Stephanie Clifford on TV
Across 1 Hatcher, on "Desperate Housewives" 6 Folded fast food 10 Frequent Trump portrayer Baldwin 14 Joe Cocker's "You ___ Beautiful" 15 Sandy-colored 16 Caesar's voice 17 Sgt. of a '90s Steve Martin flick [...]
Ann Arbor Summer Festival Lineup
This year marks the 35th consecutive Ann Arbor Summer Festival, a longstanding tradition that showcases some of the best of Ann Arbor's art and music scenes — with its fair share of national acts, too. [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
'It' girl Sophia Lillis cast as Ellen’s 'Nancy Drew' Franchise alert! Ellen Degeneres’ A Very Good Production and Warner Bros. are teaming up to produce something that sounds very much like the template for a [...]
Antoni, At Your Service: ‘Queer Eye’ Star on ‘Open’ Sexuality, Crop Tops & the Sexy Anatomy of a Coconut
Even though Antoni Porowski is known for his avocados, on a recent afternoon he was contemplating the coconut, every sultry detail of the tropical fruit meticulously combed like that of someone’s body during a first [...]
Movies with Happy Endings
Across 1 Game played astride stallions 5 Wistful word 9 One of Sheehan's irons 14 Arc on a Samuel Barber score 15 Pitchfork part 16 "___ told by an idiot" 17 Ward of "Once and [...]
Collision of Gays, Gentrification and Race Explored in Michigan Premiere Drama
Slipstream Theatre Initiative spurs discussion with ‘St. Sebastian’ beginning June 16 As more and more young people from Detroit’s suburbs find jobs in the city and settle into some of its historic black neighborhoods, longtime [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Jennifer Aniston and Tig Notaro will be 'First Ladies' “Jennifer Aniston is very attractive…and I was just like, hey, how about….we’re married,” says lesbian comic Tig Notaro ("One Mississippi"). And now [...]
Foreign Film
Across 1 With 19-Across, Broadway revival of a 1970 film 8 Home fit for a queen 14 Wonder Woman's wrist ornament 15 Cook of "The Maltese Falcon" 16 Word after poet 17 Draws a bead [...]
Jussie Smollett’s Empire State of Mind: Out Actor-Activist Talks Defying Hollywood Limitations, Using His Voice For Good, and Pride Past and Present
Really, aside from a fame-catapulting role on "Empire" and a dreamy croon so velvety you could rest your head on it at night, Jussie Smollett is just like you. Or was: He remembers going to [...]
Q&A: Jennifer Nettles Talks Celebrating the Queer Community with New Sugarland Album & Why ‘Tolerance’ Isn’t Enough
Just before releasing a hotly anticipated new album with Sugarland bandmate Kristian Bush, duo frontwoman Jennifer Nettles summed up her history of progressive politics and queer advocacy and love for chicken with one defiant tweet: [...]
Let’s Get to the Bottom of This
Across 1 Liquor source in Gomer's Mayberry 6 Hoofbeat of a stallion 10 Gay cable network 14 She hoped Gibson was gay in "What Women Want" 15 Org. against pirates 16 Digital rectal, for [...]
A Greater, Bigger, More Authentic World: Duo’s Chad King on Fashion Shows, Forthcoming Album (Their ‘Arrival Moment’) and Being Gay in Music Today
While you were crying, out musician Chad King and his friend Ian Axel were figuring out their next move. Could A Great Big World, as they’re collectively known, strike twice with another colossal Christina Aguilera-assisted [...]
Dishin’ with the girls of ‘Casa Valentina’
Straight, White-Collar Men Escape Families and Dress as Women in JET Drama A story about the lives of women named Miranda, Bessie, Valentina, Charlotte, Gloria, Terry and Amy who meet regularly at their favorite vacation [...]
Screen Queen: Oscars at Home
Unforgettable Moments from Academy Award-Winning Gay Faves, Yours Forever to Stream Call Me By Your Name Oliver (Armie Hammer) is facedown on the bed, fully clothed. He’s just arrived at his professor’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) home [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente John Cameron Mitchell’s latest 'Anthem' Here comes your next favorite podcast. Topic Studios, the people who produced "Missing Richard Simmons," recently announced that they’re partnering with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" [...]
Homophobes in the Cabinet
Across 1 Rainbow banner, e.g. 5 The Riddler, to Batman 10 "Kiss Me ___" 14 1993 title role for Kevin Kline 15 Loads 16 "To be," in Tours 17 Zinke, who pushed for LGBT discrimination [...]
