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

National Geographic and Cynthia Erivo (the films Harriet and Widows; theater's The Color Purple) revealed premiere date and official series trailer for the Emmy-winning anthology series Genius: Aretha during the network's TCA session, a press release noted. From 20th Television and Imagine Television, this new season will premiere on the channel with double-stacked episodes across four consecutive nights, beginning Sunday, March 21. The premiere episodes will be available the next day on Hulu, culminating in a celebration of Aretha Franklin's birthday, with all eight episodes available to stream by Thursday, March 25. The cast will star Erivo (as Aretha Franklin), Courtney B. Vance, David Cross and Pauletta Washington, among others.

Grammy-winning gospel artist/songwriter/producer Kirk Franklin spoke with SiriusXM Urban View host Clay Cane about his new podcast, "Good Words;" learned of the loss of the legendary Mary Wilson on the show; called out white evangelicals and Paula White; and addressed homophobia in the Black church, a press release stated. Regarding the latter, Franklin said, "What is very important to understand is that the pulpit is not a bullying place, and we have to also understand that no group of people are monolithic. No Black person, all Black people do not think the same, do not process the same; not all LGBTQIA+ people think and process the same. … We have to not weaponize the Bible to cover up, a lot of times, our homophobic views that have nothing to do with the Bible."

Teen singer Cody Newman has come out as non-binary, according to a press release. Last year, Newman had a debut single at #33 on a major chart and on heavy rotation on Radio Disney, and was named Next Up Artist by KIIS FM LA. Now, the 15-year-old is about to release an acoustic song she wrote titled, "I Want To Learn To Love Me"—a tune Newman said "is about my journey of gender expression and identity." The song is scheduled to be released on all music platforms Friday, Feb. 26.

Actor John Barrowman revealed he once lost a role in '90s soap opera Central Park West after he refused to lie about being gay, PinkNews noted. The actor recalled being told to hide who he really was when he got one of his first big TV jobs on the CBS series Central Park West in 1995. Barrowman had been cast as New York lawyer Peter Fairchild on the show, which also starred Lauren Hutton, Mariel Hemingway and Raquel Welch. Barrowman is best known for his role as the omnisexual space pirate Captain Jack Harkness in the TV shows Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Out actor Russell Tovey (of TV shows Looking and Quantico) opened up about how his dad suggested "hormone treatment" to turn him straight when he was 18, according to LGBTQ Nation. "He thought we'd somehow made Russell gay," Tovey's mother explained when her famous son talked about his parents' reaction to his coming out in an interview with The Sunday Times. "He said: 'We'll get him hormone treatment.' He found it hard to see that Russ was happy and we had to accept it." Tovey said, "My dad thought it could be cured. He was scared about what my life would be like."

Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and Finnish boyfriend Jussi-Pekka "JP" Kajaala are engaged after Rippon traveled to Kajaala's home country for a long-delayed visit, Extra noted. Along with a series of pics, Rippon wrote on Instagram, "P and I didn't get to see each other for almost all of 2020 because of the pandemic. When there was finally a chance for me to go and see him in Finland, I jumped at it. … In between [talking and chores] and binging the entire 4 seasons of The Crown, we bought ourselves some rings and said that magic word.. "duh!" We got ~*engaged*~." Rippon and Kajaala had an engagement on their minds for a while before they both got down on one knee.

The National Theatre's filmed productions of Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika have been added to its streaming service, National Theatre at Home, according to Playbill. The cast is led by Andrew Garfield (The Social Network; The Amazing Spider-Man films), Denise Gough (Paula), Nathan Lane (The Producers), James McArdle (Ammonite), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits), Susan Brown (It's A Sin), and Russell Tovey (Looking). Filmed for National Theatre Live in the Lyttelton in 2017, the Olivier-winning production of Tony Kushner's two-part play subsequently transferred to Broadway in 2018, winning Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Play and actors Lane and Garfield. (Lee Pace replaced Tovey as Joseph Pitt.)

The nominations for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2021 are in, and the list features Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige, Iron Maiden, Tina Turner, the Go-Go's, Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, Devo, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Todd Rundgren and Dionne Warwick, Rolling Stone reported. The top vote-getters will be announced in May and inducted in a Cleveland, Ohio, ceremony in the fall. The 2020 Hall of Fame class honored Depeche Mode, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., T-Rex and the Doobie Brothers.

