Out released its list of the 25 best queer movies of the century so far. Some of the films include 2022’s Tar, with Cate Blanchett; the 2011 production Pariah, from director Dee Rees; the 2015 trans film Tangerine; the 2023 Prime Video item Red, White & Royal Blue; the 2022 film Fire Island, which aired on Hulu; the 2009 horror work Jennifer’s Body; 2018’s The Favourite; the 2000 comedy But I’m a Cheerleader; the 2008 Oscar winner Milk; and the 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain.
Producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson said that their previously announced Inauguration Day Concert for America event will now raise funds for the California Community Foundation, an organization supporting wildfire recovery efforts to aid those most in need, per a press release. Talent including Jon Cryer and Lisa Joyner (who are spearheading the LA efforts), Melanie Lynskey and Jason Ritter, Matt Walsh, Rachel Bloom, Paget Brewster, Caroline Rhea and others will livestream into the program. There will be additional virtual appearances by Julie Bowen, Tony Hale, Adam Scott and Kate Walsh, and musical performances from Wayne Brady, Rachel Bay Jones, Carly Hughes and Cheyenne Jackson, accompanied by Michael Orland; In-person talent will include Melissa Manchester, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nina West and Liz Callaway. “Concert for America” will take place at NYC’s The Town Hall at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 20.
Emmy-winning reality TV series The Traitors is back with season three and with Alan Cumming returning to host the hit show after having just won the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, Instinct noted. Some of the contestants include Sam Asghari, the actor/model who was married to Britney Spears; reality star Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City); controversial Vanderpump Rules cast member Tom Sandoval; out gay personal trainer Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser); RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Bob The Drag Queen; gay British royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten; and LGBTQ+ real-estate agent Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset).
In a profile in NME, trans and non-binary musician Sudanese-American singer Dua Saleh—who had a breakout role in the Netflix series Sex Education—talked about issues haunting them. “I am aghast that we’re willing to destroy our planet to sustain an economic system that will not sustain itself because the pillars of it are destruction,” they said. They also talked about music, of course, saying, in part, “The thing about R&B and Black music at large is that a lot of it is insightful on the worries that we have about the world,” citing The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as an example. The “Judge Judy” singer added, “For me, environmental justice is something that is considerably important, being from East Africa and seeing the ways our resources have been exploited.”
Out director Lee Daniels is mourning the loss of his sister Lydia, who inspired Taraji P. Henson‘s Empire character Loretha “Cookie” Lyon, Deadline noted. “As the fires are burning, so is my heart. My younger sister Lydia has passed,” Daniels shared on Instagram. “She was also my best friend. In Empire, the character of Cookie was based partly on her life. She’s left four beautiful children and five grandchildren behind. RIP Girly…I LOVE YOU FOREVER.” Henson played Cookie on the Fox drama series throughout its six-season run; she was nominated for several Emmys and won a Golden Globe for the role.
This year’s White Party Palm Springs has been “paused,” per GayCities. After taking down the website, stopping updates to their social media and refusing to respond to press questions about the future, organizers announced that the event is not taking place this year. The late Jeffrey Sanker launched the original party in 1989 and it grew exponentially, drawing top-tier names. Executive Producer Chris Diamond has not committed to bringing the circuit party back in 2026 although he told Sanker shortly before his death that “I would do my best to keep it going for him.”
Out gay country-music star Orville Peck (making his Broadway debut) and two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada will be the new Emcee and Sally Bowles of Cabaret at the KitKat Club, Deadline noted. They will play a 16-week engagement at the August Wilson Theatre starting March 31, through July 20, taking over for Adam Lambert and Auli‘i Cravalho who will play their final performances on March 29. Peck trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and appeared on London’s West End in the Olivier Award-nominated Peter Pan Goes Wrong before releasing his career-making albums.
Queer artists JL Marlor and Omar Namji are part of this year’s American Opera Initiative, The Washington Blade noted. Now in its 12th season, the Washington National Opera’s well-known program pairs composers and librettists who under mentorship spend months collaborating on new work, culminating with the premiere of three 20-minute operas. Marlor and librettist Claire Fuyuko Bierman’s Cry, Wolf is an opera about three males (a late teen and two college age) who are navigating some dark internet ideologies; Namji and librettist Christine Evans’ post-apocalyptic opera, Mud Girl, tells the story of a mother, daughter and the daughter’s child Poly—created from toxic garbage—trying to navigate relationships. The operas will run Jan. 18 at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
The movie version of Sunset Boulevard is in limbo, even though Glenn Close is willing to reprise her Tony-winning role of Norma Desmond, according to Broadway World. “We do have what I think is a brilliant script,” she said to host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, adding “We’re looking for a director.” The long-awaited film has been in development for years, with Close and Andrew Lloyd Webber shopping it to several film studios. Close originally stated that the film would go into production with Paramount in 2021; however, the company eventually passed on it.
The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA pledged $1 million to its foundation to assist industry members experiencing hardship from the Los Angeles wildfires, Deadline noted. Since the fires broke out Jan. 7, the union has temporarily closed its office in Los Angeles, and it canceled its in-person nomination ceremony originally scheduled for the following day. SAG-AFTRA joined several other entertainment organizations that have pledged financial aid, including the Motion Picture Television Fund, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Wasserman Foundation and others.
