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Five Worth Finding: Chocolate festival, lesbian sci-fi film, 'Smahtguy'
—The Long Grove Chocolate Festival: The beloved Chocolate Festival will return to the historic streets and parkways of downtown Long Grove for the first time in three years, May 20-22. Chocolate lovers can experience so much—including ...
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SHOWBIZ Queer playwright, LGBTQ+ films, BMI Pop Awards, new superhero
Jeremy O. Harris, the queer Tony-nominated author of Slave Play, has been named the presiding playwright for the 2023 Yale Drama Series Prize—one of the theater world's most prestigious playwriting honors, Deadline noted. Harris joins the ...
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Peacock to debut horror film 'They/Them' on Aug. 5
Peacock announced that its new original film They/Them (pronounced "They-slash-Them), from Blumhouse will premiere Friday, Aug. 5. The LGBTQIA+ horror film, formerly known as Whistler Camp, is a queer empowerment story ...
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FILM 'The Adventures of Priscilla' to show nationwide on June 2
Iconic Events Releasing will kick off Pride Month with a special nationwide rerelease of MGM's classic 1994 Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Screenings will take place in select theaters nationwide on ...
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COMEDY Netflix holds 'Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration'
On May 7, Billy Eichner hosted Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival's "Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration" at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The historic celebration featured LGBTQ+ comedy legends and emerging talent. Highlights included ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Hacks,' 'Love, Victor,' Indy 500, Ariana DeBose, queer singers
Queer, non-binary actor Carl Clemons-Hopkins (they/them and he/him) told Out Magazine he is elated with the warm reception received by the show Hacks and his character. "When I started in this years and years ago, there ...
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Members of the Jane Collective abortion underground to reunite for 'The Janes' screening May 19
-- From a press release
CHICAGO, Illinois — In the wake of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion set to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Doc10 today announced that original Jane Collective members will reunite for the ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Broadway Rising,' Webby Awards, 'Kinky Boots,' Tom Ford
The upcoming documentary Broadway Rising will have its world premiere on June 13 at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, Playbill noted. The documentary follows theater subjects—ranging from stage doorman to actors—on their journeys back to the ...
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SHOWBIZ Lily Tomlin, 'The Color Purple,' Walter Mercado, Janelle Monae, Loki
Video below
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, legendary actress/comedian Lily Tomlin discussed a variety of topics, including comedy and the Oscars. About the Academy Awards, she said, "I sometimes think they shouldn't be able to tread ...
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Billy Masters
"I'd never done that before—on camera, at least. … I don't think."—Harry Styles discussed shooting sex scenes for his upcoming movie My Policeman (with both Emma Corrin and David Dawson) and Don't Worry Darling (wit ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Glamorous,' Jake Gyllenhaal, Alice Walker, queer singers, trans film fest
Three years after The CW passed on Glamorous, Netflix has picked up the redeveloped series about a young gender nonconforming queer man, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The streaming giant has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series ...
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Judith Light to receive GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award
GLAAD announced that multiple Tony- and Emmy-winning actress, producer and activist Judith Light will receive the Excellence in Media Award that will be presented by queer performer and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose at the 33rd Annual ...
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SHOWBIZ JoJo Siwa, Indigo Girls, singer Bitch, 'Shahs of Sunset'
The Fox show So You Think You Can Dance unveiled its new judging lineup, and LGBTQ Dancing with the Stars runner-up JoJo Siwa will be part of it, per Out Magazine. Siwa will be joined at the judge's table by Glee ...
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FILM/TV Molly Shannon talks about her gay father, LGBTQ projects and new book
Chicago Humanities Festival is hosting a very special night at Harris Theater with entertainers Molly Shannon and Jonathan Van Ness in two separate appearances. While Van Ness has a Queer Eye, Shannon has played queer and ...
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Will Smith banned from Oscars for the next decade
On April 8, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced that actor Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage ...
