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

Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey will portray the love interests in the upcoming movie Queer, set to be directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name), Metro Weekly noted, citing Variety. The film version of Queer is an adaptation of William S. Burroughs' short novel of the same name; it was written between 1951 and 1953, but wasn't actually published until 1985. Lesley Manville and Jason Schwartzman will also be in the film, which will start shooting this month in Rome (even though it's set in Mexico).

In an act of defiance against Tennessee's anti-drag law, Lizzo performed in the state with several Drag Race faves and local queens, PinkNews noted. Despite being advised by fans to cancel her Tennessee show due to the state's anti-drag law—which bans "adult cabaret entertainment" in public spaces and where it might be seen by minors—Lizzo instead brought drag performers (including RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Vanessa "Miss Vanjie" Mateo, Aquaria, Asia O'Hara and Kandy Muse) on stage.

Also involving Lizzo, the group Fight for the Future launched an open-letter campaign asking the singer to drop her support for the controversial Kids Online Safety Act. In the letter, the organization stated that the "legislation that sounds good on paper but has been opposed by nearly every major LGBTQ- and human-rights group in the U.S., including the ACLU, because it would actually harm kids rather than helping them while suppressing content related to LGBTQ issues." The press release is at https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2023-04-25-activists-call-on-lizzo-to-drop-support-for-legislation-that-would-harm-lgbtq-youth.

Creator Patrik-Ian Polk confirmed that the groundbreaking Black LGBTQ+ series Noah's Arc is slated to return. According to That Grape Juice, the show ran on Logo for two seasons starting in 2005; there was also a 2008 movie. Speaking at We Speak Out USA's 2nd Annual I Am Awards, Polk accepted an honor and thrilled onlookers with the announcement.

And Polk was among the many who posted on social media regarding the passing of late actor/producer/director Maurice Jamal. Polk posted, "Maurice was a bold risk-taker and trailblazer. In 2010, he founded GLO TV, the first urban LGBTQ network! Imagine having the guts and gumption to do THAT. … Please, I beg you…remember Maurice." A Facebook user identified as Dewayne Queen stated, "When you name Patrik-Ian Polk you should also name Maurice Jamal as one of the pioneers of Black LGBTQ content creation and film making. Ski Trip and Dirty Laundry revolutionized our community and gave a lot of us the first glimpses of seeing ourselves on screen." Actor Wilson Cruz and many others commented as well. Tributes to Jamal can be made at https://www.harrisfuneralhomeberkeley.com/obituaries/Maurice-Jamal/#!/TributeWall.

Season two of the queer Netflix series Heartstopper will debut Aug. 2, per a press release. During the eight-episode season, Nick and Charlie will navigate their new relationship; Tara and Darcy will face unforeseen challenges; and Tao and Elle will work out if they can ever be more than just friends. The show stars Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney and Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite), among others.

With the media outlet People, Orville Peck discussed his long road to music stardom—and how he's helping the next generation of country artists. Among other things, Peck described how it was breaking into the country-music genre as a queer artist: "It was a lot of people practically laughing in my face, telling me that being an openly gay man in country would never work. I've met very discouraging moments in my career. But I just kept my chin up, and I refused to let anybody tell me that I couldn't do what I wanted." Peck and fellow country singers Jimmie Allen and Mickey Guyton appear as talent scouts on the AppleTV+ competition My Kind of Country, produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves.

The book Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl—a historical novel by Renee Rosen that gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at makeup icon Estee Lauder—is now out, per a press release. Rosen, who lives in Chicago, is the USA Today best-selling author of The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants and Dollface.

Bisexual DJ The Blessed Madonna (real name: Marea Stamper) released the club-thumping single "Fuck what u heard," featuring contributions from garage pioneer Todd Edwards, per a press release. "Fuck what u heard" arrives as the latest in a stream of singles from the Blessed Madonna, including "Serotonin Moonbeams," with Uffie; and "We Still Believe," with Jamie Principle.

While accepting the Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's annual gala, actress Keke Palmer (Nope) opened up about her sexuality, according to Out. In part, the new mother said, "Sexuality and identity for me has always been confusion. You know, it's, 'I never felt straight enough. I never felt gay enough. And I never felt woman enough. I never felt man enough.' You know, I always felt like I was a little bit of everything. … I'm truly so grateful to be seen in this room because I know I'm surrounded by people who know without a doubt what it's like to decide to be who you are in a world that tells you to be everything but yourself."

Apple TV+ released the trailer for season two of the animated series Harriet the Spy, based on the iconic children's novel and chronicling the coming-of-age adventures of Harriet M. Welsch, per a press release. The season, debuting May 5, stars LGBTQ+ actors Beanie Feldstein (as Harriet, a fiercely independent and adventurous 11-year-old girl) and Jane Lynch (as Ole Golly, Harriet's larger-than-life, no-nonsense nanny).

