News Round-Up: May 1, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Joel Green is giving me the summertime blues. We are thisclose to summer weather. Can't we just pretend it's here?

• America's top pro squash player, Todd Harrity, comes out as gay

• With 11 Tony Award nominations for the current revival, Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning Angels in America is now the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history.

• A new study shows gay men often deepen their voices during initial meetings to appear more masculine due to fears of discrimination. Another study, published last year, indicated that job applicants who "sound gay" may be less likely to be hired.

• Sexual health and wellness company, Tenga, found in a new survey that men who masturbate weekly are 10% more confident in the bedroom than those who rarely touch themselves. There are guys who indulge in self-love only once a week?

• Matthew Olshefski, "The Shirtless Violinist," recently shared his cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” retold as a gay, long-distance love story.

I've previously written about Olshefski's videos here.

Take Two: Actor Lee Pace Comes Out (Again)

Lee Pace

Actor Lee Pace, who plays "Joe Pitt," a closeted gay Mormon man in the Broadway revival of Angels in America caught some unexpected press last week after he hesitantly came out during a recent interview with W Magazine.

Apparently, Pace is a very private person and was surprised by reporter Brian Moylan's question about his sexuality.

“I’ve dated men [and] I’ve dated women. I don’t know why anyone would care,” Pace said at the time. “I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say — I find your question intrusive.”

That answer apparently didn't sit well with many in the LGBTQ community especially in light of Pace taking on his high profile gay role in Angels In America.

So Pace is giving the question a second take via a string of tweets wherein he says he "happily owns" being part of the LGBTQ community and that he understands "the importance of living openly."

In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work.

As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life...just as it's been important to me to portray queer characters with dignity for my entire career: A Soldier's Girl (Showtime. 2003). The Normal Heart (Broadway. 2011). Halt and Catch Fire (AMC. 2014-2017). Angels in America. (Broadway. NOW.)

Onward, with Pride.

In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work.

— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018

As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life...

— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018

...just as it's been important to me to portray queer characters with dignity for my entire career: A Soldier's Girl (Showtime. 2003). The Normal Heart (Broadway. 2011). Halt and Catch Fire (AMC. 2014-2017). Angels in America. (Broadway. NOW.)
Onward, with Pride.

— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018

Thank you @leepace for sharing your truth. We are proud to have you as a member of the #LGBTQ community. 🏳️‍🌈 https://t.co/zUSohxvpPQ

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 5, 2018

News Round-Up: February 22, 2018

Joe Manganiello (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Talk about #ThrowbackThursday - how about 18-year-old Joe Manganiello's first professional headshot (above)? #Woof #Handsome

• The acclaimed revival of Angels In America starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield begins performances at Broadway's Neil Simon Theater tomorrow night. This groundbreaking LGBT-centric play is a "must-see." Use code "World" to get a discount and see this deeply moving theatrical experience.

• Broadway luminaries Norm Lewis and Brandon Victor Dixon will join John Legend and Sara Bareilles for the upcoming TV presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar on Easter Sunday.

• Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will share hosting duties with NBC sportscaster Terry Gannon for NBC’s coverage of the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

• The Kansas Republican Party has endorsed a resolution that opposes any recognition of the transgender community, while still claiming to respect the “dignity” of LGBT people.

• Platinum selling recording artist BØRNS recently released the new video for "I Don't Want You Back" from his latest album Blue Madonna.

I recently shared his collaboration with Lana Del Rey, "God Save Our Young Blood" here. I like the moody, atmospheric quality he brings to his sonic landscape.

Listen below and let me know what you think.

National Theatre's "Angels In America" Coming To Broadway February 2018

The celebrated National Theatre production of Angels In America is coming to Broadway this February starring Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Nathan Lane (The Producers).

Via press release:

A quarter-century after stunning the theatre world, one of the greatest theatrical journeys of our time returns to Broadway in an acclaimed new production from the National Theatre.

Angels In America, Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning epic, won 7 Tony Awards®, The New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and The Evening Standard Award on its groundbreaking debut. Now Marianne Elliott (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, War Horse) directs a spectacular new production of this landmark play, starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield, and featuring Susan Brown, Denise Gough, Amanda Lawrence, James McArdle and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.

An instant sellout in London, Angels In America arrives at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in February 2018 for 18 weeks only.

The New York Times says the true star of the production is "the two-play drama itself, a staggeringly ambitious look at identity, illness and Americanness, set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis and the Reagan administration."

Sadly, hunky Russell Tovey (and his bare backside) will not be making the transfer :(