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VIEWPOINT Mixed reactions to Will Smith's slap
By now, everyone has seen or heard about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars for making a tasteless and misogynistic joke about his wife's short hair resembling Demi Moore's buzzcut in the 1997 movie ...
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The dynamic Daniels dig into diversity with Everything Everywhere All at Once
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a movie made for everyone that combines science fiction, comedy and drama in a visual spectacle that will certainly leave a lasting impression on viewers. It's a story about a ...
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SHOWBIZ Lil Nas X, out comedian, Ariana DeBose, Abercrombie & Fitch film
Six months after Lil Nas X "gave birth" to his debut album, Montero, his "baby registry" fundraising has resulted in a lot of money raised, Queerty noted. Established in the weeks leading up to Montero's release, ...
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Will Smith resigns from Academy
On April 1—two days after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' (AMPAS) Board of Governors initiated self-described "disciplinary proceedings" against Will Smith over his slap of Chris Rock ...
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MOVIE REVIEW 'Better Nate Than Ever' is better than anything
The Disney Company—embroiled in controversy for donations to right-wing politicians in order to continue operating in Florida and for its response to the "Don't Say Gay" bill—has produced Better Nate Than Ever, streaming on Disney+ start ...
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Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock, Williams family
Will Smith has apologized to Chris Rock after he slapped him at the Oscars on March 27, saying his behavior was "unacceptable and inexcusable," per the BBC. "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris," ...
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A slap might overshadow other Oscar 'firsts' this year
There were several historic "firsts" at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27—a win from Ariana DeBose, an openly queer woman of color, and the first Best Picture winner, CODA, to feature a largely deaf ...
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Billy Masters: Oscars, Will Smith, Steve Grand and more
"Imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes—you see a queer, openly queer woman of color. An Afro-Latina, who found her strength in life through art. And that's ...
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MOVIES Jared Leto, 'Diana: The Musical' win Razzies
Netflix has put out award-winning material—and it can now add the Golden Raspberry Awards (or "Razzies") to its list of "honors," Entertainment Weekly noted. On March 26, the Razzies—given for the worst films and performances of ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Hocus Pocus 2,' 'Moon Knight,' queer dating show, Daddy Yankee
Hocus Pocus 2 is adding RuPaul's Drag Race queens Kahmora Hall and Kornbread "The Snack" Jete, Entertainment Weekly noted. EW has confirmed through a source close to production that the drag superstars joined the Hocus Pocus ...
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FILM/TV Janora McDuffie: Black queer actress set to make Oscars history as announcer
Janora McDuffie has accomplished many things during her career, including being on many TV series, including Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Veronica Mars, Firefly and New Girl. However, on Sunday, March 27, the queer actress will be ...
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Jonathan Van Ness, Anita Hill, John Waters part of CHF series in April and May
The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) is back with in-person events in April and May—and there's a wide variety of guests lined up for its series. Some of the featured guests will be advocate and legal scholar ...
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SHOWBIZ Lizzo, Jamie Lee Curtis, George Michael, Met Gala, Pixar
Singer Lizzo showed her support for the trans community recently, per LGBTQ Nation. In her keynote speech at the South by Southwest Festival, the Texas-native spoke out against her home state for its recent move to ...
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'CODA' wins top PGA; Moreno, Berlanti take stances
CODA won the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures at the Producers Guild Awards (PGAs) on March 19, Deadline noted. The movie (whose title means "Child/ren of Deaf Adults" also is ...
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LGBTQ+ film/TV critics group names Dorian Award winners
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced the winners of its 13th Dorian Film Awards, again honoring movie content, from mainstream to LGBTQIA+. Netflix's queer western The Power of the Dog lassoed three major prizes, ...
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Nina Escobedo: Bringing a passion for costumes to Chicago's TV and film industry
Content sponsored by DCASE/Chicago Made
Nina Escobedo credits her grandmother for sparking the childhood interests that ultimately led to her becoming a professional costumer working in Chicago. "My grandmother taught me to sew at the age of four," recalled Escobedo. "It ...