Dan Reynolds Is On a Mission: Imagine Dragons Frontman Talks Being a Mormon LGBTQ Activist, Queer-Minded Music & Expanding LoveLoud
During the inaugural LoveLoud Festival in August 2017 on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, roughly 40 miles outside Salt Lake City, 17,000 people fell into the embrace of Dan Reynolds. Amid performances [...]
You Can’t Beat Margaret’s Tale
Across 1 Comes and goes wherever 5 Like the Alps through which the von Trapps escaped 10 Visit Barneys, e.g. 14 Nuts 15 Punch bowl item 16 Drink from the land of the samurai 17 [...]
Undefinable Cynthia
Across 1 Express pleasure orally 5 Give the once-over in a gay bar 9 It may be grand, to Glenn Burke 13 Chaplin partner 14 Collette of "The Hours" 15 Forfeit 16 Just right [...]
Liz and the Luckouts Offer up ‘Raw Rock ‘n’ Roll’
The pessimism of their name aside, Liz and the Luckouts are a safe bet if you’re looking for “Detroit rock 'n' roll, just raw rock 'n' roll,” said Gretchen Domino, who plays bass and joins in on vocals. “Our sound is hard to describe.”
Deep Inside Hollywood
More more more 'Tales of The City,' now with Ellen Page Just when you were fully annoyed and extremely tired and actually angry (hey, "Roseanne"!) at all the TV reboots and revivals, here comes the [...]
Q&A: Adam Rippon on Finding His Gay Power, What Inspires His Costume Design (‘Sex Stuff’) & His Post-Olympics Clapback For Guys Who Once Ghosted Him
“Yes, this is an interview,” a schoolgirl-giggly Adam Rippon deadpans to fellow figure skater Charlie White who, naturally, is curious about the current topic of conversation: sex and harnesses, and how both come together to [...]
Ain’t No Shame in Her Game
Jenifer Lewis to Visit Detroit: Tackles Stigma, Mental Illness in New Memoir If actress Jenifer Lewis ignites a sense of motherly affection from viewers, it’s certainly not by accident. After all, her portrayal of a [...]
The Frivolist: 5 Things to Do Before Giving Your Rocky Relationship the Kiss-Off
You can take the easy way out when the going gets tough in your relationship (and you should if you don’t love your partner anymore), but there’s plenty of value and payoff in sticking the hard times out and trying to make it work. How you do that is up to you – there’s no right or wrong way – but these tips on putting the pieces of shattered partnership back together again are a great place to start.
Trendsetting Lips
Across 1 Low-quality meat 5 Biweekly tide 9 Langston Hughes' "The Weary ___" 14 Disneyland feature 15 Biblical trial word 16 Title character for Barbra 17 Zipper problem 18 Larry Kramer and peers 19 "Couldn't [...]
Jump to your feet and support ‘Concert for a Cure’
Will the opportunity to spend an intimate evening of song and music with cast members from the national touring production of “On Your Feet” motivate enough people to jump to their feet on the evening [...]
Web Series Takes Authentic Approach to Trans People of Color
A new web series is currently shooting its first season in Detroit. "Femme Queen Chronicles" seeks to tell the story of four trans women of color living in the Motor City. Created by activist Ahya [...]
Rachel Weisz’s Quest for Queer Stories – and Why She Thinks It’s ‘Essential’ LGBTQ Films Reach Out to Gay Press
Rachel Weisz has strong feelings on makers of queer films discussing their work with queer media. To not do so, she says, would be “ridiculous and wrong and unthinkable.” The topic is broached in light [...]
I Found Love at a Lorde Concert. Just Not the Kind I Was Expecting.
The soundtrack of my love life as a full-grown gay man was written by a 21-year-old woman. I’m 35, so this is slightly concerning to my queer confidante. He doesn’t think I need to try [...]
They’re Back
Across 1 Martin Crane's support 5 "The African Queen" author 9 Way out of the closet 13 Asian inland sea 14 Like a muscle Mary's waist 15 Thomas ___ Edison 16 Drag queen's stocking [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE Your Olympics Crush is 'Dancing With The Stars' No, we didn’t say which Olympics crush. That’s because the upcoming all-athletes season of "Dancing With the Stars" features several recent popular Olympic [...]
Educating Betsy
Across 1 Scott of "American Beauty" 7 Subtle difference 13 Wonder Woman's people 15 Drag queen's application for lids 16 End of an SNL quip: "I may not be very good on camera, but ___" [...]
Artists Celebrate Queer and Trans Love Through Poetry, Photography
Through their poetry, photography and writing, the self-identified “alien femme” duo Alex Jenny and Effee Nelly showcase a fully-realized depiction of queer and transgender love in a decidedly unique way. The couple’s blog, appropriately titled [...]