The 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival unveiled this year’s juried award winners, Variety noted. The festival took place during Jan. 2-13, and screened 165 films from more than 71 countries, including 68 premieres. The FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Feature Film went to the Brazilian film I’m Still Here, while the Italian film Vermiglio won for Best International Screenplay. Zoe Saldaña won the FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actress in an International Feature Film for her role in the French trans-centered film Emilia Pérez; and the trio of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Provái took the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film for leading the Irish movie Kneecap.
Transgender Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofia Gascón has passionately rejected criticism of the award-winning musical crime thriller, according to PinkNews. The film follows Gascón as the titular character—a feared former Mexican cartel boss who enlists career lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) to help her fake her own death in order to undergo gender-affirming care. Some of the film’s liberal, LGBTQ+ critics have condemned Emilia Pérez for placing surgery at the forefront of the trans experience, and also for portraying trans people negatively. However, Gascón told The Hollywood Reporter, in part, “I’m tired of TikTokers, Instagrammers, influencers and people who get up in the morning and are all soccer coaches, they are all journalists, they are all film critics. … Let me tell you: Being LGBT doesn’t make you less of an idiot.” Gascón also said that she’s received death threats from right-wing individuals.
The BAFTA nominations were revealed in London, with the papal thriller Conclave and trans-led crime-musical Emilia Pérez leading the way with 12 and 11 nominations, respectively, according to Deadline. The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Nosferatu, Anora, Wicked, the Irish dramedy Kneecap and A Complete Unknown also did well among nominees. Queer performers Cynthia Erivo and Karla Sofia Gascon scored best actress nods along with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore and Saoirse Ronan; on the male side, Colman Domingo was the sole out LGBTQ+ individual to get a nomination, and he will compete against Adrien Brody, Timothee Chalamet, Ralph Fiennes, (Gascon is the first trans actress to score a BAFTA nod.) Hugh Grant and Sebastian Stan for best actor. In addition, the trans film Will & Harper is up for best documentary.
And Deadline also ran a piece on BAFTA surprises and snubs. High-profile movies such as Queer, Challengers, Babygirl and Paddington In Peru were completely shut out and, in one of the stranger awards season streaks, Denzel Washington remains without a single BAFTA nomination during his career. Also, the Brazilian drama I’m Still Here and the highly praised drama Nickel Boys (with LGBTQ+ star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) each only got one nod. On the flip side, The Outrun star Saoirse Ronan scored her seventh nomination at the age of only 30.
Rolling Stone published its list of the 250 great albums of the 21st century. The top five were (in order) Beyonce’s Lemonade, Radiohead’s Kid A, queer musician Frank Ocean’s Blonde, OutKast’s Stankonia and Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Just a few of the of the other works on the list are Adele’s 21, David Bowie’s Black Star, Fiona Apple’s The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next, NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (which just made the list at #250), Tame Impala’s Currents, Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi, Tego Calderon’s El Abayarde, Chicago rapper Noname’s Telephone and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.
British rock icons Skunk Anansie—founded in 1994 by queer musician Skin—released their new single “An Artist Is an Artist,” along with a video, per a press release. Produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio fame, known for his production work with Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Santigold, Solange, Weezer, and Chelsea Wolfe, “An Artist Is An Artist” is the band’s first new music in almost three years. Also, Skunk Anansie will launch a tour in Portugal on Feb. 28, continuing through Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Belgium before ending in the UK with 14 shows; tickets are here.
Megan Thee Stallion (real name: Megan Pete) was granted a restraining order against Tory Lanez (real name: Daystar Peterson) that lasts through Jan. 9, 2030, People noted. According to Variety, the judge cited “several uncontroverted facts,” including “conduct that culminated in [Lanez] shooting approximately 5 rounds at petitioner that resulted in injuries to her.” Court documents claimed that “despite being sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Ms. Pete, Mr. Peterson continues to subject her to repeated trauma and revictimization,” the court documents alleged. The pair’s history dates back to July 2020, when he shot her in the feet in an incident that took place in the Hollywood Hills.
The late Gavin Creel’s final filmed appearance is now being released, via a premiere screening in NYC on Jan. 27 with a streaming release to follow in February, Playbill noted. In 2023, Creel began rehearsal for what would be his last-ever show, Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, and that was to be the first entry in a new series called Common Denominator, in which artists talk candidly about their own mental-health struggles. A year after filming that pilot episode, Creel passed away at age 48 on Sept. 30, 2024, after being diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma.
Legendary queer entertainer/author/fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi will return for another exclusive winter engagement at NYC’s Cafe Carlyle on Feb. 4-15 with “Isaac Mizrahi: I Know Everybody,” a press release noted. He most recently starred as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago, and has performed at venues across the country, including Joe’s Pub, The Regency Ballroom and City Winery locations nationwide. Mizrahi also has his own production company, IM Entertainment, under which he has several projects in development in television, theater and literature; he is currently working as a producer on the new Hulu sitcom Mid Century Modern, premiering later this year.