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Celebrities voice support for LGBTQ+ students at religious schools
-- From a press release
Alan Cumming, Dominique Jackson, Michael Urie, and Margaret Cho are among the celebrities shining a light on how taxpayer dollars are being used to fund LGBTQ+ discrimination at faith-based schools and colleges. In a new PSA, ...
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Chicago Made brings film and TV production opportunities to residents
Content sponsored by DCASE/Chicago Made
Chicago is continuing to boom as a center for film and television production. Last summer alone, some 15 productions added nearly $700 million to the city's local economy. This was due to filmmakers, studios, and networks ...
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Alex Diamond learns from Chicago P.D. work for filmmaking future
Content sponsored by DCASE Chicago Made
Assistant Director Alex Diamond jokes that his professional abbreviation, "A.D.," should really stand for "Anxious Director." "We always have to think of what could go wrong, and what could be an issue," explained Diamond, a graduate ...
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TransLash launches 'Trans Bodies, Trans Choices' film series
-- From a press release
New York, New York (TRANSLASH.ORG) March 14, 2021 As a critical Supreme Court ruling on abortion looms, today TransLash Media launched Trans Bodies, Trans Choices, a month long film series and ...
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FILM/TV Awards wrap-up: BAFTAs, Critics Choice
It definitely is that time of the year: awards season. The BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards) took place March 13 at London's Royal Albert Hall, returning to an in-person event after going virtual in 2021 due ...
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Actor William Hurt dies at 71
William Hurt who garnered three consecutive Oscar nominations for Best Actor in his movies for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987), winning for his gay role in ...
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SHOWBIZ Copyright lawsuits, 'Power of the Dog,' 'Survivor,' Kacey Musgraves
Sam Smith and Normani are facing a copyright lawsuit over their 2019 hit "Dancing With a Stranger," filed by three songwriters who say the song is "strikingly similar" to an earlier track with the same name ...
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GLAAD to grade film studios in Studio Responsibility Index after corporate inaction around anti-LGBTQ legislation
-- From a press release
Los Angeles, CA — GLAAD announced additional and immediate evaluations of Hollywood film studios to be incorporated into its annual Studio Responsibility Index, a study that analyzes LGBTQ representation in releases by eight major film studio ...
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The Lost Daughter,' 'Red Rocket' among Spirit Award winners; LGBTQ+s underrepresented
The Lost Daughter, a psychological drama that is the directing debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal, was named the best feature at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards, Variety noted. Red Rocket's Simon Rex and Zola's Taylour Page ...
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John Cameron Mitchell bites into new Joe Exotic role
There's a new Tiger King on TV, with John Cameron Mitchell taking on the role of Joe "Exotic" Schreibvogel for Peacock's Joe vs. Carole, a comedy/drama based on the popular Netflix docuseries Tiger King. This talented ...
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Billy Masters
When I'm at my Hollywood home, I often get invited to swanky soirees like seeing Taylor Dayne at Herb Albert's Vibrato in Bel Air. The talented Taylor calls these intimate gatherings "Dayne's Den," and it was a ...
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Five Worth Finding: Horror film, fantasy series, 'Women in Wine'
The Last Thing Mary Saw: Offered exclusively on Shudder, The Last Thing Mary Saw (directed by Edoardo Vitaletti) is an engaging treat. In 19th-century New York, Young Mary, blood trickling from behind the blindfold tied around ...
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Cloris Leachman LGBTQ+ movie 'Jump, Darling' coming to theaters, DVD
The Breaking Glass Pictures LGBTQ+ family drama Jump, Darling—starring the late actress Cloris Leachman—is coming to select theaters, DVD/Blu-Ray and On Demand. Jump, Darling will open in Los Angeles on March 18, and Palm Springs and ...
