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

Speaking of Ocean, he also has announced the launch of Homer, per a press release. It is a luxury company that includes fine and high jewelry pieces, plus printed silk scarves. The pieces are handcrafted using 18K gold, recycled sterling silver, hand-painted enamel and U.S. lab-grown diamonds. Items can only be purchased at the NYC store; appointments can be made at www.homer.com .

Neil Patrick Harris has been tapped as the lead in Uncoupled—Netflix's new comedy series created and executive-produced by Younger and Emily in Paris creator/executive producer Darren Star as well as longtime Modern Family executive producer Jeffrey Richman, Deadline noted. Uncoupled centers on Michael (played by Harris), who thought his life was perfect until his husband blindsides him by walking out the door after 17 years. Overnight, Michael has to confront two nightmares: losing what he thought was his soulmate and suddenly finding himself a single gay man in his mid-forties in New York City.

Kino Lorber announced that it will re-release Anna Biller's 2007 1970s Playboy era-inspired feature film Viva on Blu-ray on Tuesday, Aug. 24, per a press release. Viva is a cult retro spectacle about a bored 1970s housewife who gets sucked into the sexual revolution. Abandoned by her perfect Ken-doll husband, Barbi (Biller) is dragged into trouble by her girlfriend, who spouts women's lib as she gets Barbi to discard her bra and go out on the town. Barbi becomes a Red Riding Hood in a sea of wolves, and quickly learns a lot more than she wanted to about the different kinds of scenes going on in the wild '70s. The new extras include a new audio commentary by writer/director/star Anna Biller and behind-the-scenes footage that she narrates as well.

Ariel Nicholson has made history as the first trans model on the cover of Vogue, out.com noted. She is featured alongside others including Bella Hadid, Lola Leon, Sherry Shi, Yumi Nu, Kaia Gerber, Precious Lee and Anok Yai as the "models who make the moment" on the cover of the latest issue. In the issue, Nicholson talked about the limits of what representation can do. "Obviously it's a big deal being the first trans woman on the cover of Vogue, but it's also hard to say exactly what kind of big deal it is when the effects are so intangible," she said.

Firebird and Gemmel & Tim are among the films that are part of this year's Outfest, per a press release. Firebird is an LGBTQ Cold War thriller that involves a love triangle; the in-person screening is Aug. 21 and virtual screenings are Aug. 22-24. Gemmel & Tim is about Gemmel "Juelz" Moore and Timothy "Tim" Dean—two gay Black men who died of meth overdoses at the apartment of California Democratic donor and LGBTQ activist Ed Buck; the in-person screening is Aug. 15 and virtual screenings are Aug. 16-18. (Buck was recently found guilty of their deaths.) See outfestla2021.com/firebird/ and outfestla2021.com/gemmel-tim/, respectively.

GLAAD released a new interview with country-music singer Miranda Lambert, per a press release. Among other things, she talks about being an LGBTQ ally: "I do think we are in a moment of change and I have so much to learn. I am always sensitive, I always call my brother because I want to make sure I say the right things...I know I am uneducated, but I am full of love. Being in a family where I am surrounded by LGBTQ people, it has me learning and figuring out how I can be a part of the change and still be the same person I have been as an artist for 20 years. I don't see why those worlds can't mesh. I speak up about things I care about! If I can be a part of this change in any way. … I always want to do that." The interview is at youtu.be/1Ygk7J64Rbw

The DiscOasis—a roller-disco paradise that unites art, light, disco, dance, live performances, roller skating and good times—will join forces with queer nightlife collective Black Charmed for a very special "Bloom Ball." The celebration will take place at The DiscOasis, at the South Coast Botanic Garden, on Sunday, Aug 8. The evening will feature DJ sets from MEZ and Victor Rodriguez, and a surprise special performance; visit tickets.thediscoasis.com .

The Netflix Original Documentary Pray Away—from executive producers Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum—debuted on Netflix on Aug. 3, per a press release. In the film, former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions. Focusing on the dramatic journeys of former conversion therapy leaders, current members, and a survivor, Pray Away chronicles the "ex gay" movement's rise to power, persistent influence and the profound harm many experts have said it causes.

BLACKSTARKIDS released their single "Juno" Aug. 5, per a press release. Last year, BLACKSTARKIDS released their full-length mixtape Whatever, Man. That work incorporates each member's wide-ranging influences into one body of work and is fueled by artists such as Toro Y Moi, N*E*R*D*, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Outkast, Odd Future and A Tribe Called Quest. The Kansas trio have released songs such as "Britney Bitch," "Tangerine Love" and "Frankie Muniz."

Colombian pop sensation Maluma, rock icon Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will take the stage Aug. 21 at a Central Park concert celebrating the Big Apple's comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Post reported. Also on the line up will be Patti Smith, Carlos Santana, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Killers, LL Cool J, Andrea Bocelli and even The New York Philharmonic, among numerous others. The free Great Lawn show in Manhattan will cap off a week of concerts in the city's other five boroughs.