Queer virtuoso pianist and pop artist Micah McLaurin has released his club anthem “Baboom” via Casa Doce Music, per a press release. Drawing on McLauren’s love for French music and singers such as Charles Aznavour, the single was co-written with Simon Wilcox (who’s worked with Carly Rae Jepson) and created in collaboration with A-list producer Fernando Garibay (Lady Gaga; Britney Spears). McLaurin debuted “Baboom” at nightlife legend Susanne Bartsch’s New York Fashion Week party and has performed in some of the city’s high-profile clubs.
Waitress: The Musical will make its streaming debut Friday, Feb. 14 on Max, a press release announced. Featuring the Broadway debut of Tony-winning singer, songwriter and actress Sara Bareilles in the lead role, the musical is based on a motion picture of the same name also available on the platform starting Feb. 1, written by the late Adrienne Shelly and starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion. The musical also stars Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett and Christopher Fitzgerald.
The queer music festival Girls in Wonderland (run by Pandora Events) will mark its 25th anniversary June 5-9 and the host hotel will be TownePlace Suites Orlando/SpringHill Suites Orlando in Winter Garden, Florida, per the event’s website. In the talent line-up are DJ Zehno, Playboi Entertainment, DJ Les Ortiz and Les Vixens, among others.
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood is slated to perform “America the Beautiful” at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, per CNN. “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement to CNN. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.” Underwood is the face of Sunday Night Football and is set to make her debut this March as a judge on ABC’s American Idol—the singing competition show that catapulted her to fame when she won in 2005.
Also, Victor Willis, the lead singer of the Village People, said the band had accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump’s team to perform during several inauguration events, NBC News noted. Willis wrote, in part, on Facebook, “Our song ‘Y.M.C.A.’ is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.” Last month, Willis defended Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” at campaign rallies and denied that the song is a “gay anthem,” threatening to sue anyone who labeled it as such in the future.
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel discovered that the Philippines’ Cronasia Foundation College, Inc. used a photo of her to warn students to go easy on their makeup for graduation, Queerty noted. Mattel shared the image to Facebook, simply saying “Damn.” The school later apologized on Facebook, saying, “Our school, Cronasia Foundation College, Inc., acknowledges that the communication around the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for graduation pictures may have caused confusion and unintended frustration. For this, we sincerely apologize to the people involved—Trixie Mattel and the drag community, our students and our families. We also acknowledge that the use of certain words and punctuation was our fault.” When Mattel initially posted her response, one user replied, “Don’t take any advice from a college that uses apostrophes to make plurals but not contractions.”
Former talk-show host Wendy Williams spoke out against her guardianship on The Breakfast Club podcast, saying “I feel like I’m in prison,” according to Variety. “I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I’m saying? But I feel like I’m in prison,” she said of the New York City care facility where she has been living. “I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. … There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor.” Williams’ niece, Alex, also phoned into the show to support her aunt, saying that Williams’ apartment in the care facility has “a bed, a chair, a TV, a bathroom and she’s looking out one window at buildings across the street. That’s her life.”
Actor Lukas Gage (Smile 2; Companion) reflected on feeling pressured to come out earlier in his career while talking with Attitude, per Out. Even though most of Gage’s early work involved playing queer characters, he wasn’t out in real life. “I was dealing with people coming for me, being like, ‘Why is he stealing a gay role? He’s just a straight guy, how dare he,’ blah blah blah,” he said. Gage described the experience as a “witch hunt”—but the actor also compared it to Heartstopper star Kit Connor’s situation. Things became so intense that, when Connor came out as bisexual, he sarcastically congratulated fans for “forcing an 18-year-old to out himself.”
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling—known lately for her anti-trans posts—turned her attention to a different matter, comparing Sandman writer Neil Gaiman to disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein as Gaiman faces more sexual-assault claims, Deadline noted. “The literary crowd that had a hell of a lot to say about Harvey Weinstein before he was convicted has been strangely muted in its response to multiple accusations against Neil Gaiman from young women who’d never met, yet—as with Weinstein—tell remarkably similar stories,” Rowling wrote on X in the second of two posts about Gaiman. Similar to Weinstein, Gaiman has not only been incriminated for attacks on women, but also of using non-disclosure agreements and payoffs to silence the alleged victims. Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have projects with the award-winning Gaiman, such as a second season of Sandman and the now 90-minute finale episode of Good Omens. Gaiman has denied the accusations.
Several of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ accusers have come forward in a new docuseries to further detail his alleged abuses, according to USA Today. Investigation Discovery released a trailer for its upcoming four-part docuseries on the embattled music mogul, entitled The Fall of Diddy. The series—helmed by Quiet on Set producer Maxine Productions and Rolling Stone Films—will reportedly feature “exclusive, never-before-heard accounts and never-before-seen archival footage” illuminating the “harrowing allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity” recently leveled against Combs. The docuseries (set to premiere Jan. 27-28) will include interviews with more than 30 of Combs’ associates, such as former Danity Kane member D. Woods.