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SHOWBIZ Lesbian film, Broadway items, 'The Batman,' Jonathan Groff
Kino Lorber is presenting the U.S. theatrical release of the 4K restored lesbian-themed film I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, a film written and directed by Patricia Rozema, per a press release. Winner of the Prix de ...
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Devlyn Camp to interview Joey Soloway in March 4 Zoom webinar
Devlyn Camp to interview Joey Soloway in March 4 Zoom webinar The Columbia College Chicago Career Center and the college's Student Diversity and Inclusion office are partnering to present a free March 4 online event featuring ...
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Ariana DeBose and 'Squid Game' among SAG winners
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) distributed their 28th annual SAG Awards Feb. 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. While LGBTQ+ representation was ...
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Jennifer Hudson takes top honors at NAACP Awards
The 2022 NAACP Image Awards were presented on BET on Feb. 26 and Jennifer Hudson took top honors at the ceremony, Variety reported. Hudson an Oscar-winning American Idol alumna who's from Chicago won both the coveted Entertainer o ...
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SHOWBIZ Da Brat, French movie, fashion show, Niecy Nash, 'Idol' alum
On Feb. 22, the stars of WE tv's series Brat Loves Judy—Da Brat and Jesseca "Judy" Dupart—were married in a romantic wedding ceremony and reception in front of family and friends at Horse Mansion in Fairburn, ...
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MOVIES 'Power of the Dog,' 'Flee,' 'Passing' among top Dorian Award nominees
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced its Dorian Award nominations for the best in movies, ranging from mainstream to LGBTQ. Jane Campion's period drama The Power of the Dog leads the pack with nine ...
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'West Side Story' on Digital March 2, on DVD/Blu-Ray March 15
Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated reimagining of the musical West Side Story will be available on Digital and Disney+ starting March 2, and will be out on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 15. West Side ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Doctor Strange,' 'Harlem,' 'Peacemaker,' Harry Hamlin, Dionne Warwick
A trailer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Doctor Strange: The Multiverse of Madness, out May 6 only in theaters, shows the character of lesbian teen hero America Chavez in action, per out.com. In January, ...
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MOVIES Sykes, Schumer and Hall to host Oscars
Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall will host the 94th Oscars, which is returning to an emcee format for the first time since 2018, Deadline reported. ABC is airing the awards ceremony Sunday, March 27. ...
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SHOWBIZ Elton John, Whitney, Disney, Broadway items, Niecy Nash
Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish's annual Oscar-viewing party for the Elton John AIDS Foundation will return as an in-person event on March 27 after going virtual last year due to the pandemic, Variety noted. ...
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MOVIES 'House of Gucci' out on Blu-Ray/DVD on Feb. 22
House of Gucci—the film thriller influenced by the real-life story of the Gucci family and its legacy—will be available to own for the first time on Digital now and on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on ...
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Chicago Filmmakers showing documentary 'Any Given Day' on Feb. 19
Chicago Filmmakers, 1326 W. Hollywood Ave., will present an in-person screening of Any Given Day—the award-winning documentary investigating Cook County Jail as a replacement for community mental health clinics—on Saturday ...
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MOVIES 'The Power of the Dog' dominates Oscar nods; Gaga snubbed
Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan announced the 2022 Oscar nominations Feb. 8 and it turned out to be a good year for the film The Power of the Dog. The film which has been described as a ...
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MOVIES/TV Lena Waithe-led company soliciting mentorship lab applicants
Hillman Grad Productions a development and production company founded by Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani that is committed to providing a platform for BIPOC and underrepresented voices across all mediums is once again ...
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ALMA showing LGBTQ+ COVID documentary Feb. 13
On Sunday, Feb. 13, ALMA (Association of Latino/as Motivating Action), in collaboration with the Chicago History Museum program OUT at CHM, will show the documentary Seguimos Aqui (We Are Still ...
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MOVIES Diverse BAFTA nominations announced
The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) nominations were unveiled Feb. 3, and there were several surprises. Denis Villeneuve's grand sci-fi spectacle Dune led all films with 11 nominations, as there are 48 films that will be ...
