Queer performer Big Freedia—the queen of bounce music—has a new album, Pressing Onward, NPR noted. While she keeps God first in everything she does, Freedia stated that Pressing Onward—complete with a mix of gospel choirs and booty-shaking—is for everyone: “It’s for Black, white, straight, gay. It’s for people who may have not been accepted into church, you know, who may have been rejected because of their sexuality, because of who they are… Anybody and everybody can have a connection with God.”
Roxane Gay is the winner of the 2025 Literarian Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Foundation, according to People. Most widely known for her essay collection Bad Feminist and her memoir Hunger, Gay is an award-winning writer, editor, publisher, professor and cultural critic. Gay is also the editor of Roxane Gay Books—an imprint of Grove Atlantic, which champions Black writers, writers of color, queer writers, writers with disabilities and from various economic backgrounds, and writers with intersectional identities. Gay will be presented with the honor at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner or Wed., Nov. 19; she will be awarded a $10,000 prize and a solid brass medal for her achievement.
Arizona residents will be able to view a selection of the New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival’s 130 films—including all 100 short films—online and for free throughout the duration of the festival, The Advocate noted. The development happened after President Trump’s anti-DEI orders forced the closure of The Desperado LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Phoenix. NewFest will announce its lineup on Sept. 10, and the festival will run Oct. 9-21. Arizonans can sign up for virtual viewings online through the Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative.
On the Sept. 7 episode of Mamamia’s No Filter podcast, Rosie O’Donnell recalled how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres ended following a 2004 interview on Larry King Live in which DeGeneres said she was not friends with O’Donnell, according to People. “Instead of deciding to stand next to me and hold my hand, which is what I did to her, she did the opposite,” O’Donnell said, referring to her support of DeGeneres after she came out. “I couldn’t believe it,” she added. “I have photos of her holding my newborn babies. I knew her for 30 years.” In 2023, O’Donnell told The Hollywood Reporter that DeGeneres had apologized.
The Amazon Prime series Overcompensating has been renewed for a second season, per Variety. Series creator Benito Skinner will return to star in, write and executive-produce the second season. The show has been described as a college ensemble comedy “about the wild, chaotic journey of Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, as he becomes fast friends with Carmen (Wally Baram), a high school outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs.”
Charlie Sheen discussed his sexual experiences with men for the first time in his upcoming Netflix documentary aka Charlie Sheen, Page Six noted. The actor went on to call his decision to talk about his past encounters with men “liberating.” “It’s f—ing liberating… [to] just talk about stuff. It’s like a train didn’t come through the side of the restaurant. A f—ing piano didn’t fall out of the sky. No one ran into the room and shot me,” the actor explained, adding that the same-sex encounters started when he smoked crack.
The White Lotus will use France as location for the upcoming fourth season of the hit murder mystery comedy-drama anthology, per Deadline. The White Lotus works exclusively with the Four Seasons hotel chain that doubles as White Lotus hotels. Rumors have focused on the famous Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, on the tip of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula on the French Riviera, which has strong Hollywood ties with its nearness to Cannes.
The movie The Compatriots will debut on Apple/ iTunes, Amazon and all major platforms in the US and Canada on Sept 16, per a press release. The film’s release also coincides with Citizen Day in the United States (Sept. 17) and highlights the continuing relevance and resonance of stories about immigration, identity and belonging in U.S. cinema. The movie follows Javi (Rafael Silva), an undocumented immigrant facing deportation who unexpectedly reunites with his estranged best friend Hunter (Denis Shepherd), a bachelor seeking deeper connections; together, they embark on a journey to prevent Javi’s expulsion from the only country he has ever called home.
RuPaul is starring in a new and currently untitled action-comedy from Hairspray director Adam Shankman, per Variety. Bleeker Street has teamed with World of Wonder to acquire North American rights to the film. The film—billed as the first-ever feature from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe—will be released theatrically nationwide next year.
Lady Gaga—currently on a “Mayhem Ball” world tour set to soon come to Chicago’s United Center on Sept. 15-17—unexpectedly canceled a show in Miami on Sept. 3, minutes before she was to take the stage, per NBC 5 Chicago. The venue stated, “During her warmup tonight, Lady Gaga experienced significant vocal strain and has been advised by her ENT and vocal coach to not perform. Information on the rescheduled date and the process for refunds will be issued soon.”
UK singer Morrissey said that he “has no choice” but to put up for sale the entirety of his business interests in his former band the Smiths “to any interested party/investor,” The Guardian noted. The offer was made in apparent seriousness on his website, Morrissey Solo, in a post titled “A Soul for Sale.” “I have had enough of malicious associations,” he stated, in part. “With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images. I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill will and destruction, and this is the only resolution.”
Non-binary Australian DJ G Flip released their third studio album, Dream Ride, a media release announced. To accompany the release, they’ve shared an official music video for the previously unreleased track “Bed on Fire.” According to the release, the album “finds the Melbourne-born, LA-based musical polymath playing every instrument and teaming back up with co-writer/producer Aidan Hogg to create an album that both unpacks their experience as a queer, non-binary artist and is unabashedly inspired by Bruce Springsteen, late-night drives around Los Angeles, ‘80s reverb, and maximalist drums.”