Speaking of Turner, a new documentary about her, Tina, will premiere on HBO on March 27, Rolling Stone noted. The film will feature a new interview with Turner, conducted at her home in Zurich, Switzerland. It will also include interviews with Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, journalist Kurt Loder (who co-wrote Turner's 1986 autobiography, I, Tina), playwright Katori Hall (who wrote the biographical musical Tina), and Turner's husband and former record executive, Erwin Bach. Accompanying the interviews will be an array of archival material from the past 60 years, including never-before-seen footage, audiotapes and personal photos.

Social-media figure JoJo Siwa introduced fans to her girlfriend, Kylie, via Instagram just weeks after confirming she was part of the LGBTQ community, Page Six noted. The 17-year-old former Dance Moms star made the introduction a few days after revealing to Jimmy Fallon that she indeed had a girlfriend. Fans began speculating about Siwa's identity as a member of the LGBTQ community in January, when she posted a video of herself singing along to Lady Gaga's queer anthem "Born This Way."

American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced that the organization will honor filmmaker Spike Lee with the esteemed ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, a press release noted. Past recipients of the Golden Eddie include Guillermo del Toro, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy, Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Nancy Meyers, Martin Scorsese, Norman Jewison, Robert Zemeckis and George Lucas, among others. The honor will be presented to Lee at the 71st Annual ACE Eddie Awards on April 18.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Love Story, actors Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw were honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the first virtual double-star ceremony in history on Feb. 12, a press release noted. O'Neal's star will be between MacGraw's and his real-life love, Farrah Fawcett. O'Neal and MacGraw both received Oscar nominations for their starring roles in Love Story, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. O'Neal left a rose on Fawcett's star.

GLAAD announced in a press release that in the upcoming revival of the '80s sitcom Punky Brewster, Punky's best friend, Cherie, has come out and will be in a relationship with a woman. Both Soleil Moon Frye (Punky) and Cherie Johnson (Cherie) are reprising their original roles more than three decades later and, in this new season, audiences are introduced to Cherie's girlfriend, played by queer actress Jasika Nicole (of TV shows The Good Doctor, Fringe and Scandal). Punky Brewster will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, Feb. 25.

In a video posted to YouTube, Caitlyn Jenner sat down and allowed daughter Kylie to put makeup on her for the first time, LGBTQ Nation noted. Among other topics, Caitlyn and Kylie got candid on the topic of Kylie and her sister, Kendall, still referring to Caitlyn as her "dad" since she's transitioned. In part, Caitlyn said, "I feel it was one of the best decisions I made, and sometimes this community can be pretty tough, especially when it comes to pronouns. … But I really felt from the beginning that I gotta do it, kind of [the way] that works for me… and I think everybody out there has got to do it there way, which works for them."

The actual mansion used in the series Schitt's Creek is up for sale for a whopping $15 million, The New York Post noted. Known as the La Belle Maison, the home holds 12 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, spanning a massive 24,000 square feet. It hit the market on Jan. 27, although it's been on and off the market for the past few years.

Two designers who worked on the video game Mass Effect 2 (which came out in 2007) revealed that there would have been at least two playable roles in the storyline that would have allowed for same-sex relationships—but that the storylines were ultimately omitted because no one wanted to deal with the ensuing backlash that would have come from Fox News, LGBTQ Nation noted. The game is a third-person shooter where the player assumes a group of characters, human and alien, fighting an alien army in defense of the Milky Way galaxy in a distant future. The game's lead designer for cutscenes, Jonathan Cooper, tweeted, "I animated both scenes for Male & Female. We prevized Jacob as the male/male, matching shot-for-shot from Brokeback Mountain. Was told at the time "America isn't ready for it". Perhaps it still isn't."

Britney Spears' fans were upset following the release of Framing Britney Spears, people.com noted. In one portion of the New York Times documentary, the pop star's 2003 interview with journalist Diane Sawyer is highlighted as an example of sexism Spears was forced to deal with at a young age. "You broke his heart. You did something that caused him so much pain, so much suffering. What did you do?" Sawyer asked a then 22-year-old Spears during the interview conducted after her public split from Justin Timberlake.