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ATTRACTIONS National Geographic Spinosaurus event Feb. 27
Video preview below
The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., will present the first event in its National Geographic Live Series on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. with "Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous," featuring National ...
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MUSIC Janet Jackson auctions merchandise to help Girls Leadership
Janet Jackson—on the heels of her record-breaking documentary premiere event on Lifetime and A&E and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her first studio album, Janet Jackson (1982)—has collaborated with ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Smothered,' LGBT sprinter, 'Work in Progress,' Cher, Bravo
Prime Video has renewed Smothered a comedy that centers on longtime gay couple Ralph (Jason Stuart) and Randy (Mitch Hara) for a second season, a press release announced. Stuart recently appeared opposite ...
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NATIONAL Oregon ruling, bomb threat, military lawsuit, Tim Cook, Netflix
The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a 2015 ruling by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) that the owners of Gresham-based Sweetcakes By Melissa violated the state's nondiscrimination statutes when they refused to bake ...
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SHOWBIZ 'The Gay Agenda,' Elliot Page, actress dies, sports items, Rock Hudson
Netflix has launched The Gay Agenda, a podcast that looks at the lives of LGBTQ creatives at the top of their fields across different industries, NBC News noted. The goal, the streaming service said, is to ...
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WORLD Namibia ruling, crimes, LGBTQ+ film festival, blogger sentenced
Namibia's High Court ruled against two same-sex couples fighting for recognition of their marriages, with Judge Hannelie Prinsloo saying she agreed with them but was bound by the nation's prohibition of same-sex relations, Reuters reported. Daniel ...
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MOVIES Siskel films include 'The Power of the Dog,' 'Flee'
The Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., has current and upcoming movie slates that include everything from older classics to current award-festival favorites. On the more contemporary side, the Jane Campion film The Power ...
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Revry's Black History Month of LGBTQ-First Films and Series celebrates Black stories
-- From a press release
Los Angeles - This Black History Month, Revry is programming LGBTQ-first Black stories with themes from the differently-abled, LGBTQ athletes, activists and the lesbian, trans and the cis-gender lesbian community. Over 35% of Revry's audience is ...
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Billy Masters: Colton Underwood, Golden Globes and more
"I was not prepared to receive death threats over a fictional character's fictional relationship choices that are fictional which means not real."—A writer on the Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That describes feedback ...
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SHOWBIZ Music festivals, Murray Bartlett, Reese Witherspoon, author David Sedaris
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival revealed the lineup for this year's festival, taking place June 16-19 on the Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, a press release noted. Highlights will include performances by Tool, J. Cole, Stevie ...
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SAG nominees include 'Gucci,' 'Power of the Dog,' 'Squid Game'
Nominees for the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards honoring outstanding individual, cast and ensemble performances for the past year were announced Jan. 12 by actors Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens via Instagram Live, according to ...
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NBJC celebrates Mj Rodriguez on Golden Globes win
—From a press release
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) congratulates Michaela Jae "Mj" Rodriguez on earning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Drama during the 2022 Golden Globe Awards. Rodriguez won for her role as Blanca ...
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Billy Masters: Andy Cohen, SJP and more
The virus hit us both like a freight train. Thankfully, we were both triple vaccinated and the vaccinations did their job, which kept us out of real danger and out of the hospital… [We're] still isolating and waiting to see until we test ...
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Trans actress Rodriguez makes history at quiet Golden Globes
On Jan. 9, Michaela Jae "Mj" Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama for her role as Blanca on the FX show Pose, according to media reports. The awards were announced on social media, as the Globes were not broadcast or live-streamed ...
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Chicago's first-ever Festival au Cinema to take place Aug. 26-28
Haven Chicago has announced its first-ever Festival au Cinema, described as "the company's new platform for visionary and innovative filmmakers and media artists staking their claim in the future of digital storytelling." Festival au Cinema will ...
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