Tony and Olivier winner Jane Krakowski (also known for her role in TV’s 30 Rock) will join Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! in the role of Mary Todd Lincoln, Broadway Buzz noted. Krakowski will begin performances on Oct. 14; her limited eight-week engagement will conclude Dec. 7. The current cast Of Oh, Mary! also features Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Urie and Jenn Harris as Mary’s Husband, Mary’s Teacher and Mary’s Chaperone, respectively, as well as Tony Macht as Mary’s Husband’s Assistant/Kyle. Oh, Mary! has extended its stay at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre through July 2026.
Janelle Monáe, Keith David, Danny Elfman, Riki Lindhome and John Stamos are among the performers who will be at the Hollywood Bowl for what has become a Halloween tradition with an all-new performance of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert on Oct. 25-26, a press release noted. Marking a decade since the first shows, Elfman—who composed the original film music, lyrics and score—will sing the songs of Jack Skellington, the film’s Pumpkin King character, as well as Barrel.
A film is in the works that will tell the story of the early life and career of the iconic Irish musician Sinead O’Connor, who died in 2023 at the age of 56, per Variety. Behind the project is Irish production company ie: entertainment, which executive-produced the critically acclaimed O’Connor documentary Nothing Compares. O’Connor became one of the most legendary figures in Irish cultural history and a trailblazer for women across the world. At 23, she won a Grammy for her sophomore album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, which spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1990 and had the hit single “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, denied any involvement in the upcoming biopic Michael—and pushing back against LGBTQ+ Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo’s recent remarks suggesting otherwise, WBLS noted. At a high-profile gala during the Venice Film Festival, Domingo, who portrays Joe Jackson in the film, said that both Paris and her brother Prince had been “very much in support of our film.” Shortly afterward, Paris took to Instagram post, “Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol,” she wrote, calling the suggestion “so weird.” Paris also used her platform to criticize what she sees as a common Hollywood tendency to whitewash true stories.
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, musician and LGBTQ+ ally Matisyahu has released his new single “Son Come Up”; he also announced that his eighth full-length studio album, Ancient Child, will be released on Friday, Oct. 3, via SoundOn, per a press release. “‘Son Come Up’ is the first song conceived when I started writing for the album Ancient Child, and fittingly so,” Matisyahu said. “As [my older sons] move through dangerous situations, I pray for them to rise like the sun and shine their lights into the world. The song ‘Son Come Up’ becomes a prayer to the next generation to move us into a time of peace. The Ancient Child comes on a donkey led by a child.”
All Things Go announced “Tennessee”—the third track off its forthcoming charity compilation benefitting The Ally Coalition. The song features Kesha, who teams with Orville Peck, with help from Hudson Mohawke and Tayla Parx. All Things Go’s forthcoming charity compilation benefiting The Ally Coalition will include artists such as Kesha, Peck, Maren Morris, Jack Antonoff, Medium Build and more. Founded in 2013 by Jack Antonoff and fashion designer Rachel Antonoff, The Ally Coalition is a nonprofit committed to bettering the lives of queer youth.
Actor Derek Dixon, who is suing producer Tyler Perry for sexual assault and harassment, appeared on ABC News to detail his allegations against the entertainment mogul, according to Variety. Dixon—who said the alleged harassment occurred while he acted on Perry’s BET show The Oval—claimed that Perry “pulled my underwear down and grabbed my ass” while drinking at Perry’s home in Atlanta. The evening allegedly ended with Dixon locking himself in the guesthouse bathroom, and Dixon also claimed that Perry called the next day to apologize.
WNBA player Angel Reese said that she apologized to her Chicago Sky teammates following her comments regarding them, Bleacher Report noted. Talking with The Chicago Tribune, Reese had said of Courtney Vandersloot, for example, “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at [36]. I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that.” Windy City Times received a statement saying, “Because of statements detrimental to the team made by Angel Reese during league-mandated media, she will not play in the first half of the game on Sept. 7 against the Las Vegas Aces. This matter has been handled and resolved internally, and we are moving forward as a team.”
The trailer for Dust Bunny—out gay writer/producer Bryan Fuller (TV’s Hannibal) newest film—has been released, a media release noted. In Dust Bunny, a 10-year-old girl (played by Sophie Sloan) and a hit man (played by Mads Mikkelsen, who played the title character in Hannibal) join forces to confront each other’s monsters. Sigourney Weaver and David Dastmalchian are also in the movie.
The celebrity cast and their pro dancing partners for season 34 of Dancing with the Stars were announced on ABC’s Good Morning America, per a press release. The season will start Sept. 16. Some of the pairs include Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa; actress Danielle Fishel and partner Pasha Pashkov; reality TV star Dylan Efron and partner Daniella Karagach; and Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui with partner Brandon Armstrong.
