the story line..." Fink responded, "Awh thanks Rosie O! I adore you. Seriously heart you hard."
Talk-show host Chelsea Handler will play her own older sister in an NBC pilot based on the comedian's autobiography, according to EOnline.com . Laura Prepon ( Donna on That '70s Show ) will portray Handler. Prepon, who admitted that she hasn't read Handler's books, promised that she'll be a quick study and "immerse [ her ] self in the Chelsea Handler of it all. She's an amazing woman."
Out comedian Wanda Sykes will headline Gayfest NYC, Inc.'s, annual gala, to held March 21 at New York City's Loews Regency Hotel, according to BroadwayWorld.com . Gayfest NYC is devoted to the discovery, development and production of new LGBT-themed plays. Actor/producer/director Michael Urie ( best known for his role as Marc on TV's Ugly Betty ) and composer/singer Lance Horne will join Sykes.
On a recent show, Oprah Winfrey talked with transgender supermodel Lea T. According to ColorLines.com, the Brazilian model, 28, was born Leandro Cerezo in Italy, and revealed that she was discovered last year by Givenchy's lead designer. Since her discovery, the model has posed nude in French Vogue and kissed fellow supermodel Kate Moss on the cover of Love magazine. At one point during the show, Lea T said, "It's really difficult because you fight with all the world. You fight with your family. You fight with yourself too. You have to change everything in yourself."
Speaking of Winfrey, her network is apparently struggling. According to the New York Times, the two-month-old OWN is attracting fewer viewers than Discovery Health, which it replaced. OWN has about 135,000 viewers at any given time—and only 45,000 of those are women 25-54, the channel's target demographic. Winfrey and her partner, Discovery Communications, are asking people to be patient; she is expected to be more of a presence after her talk show ends in September.
Rosie O'Donnell has reportedly separated from partner Tracy Kachtick-Anders, according to Examiner.com . The two are still on good terms, and their combined 10 children bonded during the relationship. In related news, O'Donnell has become friends with radio talk-show host Howard Stern after a revealing hour-long interviw, and even has been kinder toward longtime foe Donald Trump.
Out Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was slated to give a lecture at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., March 2, according to MiscellanyNews.com . Vassar College Entertainment Special Events' Sean Shoemaker said that "Black will basically detail his life in the lecture, and his experiences growing up in a Mormon community in central Texas," adding that Black would be "especially relevant because of Vassar's strong emphasis on creative writing and arts."
Same-sex couple Bill Horn and Scout Masterson signed off on finalizing the adoption of their 8-month-old daughter, Simone Lynn, with godparents Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott attending the event, according to People.com . Horn said, "While Scout and I legally became Simone's dads today, the truth is she's been our little girl since the moment she was born. We can't imagine our lives without her." Horn and Masterson are the "guncles," or gay uncles, to Spelling and McDermott's children, Stella and Liam, and the couple is prominently featured in the show Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.
Talk-show co-host Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos are co-producing the second season of the series Be Good Johnny Weir, which focuses on the openly gay figure skater, according to Advocate.com . Ripa and Consuelos' Milojo Productions ( named after their children ) will team with Charlie Corwin's Original Media in the endeavor. The 10-episode series will follow Weir as he prepares for the ice-skating extravaganza entitled "Spectacular."
Singer Britney Spears will perform March 29 in the heavily gay area of San Francisco known as the Castro, according to MercuryNews.com . Spears, 29, announced on YouTube that she will perform a special concert on Good Morning America. She added, "And I promise you it'll be a morning to remember. See you soon." It is not known is the performance will be live or taped.
Sex and the City writer-director Michael Patrick King will unveil an NBC drama, A Mann's World, that will feature former Miami Vice and Nash Bridges star Don Johnson, according to Advocate.com . A Mann's World focuses on the world of a straight Beverly Hills hairdresser who purchases the day spa next door to his salon. The show is slated to debut this fall.
Richard Wolstencroft, the director of Australia's Melbourne Underground Film Festival, was fined $750 for illegally screening Bruce LaBruce's avant-garde horror film L.A. Zombie, according to Advocate.com . Wolstencroft was forced to pay the fine to the Royal Children's Hospital for showing the movie, which stars gay-porn model Francois Sagat. The maximum penalty was a $28,668 fine or two years in jail.
The legendary actress Jane Russell has passed away at the age of 89 of a respiratory-related illness, Parade Magazine reported. The '40s and '50s pinup debuted in the 1941 Howard Hughes film The Outlaw, and starred in dozens of box-office hits, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe. Russell retired from Hollywood after the 1960s to pursue a quieter life in central California.
The latest Dancing with the Stars cast has been unveiled. The celebrities who will dance include talk-show host Wendy Williams, wrestler Chris Jericho, actress Kirstie Alley, supermodel Petra Nemcova, actor Ralph Macchio, former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, among others. The 12th season will start March 12. Among those who reportedly turned down a chance to compete were the Rev. Al Sharpton and former Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell.
Singer Christina Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication after the driver of the car she was in was hauled in for driving under the influence March 1, according to People.com . The driver was reportedly Matthew Rutler, the boyfriend of the "Beautiful" singer. Aguilera, 30, who was booked on a misdemeanor charge, was allegedly "extremely intoxicated" and "unable to take care of herself."
Actress Meredith Baxter is alleging in a new memoir that her ex-husband, David Birney, hit her, according to People.com . In the new book, Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame and Floundering, Baxter—who came out as a lesbian in 2009—says that Birney struck her more than once. Baxter also discusses alcoholism, breast cancer and low self-esteem.
Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman is among those criticizing Dior chief designer John Galliano after a videotape has surfaced featuring him making graphic anti-Semitic remarks, People.com reported. Portman, said in a statement, "In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way." In the video, Galliano—who has been fired from Dior and who could be criminally prosecuted for the remarks—says, "I love Hitler" and tells two people they "should have been gassed." Portman is the face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume.
Renee Zellweger has reportedly agreed to reprise the title role in a third Bridget Jones film, according to Digital Spy. However, as opposed to the previous movies, Zellweger wants to maintain her current weight. Also, co-star Colin Firth has warmed up to the idea of re-signing.
Atlanta photographer Kim Roseberry is releasing We Love As You Do, a book that features 25 Black lesbians and couples, according to EDGE Atlanta. She focused on lesbians of color because of negative stigma attached with being gay or lesbian that exists among the Black community, due to religious beliefs. Roseberry's first book, The Male Factor: Exploring His Masculinity, focused on Black male models. See www.weloveasyoudo.com and www.she-driven.com .