Country legend Dolly Parton was on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen recently, and she revealed the big purchase she made with royalties money from "I Will Always Love You," Yahoo! Entertainment noted. (The 1973 song of hers was covered by Whitney Houston in 1992, and became a massive hit on the soundtrack for Houston's film, The Bodyguard.) "I bought a property down in what was the Black area of [Nashville], and it was mostly just black families and people that lived around there. And it was off the beaten path from 16th avenue," Parton said. "And I thought, 'Well I am going to buy this place—the whole strip mall.' And thought, 'This is the perfect place for me to be,' considering it was Whitney."

Also connected with Parton, on Sept. 21, Time/Life will issue Dolly: The Ultimate Collection, per a press release. The six-DVD set includes, among other things, 11 star-studded episodes of her variety show (with Oprah Winfrey and Kenny Rogers among the guests); Parton's Live from London concert; and the 2019 BBC documentary Dolly Parton: Here I Am.

Schitt's Creek co-creator, executive producer and star Dan Levy is getting animated for a follow-up to his Emmy-winning series, Deadline noted. Hulu ordered a presentation for Standing By, an animated comedy from Levy, writer-director Ally Pankiw and 20th Television Animation. Levy also will voice one of the lead characters in the project, which falls under Levy's overall deal with ABC Signature. Standing By is a satirical look into the lives of a group of eternally bound, disgruntled guardian angels.

Kathy Griffin revealed that she has been diagnosed with lung cancer and that she underwent surgery to have half of her left lung removed, Deadline reported. Griffin, 60, who said she has never been a smoker, tweeted that doctors "are very optimistic" about her outcome, noting that the cancer is "stage one" and contained to her left lung. She added, "Hopefully no chemo or radiation after this and I should have normal function with my breathing."

The Del Shores Foundation is presenting a one-night-only celebration of the 20th anniversary of Del Shores' GLAAD Award-winning play Southern Baptist Sissies for a #SissiesLivestream, per a press release. The reunion will be live streamed as a benefit fundraiser on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, hosted and produced by Emerson Collins and Del Shores. The reunion will feature cast members from the original 2000 play, the 2002 revival, the 2006 national tour and the 2013 feature film adaptation. Leslie Jordan, Willam Belli, Emerson Collins, Dale Dickey and Bobbie Eakes are among those slated to appear.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett revealed the title, concept and track list for their second collaborative album, which is said to be Bennett's last of his career, out.com noted. The album will be a Cole Porter tribute, and is titled Love for Sale. "The day we released Cheek To Cheek in 2014, @itstonybennett called me and asked me if I wanted to record another album with him, this time celebrating the songs of Cole Porter," Gaga wrote on Instagram. "I'm always honored to sing with my friend Tony, so of course I accepted the invitation. Today, I am so excited to announce that our new album Love For Sale will be released [Oct.] 1." Bennett, who celebrated his 95th birthday last week, and Gaga recently performed two shows at Radio City Music Hall.

Following a highly competitive bidding war, Amazon Studios landed Ex-Husbands and will develop the new comedy, an original story by Billy Eichner and Paul Rudnick, according to Deadline. Eichner is also attached to star, with the screenplay by Rudnick. The film tells the story of Daniel and Connor, who were madly in love when they became the first gay couple in NYC to get legally married in 2015 and poster boys for LGBTQ love and acceptance; however, they're getting an even more epic divorce.

Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the second season of the NAACP Image Award-winning drama Truth Be Told, from writer, showrunner and executive producer Nichelle Tramble Spellman, per a press release. Starring and executive-produced by Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, the anticipated new season also stars Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson in her first lead role in a television series. The 10-episode second season of the anthology drama, which provides a glimpse into America's obsession with true crime podcasts, will return on Friday, Aug. 20, with the first episode, followed by new episodes premiering every Friday.

Jennifer Lopez responded to a video of Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher holding a cardboard cutout of the singer's face and professing her adoration for the pop star, EW.com noted. Reposting the video on her own TikTok, Lopez wrote, "I choose you too," as her caption. In the original video, Maher said, "I think you're so multitalented and you can do literally anything. I wanna let you also that I was given multiple cutouts of hot men but I chose you because you're my number one."

Paramount Pictures is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the iconic film The Sheik, which stars Rudolph Valentino, a press release noted. The role helped propel Valentino into stardom and sealed his status as a Hollywood heartthrob—and the original "Latin Lover"—at the age of 26. The film will be celebrated with a brand-new Blu-ray release, arriving as part of the Paramount Presents line on Oct. 19.