Out LGBTQ+ country-music musician Lily Rose has teamed with well-known DJ Diplo on the song "Sad in the Summer," a Republic Records press release noted. "Sad In The Summer," is track No. 1 on Diplo's album Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2—Swamp Savant, which is now out.

Legendary singer and LGBTQ+ ally John Mellencamp's forthcoming album, Orpheus Descending, is set for release June 2 via Republic Records, per a press release. Mellencamp produced this album—his 25th—and recorded it at his own Belmont Mall Studio. Mellencamp is currently in the midst of his massive Live and In Person 2023 North American tour, with dates running through June 27 in New York City, Nashville, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston and more.

This summer's The Flash (out June 16)—with Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Michael Shannon, Ben Affleck and Sasha Calle—debuted a new trailer, per Out. The trailer starts with Michael Keaton's Batman—from the eponymous 1989 film and the 1992 follow-up Batman Returns—talking about his origin story and how he fights crime as if it would somehow bring his parents back. From there, the trailer mostly shows action sequences, including several Flashes and several Batmen. The film was originally meant to come out five years ago in 2018, but was delayed after several setbacks; also, non-binary star Miller's legal and publicity troubles pushed the film back even more.

Nominations for the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards have been released. Deadline noted that ABC's General Hospital leads the way with 19 nods, followed by fellow long-running soaps CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful (14) and The Young and the Restless (13) and NBC/Peacock's Days of Our Lives (11). The Kelly Clarkson Show leads the talk field with 11 noms, with fellow syndicated series The Drew Barrymore Show and freshman The Jennifer Hudson Show next with seven and six, respectively. (Another show that received six nods is Discovery+'s Book of Queer, which spotlights history's forgotten LGBTQ+ heroes, kings and queens.) The ceremony is set for Friday, June 16; CBS will air the show and Paramount+ will stream it live at 9 p.m. ET and delayed in the West at 9 p.m. PT.

The White Lotus star Lukas Gage and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton reportedly got married in Las Vegas, per Extra. According to the Clark County Clerk records, which TMZ obtained, the couple received a marriage license. Page Six stated that Kim Kardashian and five other guests attended the ceremony.

Actors Santi Talledo and Toni Gelabert are a couple, and the two of them have been sharing photos online, according to Instinct Magazine. Recently, Spanish actor Gelabert made an appearance in an El Trece talk show, where he confirmed his relationship with Argentinian actor Talledo. Aside from being a couple, the two actors are also co-stars in the soap opera Argentina, Land of Love and Revenge, which is set in 1984 after democracy has returned to Argentina.

Pop musician Bebe Rexha has released her third album, Bebe, a Warner Records press release noted. Among the songs are "Seasons," her duet with the legendary Dolly Parton; "I'm Good (Blue)," the pop star's collaboration with David Guetta; and "Satellite," featuring Snoop Dogg. The "Seasons" video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn47dIbqLWs.

Australian comedian Barry Humphries—best known for his comedic character Dame Edna Everage—died at age 89. According to Deadline, Humphries had been unwell in a Sydney hospital, suffering complications following hip surgery last month. Dame Edna became a star in the 1970s in the UK, getting her own chat show on ITV a decade later. Humphries also voiced the shark Bruce in the 2003 Pixar animated film Finding Nemo and made appearances in Spice World, The Hobbit and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Ashley McKenzie's queer coming-of-age drama Queens of the Qing Dynasty will open Friday, May 5, at NYC's Metrograph theater, per a press release. Starring Ziyin Zheng and Sarah Walker, the film is about a neurodivergent teen who forms an unlikely rapport with an international student from Shanghai volunteering at the hospital where they are a patient. Between the two, a bond forms, cemented by their candid conversations, nightly text messages, and exchange of their deepest secrets. The trailer is at https://vimeo.com/799949001.

Adele was the final guest for the segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden, according to CNN. "During their second 'Carpool' together—and Corden's last one as host of THE LATE LATE SHOW—Adele surprises her longtime friend at home in the morning, waking him up and offering to drive the late-night host to work," according to a press announcement from the show." The segment aired April 27.

Netflix confirmed season six of Black Mirror, unveiled a trailer and launch date, and revealed a cast list featuring Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, Michael Cera and Salma Hayek Pinault, per Deadline. A few of the other confirmed cast members include Zazie Beetz, John Hannah, Josh Hartnett and Himesh Patel. The show will launch in June. Dropping in 2019; the fifth season featured Miley Cyrus, Andrew Scott and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, among others.

HBO Max released a new teaser for the upcoming second season of its hit Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That, per Out. Season two of the show—which will debut in June—will star Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. (Kim Cattrall is still not coming back, even though Carrie and Samantha made up in the first season.) The cast will also include Nicole Ari Parker, Sarita Choudhury, Karen Pittman, Ivan Hernandez, Evan Handler and Sara Ramirez as well as John Corbett and Tony Danza (as himself).