The Frivolist: 6 Household Chores It’s Time to Farm Out
In my other life as a gay personal finance expert, I write a lot about saving money, but what about time? That’s worth something too, especially if you can save more of it by eliminating [...]
Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers Talks Empathy, Creativity and New Projects
Few artist are willing to take on topics as complex as the prison industrial complex, painkiller addiction and faith — let alone on one album — but the Indigo Girls certainly don't shy away from [...]
LGBTQ Artist Rachael Cantu Debuts ‘Love Rush’ EP
Falling in love, as thrilling as it is, requires a huge level of vulnerability. That immensely happy and slightly uncomfortable feeling is encapsulated in Rachael Cantu’s most recent music video “You’re the Most.” Its dreamy [...]
Q&A: Jessie Ware on Gaining Confidence from the Queer Community, Wig Snatching & Upcoming Dance Album
Jessie Ware only recently learned what “wig-snatching” means, and fresh off the European leg of her current tour, I’ve taught her “guncle.” The 33-year-old British songstress takes full advantage of this latest lesson in queer-speak, [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
'A League of Their Own' gets a show of its own Remember that part in "A League of Their Own" where Rosie O’Donnell talks about feeling different from the other women, and how that [...]
Words from Dear Simon
Across 1 "___ because you think I look like a guy?" (with 7-Across) 7 See 1-Across 13 Establishes sexual preference? 15 Classical guitar great 16 Put it to your mouth at a gay rodeo 17 [...]
The Frivolist: 5 Very Good Reasons Why Staying Friends With Your Ex(es) Is Beneficial
I have had some relationships, y’all. None of them went super great. Hence why we’re not still together. But I’ve managed to make friends out of all but one of those boys – four [...]
Our Lady Liberty: Hayley Kiyoko Talks Life, Lesbians and the Pursuit of Unabashed Queer Pop
Even lesbian Jesuses get swept up by the grandeur of the Statue of Liberty. “I’ve never seen it before! It’s huge! Oh my god, it’s huge!” enthuses a giddy-as-ever Hayley Kiyoko, proclaimed “the lesbian Jesus” [...]
Aepex Contemporary Performance and Kerrytown Concert House Push Boundaries with Transgender Opera ‘As One’
Thinking of opera, one might imagine a knight in shining armor, a damsel in distress or Brunnhilde — a woman with a viking helmet and blonde braids belting out some massive vocal power. And, in many ways, opera is still representative of those traditional characters, but it's also an ever-changing medium that is growing with the times.
The Frivolist: 6 Things I’d Like to See on the ‘Roseanne’ Revival
Roseanne Barr knows how to keep tongues wagging. From her infamous bungling of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and my-way-or-the-highway tyranny on the set of her groundbreaking sitcom to her failed presidential bid and accusation that Ireland (yes, the whole darn country) is anti-Semitic, the self-proclaimed domestic goddess has been a controversial pop-culture mainstay for more than 30 years.
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente 'Love, Simon,' meet 'Love, Cecil' Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber have acquired the latest documentary from Lisa Immordino Vreeland ("Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel"). The film, "Love, Cecil," is [...]
Missing David
Across 1 With 9-Across and 27-Across, "In the first place, ___" 6 Title for Alec Guinness 9 See 1-Across 14 Isle of the birth state of Bette Midler 15 Aladdin's monkey 16 She had her [...]
From Film to the Stage: Melissa McKamie Refreshes ‘The Sound of Music’s’ Baronness Elsa Schraeder
Although the audience never sees it, a scene change in a musical performance is the product of a well-engineered and well-oiled machine. Many crew members must seamlessly perform dozens of specific actions to set scenery [...]
Dog Act at Lansing’s Wharton Center
"Dog Act" is a capstone thesis production by Liz Duffy Adams which features the 2018 Masters of Fine Arts acting candidates. The production, which will be presented on March 16 and 17, follows the traveling [...]
Luci the Sexting Robot
Across 1 Femme character in "Mango Kiss," or lip 5 Slap on the bottom 9 Opera selections 14 Loads 15 "The English Patient" nurse 16 "With parsley," for Traci Des Jardins 17 Start of a [...]
‘OK, Pumpkin?’: Toni Braxton Isn’t Kidding About These Untold Stories – and the Janet and Mariah Duets That Could’ve Been
When you have seven Grammys and an iconic voice that can drop to ocean depths, it’s your God-given right to also have a no-wings-in-my-dressing-room policy. This is Toni Braxton in 2018, still decrying the existence of [...]