Howard Stern trolled fans by claiming that out gay Bravo exec Andy Cohen had taken over his slot at SiriusXM, Variety noted. Stern had told listeners he’d been thinking of retiring but said he felt he could not now walk away from SiriusXM given media reports that The Howard Stern Show was canceled. “One of the positive things” about all the “fake news,” Stern said, was that he heard from other companies that were interested in picking up his show. However, Before Stern came on the air on Sept. 8, in a staged bit, Cohen introduced himself and said that the channel going forward would now be known as “Andy 100.” Cohen curates two SiriusXM channels and co-hosts the weekday show Andy Cohen Live on the service.
Musician Frank Ocean shared a vague Instagram Story post that appeared to reiterate his sexuality, Complex noted. Amid rumors he’s in a relationship with UFC athlete Payton Talbott, Ocean shared a screenshot of what seemed to be results from an online quiz. “Overall: Bi: Homosexual-Leaning,” the screenshot read, alongside the infinity symbol and the rotating heart emoji. In 2012—shortly before the release of his debut album, Channel Orange—Ocean shared an open letter about his first true love, a man for whom he had unrequited feelings when he was 19.
Rapper Young Thug said that gay men who don’t disclose their sexuality right away are violating the “man code,” according to Hot New Hip Hop. On the Perspektives with Bank podcast, he said that he’s not comfortable being friends with gay men who aren’t up front about their sexuality. Besides his problems with closeted men, Thug also talked about leaked prison phone calls, what he said was betrayal by former signee Gunna—and even admitted that he cheated on his girlfriend, singer/songwriter Mariah The Scientist, ahead of his 2022 arrest.
Instinct noted that rapper/R&B singer August Alsina, 32, sparked conversations online after posting an Instagram story featuring himself and male R&B singer Zu, 22, with the caption “…3 shots in & 5 years later!” The comment led some social-media users to question the timeline of their relationship and whether it was age-appropriate. On X, Zu clarified that he was already an adult when he and Alsina first met. Alsina— previously linked to Jada Pinkett-Smith—first introduced Zu to the public back in 2022 on VH1’s The Surreal Life, calling him his “love.”
The Broadway production Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club announced an early closing date—Sunday, Sept. 21, instead of Oct. 19—as star Billy Porter withdraws from the production due to what producers say is a “serious case of sepsis,” per Deadline. Producers said Porter’s doctors “are confident that he will make a full recovery but have advised him to maintain a restful schedule these next couple of weeks.” Eddie Redmayne, Adam Lambert and Orville Peck portrayed the Emcee in Cabaret before Porter took on the role.
In a Facebook post, legendary LGBTQ+ Olympic diver Greg Louganis revealed that he would be moving to Panama—adding that some of his prized gold medals would be remaining in the United States to fund the trip, Men’s Journal noted. Louganis made a combined $437,000 from selling the medals—a figure that exceeded his wildest expectations. The former diver decided to sell many of his possessions after seeing his friends lose theirs in the 2024 Los Angeles wildfires. “Now I get to discover who is Greg Louganis? Without the distraction and noise from outside. At least this is my goal, and hey, I may not find that,” he stated.
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda recently spoke with Out about the show’s decision not to perform at D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Miranda said, in part, “Morally, it was not complicated, because the Kennedy Center has historically been a bipartisan birthplace for the best of our nation’s arts. Trump’s administration politicized that when they fired the board and Trump named himself head of it.” After the decision to cancel the performances was made in March, the center’s new (and openly gay) president, Richard Grenell, criticized Manuel and the company behind Hamilton on X, writing in a since-deleted post that the move was a “a publicity stunt that will backfire.”
The alumni association of the US Military Academy, or West Point, announced in May that it would award Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, with its 2025 Sylvanus Thayer award—but plans have now changed, The Guardian noted. Now, the West Point Association of Graduates has canceled the ceremony to honor the actor just weeks before it was to take place. In an email to faculty, retired Col Mark Bieger stated that the decision would allow the academy to “continue its focus on its core mission of preparing cadets to lead, fight and win as officers in the world’s most lethal force, the United States Army.” While that reasoning may puzzle some, it is known that Hanks has donated to Democratic causes and endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Renee Rapp responded to Betty Who bringing her name into a pop-culture discussion about lesbians who fall in love with men—sparked in recent months by personal developments involving Fletcher and JoJo Siwa, per Out. When asked about Who’s remarks about her sexuality, Rapp said, “I mean, it’s just very similar to the whole, ‘She hasn’t found the right man.’ It’s incredibly similar, let’s be so clear. I’m just like, ‘What the fuck? What makes you think I’m gonna end up with a man?’ Also, how about don’t talk about me when it comes to a man? I’m very publicly in a very loving relationship with a woman. So I’m not really sure what about that is so blurry.”
Early on Sept. 3, Justin Bieber released the new album Swag II with little fanfare, per Billboard. The album arrived just a couple of months after the release of the pop star’s first Swag album. Disc 1 is the new release, and features 23 new cuts, including “Speed Demon,” “Better Man” and “Love Song.”
In a surprise move, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul will be the Bachelorette for that show’s 23rd season, per Variety. The news was announced on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast—marking the first time ABC did not announce on one of its own platforms, such as a late-night show or Good Morning America. The reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will debut its third season on Nov. 13, and the new season of The Bachelorette will debut in 2026.