Out singer Bob Mould announced his fall Solo Electric tour of the United States starting on Oct. 6 at the Atlantis in D.C. and ending at the Stoughton Opera House in Stoughton, Wisconsin, on Oct. 27, a press release noted. A few of the other stops will include Portland, Maine (SPACE); Cleveland (The Grog Shop); and Chicago (Old Town School of Folk). See bobmould.com/tour/ .

In Vermont, an exhibit at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center featuring the work of late pop artist Keith Haring ("Keith Haring: Subway Drawings") has been extended through June 11, per the Brattleboro Reformer. The hugely influential Haring, who was gay, died of AIDS in 1990 at the age of 31. See www.brattleboromuseum.org/2022/09/09/keith-haring-subway-drawings/ .

Out actor/singer Cheyenne Jackson recently posted on social media about his sobriety, according to Instinct Magazine. He posted, in part, "VULNERABLE is what I'm feeling today. After nearly a decade of sobriety I fell off the wagon. I've been carrying a lot of shame. Scared to share it." Jackson also thanked his support system, saying, "Thank you to @jamieleecurtis and so many others who have been there for me. It means everything to me. If you are out there struggling, you are not alone and there is a solution. I love you. And I love myself today and that feels really good to say. #progressnotperfection."

Openly gay Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) is set to face trial in the U.K. after allegedly assaulting a BBC host in a nightclub, Variety noted. (The charge stems from an alleged altercation with LGBTQ+ party planner/BBC3 show The Big Proud Party Agency host Teddy Edwardes last summer.) Black appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London via videolink on April 27 and pled not guilty to a charge of assault by beating. Black was released on unconditional bail. His trial is set to take place on Aug. 8.

Legendary singer Toni Braxton is on the mend after undergoing an emergency heart procedure, Extra noted. The singer suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus, which the CDC says causes the immune system to attack "its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels." Braxton told People Magazine, "I found out that I needed a coronary stent. My left main coronary artery was 80% blocked. The doctors told me I could've had a massive heart attack, I would not have survived."

Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey recently reflected on her friendship with her Heavenly Creatures co-star Kate Winslet in a new interview, sharing that they lost touch with each other once Winslet rose to fame, according to Page Six. "When I lost touch with Kate, it was more heartbreaking than some breakups that I've had," Lynskey said on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast. Lynskey described their friendship as "more intense than some love affairs" in a 2012 Time interview, adding, "We developed such a bond that for a long time we couldn't let it go. We would write each other letters and talk on the phone all the time. We were in constant contact for so long."

Actress Eva Green won her high court case in the United Kingdom against White Lantern and SMC Speciality Finance over the collapse of the sci-fi film A Patriot, Deadline noted. The case stems from the collapse of the British project in late 2019, which Green was due to star in and executive-produce. Green—who's been in 2006's Casino Royale and Robert Rodriguez's Sin City—claimed she was entitled to a $1-million fee she agreed to at the outset of the project, based on a pay-or-play contract.

Bisexual singer Halsey and screenwriter Alev Aydin have amicably ended their relationship, per Extra. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Halsey is asking for full physical custody of their child, Ender, and that "reasonable visitation" be given to Aydin. Their relationship inspired Halsey's fourth studio album, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power.

Former Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars judge Len Goodman has died at age 78 of bone cancer. Per Deadline, Goodman was a popular judge on the BBC's smash entertainment format Strictly Come Dancing from its inception in 2004 until 2016, when he was replaced by Shirley Ballas. He was simultaneously head judge on Strictly Come Dancing's U.S. version Dancing with the Stars, taking on that role from 2005 until last year, when he announced he would be retiring during the semifinals of the show.

Singer Meghan Trainor apologized for her "careless" comments about teachers and her intentions to homeschool her children as a result, according to Us Magazine. Teachers of TikTok and teachers of the world, I recently said 'F teachers' on [a] podcast and it's not how I feel," the "Mother" singer said in a TikTok video. "I was fired up because we were talking about how sending your kid to school here in America is so horrific." Trainor was referring to the epidemic of mass shootings in schools.

The alleged victim in a domestic-violence incident with Jonathan Majors (Creed III) has been granted a full temporary order of protection by a New York judge—and the actor is in full agreement with the measure, Deadline noted. The order directs Majors to have no contact with the alleged victim. It remains in effect until at least the next court hearing, currently scheduled for May 9.

Singer R. Kelly was moved from a Chicago correctional center to a medium-security prison in Butner, North Carolina, per ABC News. In February, a federal judge in Chicago sentenced the 56-year-old Grammy-winning R&B singer to 20 years in prison for child pornography and enticement of minors for sex. He will serve all but one of those simultaneously with a separate 30-year sentence on racketeering and sex trafficking convictions in New York.