At a California appeals court, CBS has again triumphed against the talent agent who thought Judge Judy Sheindlin's $47 million yearly salary was excessive, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The suit came from Richard Lawrence' Rebel Entertainment Partners, the successor-in-interest to the agency that originally packaged Judge Judy. The appeals court affirmed the trial court's opinion.

A long-running battle between the estate of the late R&B singer Aaliyah and her uncle/ former manager and label chief Barry Hankerson broke into the open after teasers about forthcoming music were posted online, Variety reported. The "Try Again" singer died in a 2001 plane crash when she was just 22. She is arguably the most popular and prominent artist whose most-successful recordings are not available on streaming services—apparently due to a conflict between Hankerson and the estate that has gone on for the better part of two decades.

The City of Philadelphia joined Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the City's official FIFA World Cup 202 bid committee, to unveil the 2021 Philadelphia International Unity Cup jersey design, per a press release. This year's Unity Cup jersey will feature Philadelphia's bid to host FIFA World Cup 2026 as the primary logo on all 52 team jerseys, which represent each individual nation participating in this World Cup-style tournament. This year's tournament is set to conclude on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union.

The Marvel film Venom: Let There Be Carnage will be in theaters this fall, per a press release. Tom Hardy returns to the big screen as the lethal protector Venom. Directed by Andy Serkis, the film also stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson—the latter in the role of the villain Cletus Kasady/Carnage.

Radar Pictures has secured the television rights from the Valdemar literary universe, per a press release. The drama series will be developed as the first adaptation of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar Universe, spanning 58 books over more than three decades. The project is a collaboration between Radar Pictures as well as writers Kit Williamson (Emmy-nominated creator of Netflix's LGBTQ comedy series EastSiders) and New York Times best-selling author Brittany Cavallaro (the Charlotte Holmes series).

According to a new report from Forbes, Rihanna is now officially a billionaire. The singer/entrepreneur/actress is officially worth $1.7 billion—making her the wealthiest female musician in the world and second only to Oprah Winfrey as the richest female entertainer. She owns 50% of Fenty Beauty and owns the lingerie company Savage x Fenty.

American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as well as veteran host Ryan Seacrest will return for the show's 20th season next spring, an ABC press release announced. Last season, the show ranked as the number-one series in its two-hour time period for the second year in a row among adults 18-49. Auditions kicked off Aug. 6 with the return of "Idol Across America," the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar; interested persons should visit www.americanidol.com/auditions.

Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of rock icons Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Games—instantly becoming perhaps the most famous figure in U.S. equestrian jumping history, according to Page Six. Jessica, 29, was joined on the podium by teammates Laura Kraut and McLain Ward.

Jennifer Aniston revealed to InStyle magazine that she has cut ties with "a few people" who won't get vaccinated against COVID, per Page Six. "There's still a large group of people who are anti-vaxxers or just don't listen to the facts. It's a real shame," she said in her InStyle September cover interview. Aniston has been vocal throughout the fight against coronavirus, urging her Instagram followers to "wear a damn mask."

Departing from her own The Nanny co-stars, Tom Hanks endorsed Fran Drescher for president of SAG-AFTRA, Deadline noted. "The future of SAG-AFTRA is streaming," Hanks is quoted as saying on the front of a USAN voter guide sent to the union's members. "Members deserve stronger contracts, more residuals, better protections and ending unfair exclusivity. I'm supporting USAN Leadership, Fran, Anthony and their entire team. Your vote matters." It was recently reported Charles Shaughnessy and Madeline Zima (who co-starred with Drescher) are backing the Membership First slate of candidates headed by Matthew Modine and his running mate, Joely Fisher.

On a related note, the starry Met Gala returns this fall, but with two important caveats: Everyone going needs to be jabbed and must wear a mask indoors, according to Page Six. "Currently, all attendees at The Met Gala on September 13 must provide proof of full vaccination and will also be expected to wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking. We will update these guidelines as needed," a spokesperson for the Met told The Daily Beast. This follows IMG's announcement that all New York Fashion Week shows in September will require vaccinations as well, with mask policy yet to be determined.

The Bachelor franchise alums Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe are extending their turn as hosts on The Bachelorette, Deadline noted. The duo, who are hosting season 17 of The Bachelorette, will return to host the upcoming 18th season, ABC and franchise producer Warner Bros. Unscripted Television confirmed. Adams and Bristowe replace longtime host Chris Harrison, who departed the romance franchise after 19 years for good in June amidst a controversy about his comments on race.

Pete Parada, the drummer for Offspring, posted on his social media that he's been ousted from the group because he won't agree to get the COVID vaccine, Variety noted. Beyond being replaced on an upcoming tour, Parada said he's been told not to show up at the studio, either, even though he claims to have legitimate medical reasons for not getting the shot (previously having a case of COVID, as well as his lifelong history with Guillain-Barre Syndrome).