In a related matter, Jamie Spears (Britney's father) will remain the singer's co-conservator with Bessemer Trust, for the time being, Page Six reported. Despite speculation that her father may be removed from the pop star's conservatorship during a court hearing last week, lawyers for Britney and Jamie argued over an "unclear and ambiguous" petition filed by Britney's attorney.

Also, Justin Timberlake apologized to Spears and Janet Jackson for benefiting "from a system that condones misogyny and racism" following backlash initially stemming from the release of the documentary Framing Britney Spears, NBC News noted. "The industry is flawed. It sets men, especially white men up for success. As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this." Timberlake wrote in an Instagram post. "Because of my ignorance, I didn't recognize it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again."

And after Timberlake's apology, Jackson's Control album (from 1986) is back on the charts in 2021, Page Six noted. As of Feb. 13, Control was the number eight album on Apple iTunes—after topping it the previous week. "I was at home just the other day by myself, and I began to cry. I was crying because I was so thankful for all that God has blessed me with, all that he has given me, and I'm so thankful for him being in my life," Jackson said in an emotional video.

Minutes after Sarah Michelle Gellar responded to Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Charisma Carpenter's claims of abuse by creator Joss Whedon by saying that she stands "with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out," Buffy co-star Michelle Trachtenberg made startling accusations against Whedon, according to Deadline. "Thank you @sarahmgellar for saying this," said Trachtenberg, who played Gellar's on-screen little sister in the 1997-2003 SoCal supernatural series. "I am brave enough now as a 35 year old woman….To repost this. Because. This must. Be known. As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior….very. Not. Appropriate." Former co-star Eliza Dushku (who played Faith) has also publicly offered support for Carpenter.

Tony Bennett recorded a second studio album with Lady Gaga, but the circumstances were different than the first time, NewNowNext.com noted. The 94-year-old music legend has been battling Alzheimer's disease in secret for four years, his family revealed in a feature from AARP magazine. According to his wife, Susan Bennett, Tony was diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease in 2016. Cheek to Cheek—his critically acclaimed collaboration with Gaga—scored them both a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album in 2015. Tony and Gaga's follow-up to Cheek to Cheek is "being prepared for release this spring."

Mavis Staples shared a new remix of "One More Change," from her acclaimed 2019 album We Get By, a press release noted. The song was created fully a capella by London artist ALA.NI. Staples was also recently featured in 'Summer of Soul', Questlove's directorial debut documentary about "Black Woodstock"—a landmark 1969 Harlem concert featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone and the Staple Singers. The film debuted at Sundance at the end of January and won the nonfiction Grand Jury Prize.

Grammy-winning pop star Taylor Swift announced that she will be dropping her newly recorded version of her 2008 hit, "Love Story," which will appear on Swift's new record, Fearless: Taylor's Version, iHeart.com noted. Swift shared her new version of Fearless will contain 26 songs, including six never-before-heard tracks that almost made the original LP. She also unveiled the new album cover for her upcoming record, set to release April 9.

HBO Max has ordered three adult animated series, including Velma, a press release noted. Velma tells the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated thinker of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang—and executive producer Mindy Kaling will voice the titular character. The other shows are Clone High and Fired on Mars.

A Wizard of Oz remake is in the works at New Line Cinema, Variety reported, citing Deadline. L. Frank Baum's story has been retold on the big and small screen many times over the years—the most memorable being the classic 1939 musical starring Judy Garland. Nicole Kassell (TV's Watchmen) is directing the remake.

A virtual reading will be held Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m ET for the children's book Broadway Baby, written by theater operator and producer Russell Miller with Judith A. Proffer, Broadway World noted. Broadway stars set to participate in the event include three-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan (On Your Feet!), Tony winner Santino Fontana (Tootsie, Cinderella, Frozen), Tony nominee Caitlin Kinnunen (The Prom), Telly Leung (Aladdin, Godspell), Adam Pascal (Rent, Aida), Ann Sanders (Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen) and three-time Emmy winner Kevin Spirtas (TV's Days of Our Lives), among others. Tickets for the online event, which are $25 and include an author-signed copy of the book, can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-star-studded-reading-of-broadway-baby-tickets-138958545751. A portion of event proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Amazon Studios and Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society are expanding on the production banner's existing deal to now feature an exclusive overall relationship in television and a first-look film deal, a press release noted. The deal comes in the lead-up to the release of Tom Clancy's Without Remorse, starring and produced by Jordan, launching globally April 30 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. The plot is as follows: An elite Navy SEAL uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse, the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark—one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan universe.

