On CNN, actress Tilda Swinton talked about the AIDS crisis’ impact on her, per The Advocate. “When I was 33 in 1994, I went to 43 funerals,” Swinton said—with one of them being for Derek Jarman, the gay man who directed her in her debut film, Caravaggio. Swinton’s grandmother—who lived through two world wars—understood the effects of the epidemic, with the actress stating, “She said, ‘This is your generation’s war.’” And talking about gender fluidity, Swinton said, “I think it’s a waste—this idea of fixing one’s identity. I don’t believe it serves us. I mean, we all know fluidity and flexibility as children and particularly in our adolescence.”
Out, differently abled actress Marissa Bode—who portrays Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s sister and the new governor of Munchkinland in the Wicked movies—talked with Them about several aspects of her characters and about coming out to her own family. Among other things, she said that co-star “Cynthia [Erivo] definitely saw me just thinking from across the room and being in my head, and she told me to breathe and not to be so hard on myself, which was very nice and sweet.” On coming out, she revealed, “I baked these little hand pies that were very dry and not good, and I made this little sign and set it by a plate of said hand pies, and it said, ‘Roses are red. Have a hand pie. Happy Pride Month. Surprise, I’m bi.; Just a little poetry.”
Wicked writer Gregory Maguire—author of the book on which the hit musical is based—discussed faith, life as a gay Catholic and other issues at a recent event that the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University hosted, per New Ways Ministry. Maguire initially intended to write Wicked as portraying the growth and development of a truly evil figure. However, he realized that it was easy to demonize Elphaba and portray her in a way that only affirmed his point of view—but it was more rewarding to let her own perspective guide the narrative. And living her life became the book’s central theme.
In honor of the release of Wicked: For Good, fitness giant Peloton released a running workout featuring Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, Canadian Running noted. The British Emmy-, Tony- and Grammy-winning actress—who plays Elphaba Thropp, the “Wicked Witch of the West”—is also an avid runner and fitness enthusiast. A longtime member of Peloton’s community, Erivo hosted the 45-minute walk/run alongside coaches Matty Maggiacomo and Olivia Amato Waldron, with the Wicked soundtrack playing in the background.
Jinkx Monsoon—the first and only drag queen to win RuPaul’s Drag Race twice—was recently seen on Broadway in Cole Escola’s hit play Oh, Mary!, which will be in London’s West End, according to London Theatre. In addition, Monsoon will play Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in London during May 15-June 21, 2026. End of the Rainbow follows Garland in the final chapter of her life, and includes some of her most memorable songs.
MTV revealed the cast for season 18 of the Emmy® -winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, which returns Friday, Jan. 2, at 8 p.m. ET/PTwith 90-minute episodes, per a press release. This season, 14 new queens enter the Werk Room to compete for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar,” an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a cash prize of $200,000 courtesy of the popular video game RuPaul’s Drag Race Match Queen.
SLAYCATION heads to the Canadian Rocky Mountains for its six-episode second season, debuting Friday, Dec. 12on WOW Presents Pluswith the first two episodes, a press release noted. The series follows six queens from across the international Drag Race family—Alyssa Edwards, Nicky Doll, Tessa Testicle, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Miss Fiercalicious and Xana—as they vacation together at a Canadian winter cabin.
Bleecker Street, Universal Pictures Content Group and World of Wonder announced the title for the upcoming Adam Shankman directed action-comedy feature—STOP! THAT! TRAIN!, per a press release. The film stars RuPaul as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race universe stars Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Latrice Royale, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Monét X Change and Symone. Bleecker Street also stated that it will release the film theatrically in North America on May 29, 2026.
LGBTQ+ actress/director Jodie Foster analyzed her five-decade film career as she received an honorary award at the Marrakech Film Festival, per Deadline. “Seeing all these clips [of movies such as Taxi Driver and Silence of the Lambs], I thought to myself: I’ve been doing this job for quite a while now,” she said. “I’m still here, a little older, perhaps more wrinkled, but guided by the same love of telling stories, of bringing characters to life, of asking questions about our connections, our fragilities, our humanity.”
Dolly Parton shared a holiday greeting with fans amid her ongoing health issues, EW noted. “Well, hey, it’s Dolly here, and I want to wish all of you and your family blessings this Thanksgiving!” Parton said in the video, adding, “And just know that I will always love you,” referencing 1974’s “I Will Always Love You,” which Whitney Houston famously remade. Parton’s health led her to miss a recent International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame induction ceremony on behalf of her Dollywood theme park.
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter criticized the White House for using her song “Juno” in an ICE deportation video, according to Deadline. Carpenter posted on X that the video “is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson replied, “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
Gay Mexican-American singer Steven LaBrie—who was added to the all-male quartet Il Divo (who’s currently on a world tour) after original singer Carlos Marin passed away—is stepping out on his own with the release of a new solo single, per Queerty. LaBrie is also paying homage to iconic Mexican singer Juan Gabriel as he’s recorded a cover of El Divo de Juárez’s (as Gabriel was nicknamed) 1982 hit “Ya Lo Sé Que Tú Te Vas.” LaBrie’s fiancé is Adam Nielsen, a NYC-based pianist and artistic director at The Juilliard School.
In a battle of former American Top Team stablemates, Kayla Harrison will put her bantamweight title on the line against returning UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, per USA Today. UFC 324—the event that will include this matchup—will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be the first pay-per-view event of the Paramount era. Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will aim to defend her 135-pound crown for the first time after taking the division’s throne from Julianna Peña at UFC 316.
Stage/screen star and LGBTQ+ ally Megan Hilty will offer a solo concert at the UK’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane on May 24, 2026, per Playbill. In a statement Hilty said, “London! If you haven’t been able to cross the pond and catch Death Becomes Her on Broadway yet, don’t worry, I’ll bring a little bit of Death Becomes Her with me when I perform at the iconic Theatre Royal Drury Lane on May 24th.” Hilty, who played Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama Smash, is currently starring as Madeline Ashton in Broadway’s Death Becomes Her; that run will end Jan. 11.
Out actor BD Wong (the Jurassic Park movies; Law & Order: SVU) shared a two-part apology after being called out for making a racist joke on Instagram, according to EW. Wong initially responded to a post by Black content creator Mike Holston, asking his 16 million followers to “name this animal… wrong answers only.” In a now-deleted comment on the video depicting Holston petting a binturong on his shoulders, Wong wrote, “It appears to be a Black man.” In part, Wong posted, “I know nobody gets a free pass. I’m sorry if this #wtfbd moment tarnished any respect you [may have] had for me. & thanks if you advocate for an internet that’s safe for everybody.”
Pride House Media announced the launch of its sixth original show, Duke’s Download, a dynamic new weekly series hosted by queer activist/writer/commentator James Duke Mason in which politics and pop culture collide, a press release noted. The first two episodes (which premiered Dec. 3) include a conversation with host Duke Mason on why this show is important now; and a talk with author/producer Greg Cope White about his memoir The Pink Marine and the true story behind the hit Netflix series Boots. New episodes of Duke’s Download premiere each Wednesday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
The Kim Kardashian-fronted legal drama All’s Fair is coming back for a second season at Hulu after the streamer renewed the Ryan Murphy series ahead of its season finale, per Deadline. The show received only a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but became the biggest Hulu Original scripted series premiere in three years. The first season will conclude with a two-episode finale on Dec. 9.
Golden Globe and Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, actor and producer Nick Jonas announced the release of his new solo album, Sunday Best, arriving Feb. 6, 2026, via Republic Records, per a press release. This will mark Jonas’ first solo project in nearly five years. Jonas unveiled the album at his intimate Sunday Best Brunch event in Las Vegas, treating 170 fans to the first-ever live performances of several new songs from the project.
Rihanna has made history with Anti, according to Billboard. The album—which remains her most recent full-length a decade after its release—recently marked a historic 500th week on the Billboard 200, marking the first album by a Black female soloist in Billboard chart history to spend that much time on that particular chart. Anti features songs such as “Work,” “Needed Me” and “Love on the Brain.”
LGBTQ+ rapper Megan Thee Stallion won a defamation case against blogger Milagro Gramz, People noted, citing NBC News. In October 2024, Megan filed a lawsuit against the blogger (real name Milagro Elizabeth Cooper) for alleging that she was “a paid surrogate” for rapper Tory Lanez and spread lies on his behalf. The plaintiff was initially awarded $75,000 before U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga reduced the amount to $59,000.
After flopping at the box office, Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby and Jude Law’s R-rated survival thriller, Eden, has made one comeback on streaming, thanks to Prime Video—and it’s slated to also stream on Netflix starting this month, per Movieweb. Eden begins streaming on Netflix on Dec. 23.
And speaking of Sydney Sweeney, Martha Stewart has succeeded her as the face of American Eagle’s denim campaign, per The Hill. Stewart is in the company’s new seasonal ads, appearing all in denim and wearing diamonds as part of the company’s Give Great Jeans holiday campaign. Stewart said, “The concept of an all-denim world was playful, smart and whimsical—an entire gift-wrapping workshop constructed from denim, complete with bows, garlands and wrapping paper.” Out fashion designer and Project Runway mentor Christian Siriano rang in his 40th birthday on Nov. 18, People noted. Siriano celebrated at a candle-lit dinner alongside Drew Barrymore, “muse” Alicia Silverstone, Saturday Night Live alum Leslie Jones, Real Housewives‘ Bronwyn Newport, actress Debra Messing and more. The party continued at The Mulberry, an underground bar in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood. Former Wicked star Shoshana Bean sang for the birthday boy, as did “Unwritten” singer Natasha Bedingfield.