Ruth Negga (Loving; TV's Preacher) will star as legendary Jazz Age performer and civil-rights activist Josephine Baker in Josephine, a limited drama series in development at ABC Signature, Deadline noted. From international superstar and decorated WW2 spy, to civil-rights activist and mother, Josephine delves into the raw talent, sexual fluidity, struggles and bold life of an icon.

Chris Harrison will be "stepping aside" from his role as host of The Bachelor for an unspecified period of time, Deadline reported. He will not appear on the After the Final Rose live special after the show's season finale. In a statement, Harrison said, "The historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions." The Bachelor host Chris Harrison has apologized for comments he made during a recent interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, on Extra. Harrison defended Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's reputation, saying that photos of her at a 2018 plantation-themed party were taken a long time ago.

A two-minute Jeep ad featuring Bruce Springsteen was removed from the company's social-media accounts after news surfaced that the rock star was cited for drunken driving in November, USA Today reported. Springsteen was arrested Nov. 14 at Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey, according to the National Park Service. He was cited for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area, according to a NPS statement obtained by Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Paris Hilton spoke out about abuse she alleges she endured at a Utah boarding school, according to people.com . Hilton appeared in a Utah court to testify against Provo Canyon School—the boarding school whose staff members she has accused of inflicting emotional, physical and psychological abuse on her during her stay as a teenager. Hilton said she believes the alleged abuse at the school continued for years after she left, saying changes only started to be made after she publicly spoke out in her documentary earlier this year.

Tennessee country singer Morgan Wallen has apologized again for using racist language following the release of a video in which he was recorded using the N-word, TheWrap noted. He also asked his fans to stand down from defending his actions. "Don't defend me," Wallen said. "Please don't." He added, "I fully accept any penalties I'm facing." Wallen said that he'd started the process of becoming sober after the video was released.

Less than a day after her explosive ouster from Star Wars series The Mandalorian for incendiary social-media posts, Gina Carano has hit back at her detractors and revealed a new movie project she is making with conservative website The Daily Wire, Deadline reported. Carano said, "I am sending out a direct message of hope to everyone living in fear of cancellation by the totalitarian mob. I have only just begun using my voice which is now freer than ever before, and I hope it inspires others to do the same. They can't cancel us if we don't let them." The actress originally shared a TikTok post comparing the current divided political climate in the U.S. to Nazi Germany, leading to her firing.

Even Eric Stonestreet's Super Bowl cutout didn't like the Buccaneers, Page Six noted. The Modern Family star—who is a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan—got his life-size cutout at Raymond James Stadium moved when he found out it was surrounded by Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans. Stronestreet was pictured on one of the 30,000 life-size fan cutouts spread throughout the stadium for Super Bowl 2021. Attendance was capped at 22,000 real fans because of COVID-19-related restrictions.

HBO Max has debuted the reality-competition series The Bridge, a press release noted. Narrated by BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor James McAvoy, the show features 12 strangers from across the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland who set out for a cabin nestled deep within the British wilderness with no knowledge of what they'll be doing—only that 100,000 pounds sterling are at stake. This series places a massive cash prize on an island in the middle of a lake—but to reach the money, contestants must construct an 850-foot bridge with their bare hands and limited supplies, and in 20 days.

Actress Suzanne Somers (TV's Three's Company) and husband Alan Hamel had a bizarre interaction with a nearly naked home intruder, Extra noted. The visitor (who said he was a lost hiker) showed up at her Palm Springs home while she was in the middle of a Facebook Live session. Somers said,"The fact that he was practically naked, I could see that he didn't have a weapon, so that calmed me down. Instincts kicked in. I'm a child of an alcoholic and … very crisis-oriented, so when things go wrong, I know how to calm everything down."

A Houston man appeared in court after being accused of posing as recording artist Bruno Mars on Instagram to strike up a romance with a woman and coax her out of $100,000, ABC11.com reported. Chinwendu Azuonwu was charged with third-degree felony money laundering and was taken into custody. According to his charging documents, Azuonwu is connected to a scheme that happened between September and October 2018 involving a 63-year-old north Texas woman who told police she created an Instagram profile in search of companionship.