LGBT Ally Cyndi Lauper: "I Couldn't Stand On The Sidelines Anymore"

Cyndi Lauper accepts 2017 Logo Trailblazer Honor

Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Cyndi Lauper was honored at the 2017 Logo Trailblazer Honors earlier this week for her work on behalf of homeless LGBT youth as well as her overall commitment to equality.

Speaking to the crowd at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, “I never set out to be a trailblazer. I was a friend and family member who couldn’t stand on the sidelines anymore and be a bystander. I always felt that since I do have a big mouth, I might as well use it to help people who aren’t being heard.”

Also honored this year were Cleve Jones, Alvin Ailey, and Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan.

New LOGO Reality Series: "Fire Island"

Perhaps we'll be calling this The Gay Shore?

Because, why should straight people be the only ones who get to embarrass themselves on reality seaside locales?

Get ready to see all of Fire Island - The Pines, The Grove, the Meat Rack - featured throughout the season.

“We fell in love with Fire Island years ago the minute we stepped off the ferry,” say executive producers Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. “We’re excited to share the long standing magic of the island with this new series and to be working again with our Logo family.”

Clip synopsis: Fire Island' follows a group of sexy young professionals living together in a beachfront share house for the summer as they search for the romance, temptation and thrills that have brought the LGBTQ community to the island for decades.

Click here for the show's Instagram account complete with shirtless profiles of each of the men.

Premiere date yet to be announced. Watch the series trailer below:

"RuPaul's Drag Race" Sashaying To VH1

Lady Gaga (L) is set to appear during Season 9 of "RuPaul's Drag Race"

RuPaul's Drag Race, in the wake of it's highest rated season ever, is sashaying away from Logo heading to greener pastures on VH1.

“Broadcasting the show on VH1 will allow more fans to experience the energy, heart and talent these fierce queens bring to the stage every week," said Senior VP of Original Programming at Logo.

Logo long ago left it's original mission of creating LGBT-centric original programming, other than RuPaul's Drag Race.

At times, Ru's relationship with the network has been a bit tempestuous. Back in 2014, the drag diva took offense to the idea that Logo would "distance" itself over a kerfuffle over the use of the word "tranny." Ru took to Twitter to remind folks who was "payin’ the f%kin’ light bill."

Trust! @LogoTV hasn’t “distanced” itself from me, not while I’m still payin’ the f%kin’ light bill over there

— RuPaul (@RuPaul) May 24, 2014

Via press release:

“Coming off RuPaul’s Emmy win and a ratings record-breaking season of All Stars, the fandom around RuPaul’s Drag Race has only continued to swell as we head into season nine,” said Pamela Post, SVP of Original Programming & Development at Logo. “Broadcasting the show on VH1 will allow more fans to experience the energy, heart and talent these fierce Queens bring to the stage every week.”

To celebrate the gag-worthy new season, Logo will exclusively air a Race to the Nines marathon of non-stop episodes beginning on Sunday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT leading up to VH1’s season nine premiere on Friday, March 24, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Throughout the five-day marathon, viewers will be treated to all-new bonus content including never before seen footage from the cutting room floor and interviews with previous contestants, judges and super fans including Michelle Visage, Bob the Drag Queen, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Todrick Hall, and Lance Bass who will spill all of the “T” on the new queens.

It was recently announced that Lady Gaga will make an appearance at some time during the upcoming season.

The new season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiere's March 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on VH1.

Sashay, shantay, it’s time for @VH1 to make room for another runway! Move over #ANTM, #DragRace S9 will premiere on @VH1 3/24 at 8/7c! 👑9⃣👑 pic.twitter.com/OzIfGXwyLI

— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) March 1, 2017

News Round-Up: September 1, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• The first episode of woofy web series WHERE THE BEARS ARE Season 5 is here - watch below!

• Logo's "Finding Prince Charming" star under fire for his past work as a male escort.

• New study delivers promising results for new Alzheimers treatment.

• Guess who's hitting the dance floor for the next season of DANCING WITH THE STARS?

• Moulin Rouge The Musical heading to a Broadway stage in the near future.

• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals tells medicinal marijuana card holders: "No guns for you!"

LOGO Celebrates New Barbra Streisand Album With One Hour Special

Music, film and Broadway icon Barbra Streisand's new album is out, and inspiring calls of "Hello, gorgeous!"

Not only is the new album available now, tomorrow night LOGO will air a one hour special showing 'behind the scenes' footage during the making of the album.

Alec Baldwin hosts the presentation which will also include her duet partners Anne Hathaway, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Melissa McCarthy, Seth McFarlane, Jamie Foxx and Chris Pine.

ENCORE: Behind The Scenes With Barbra Streisand airs Tuesday, August 30 at 7PM ET on Logo.

Logo's "Gay Men In America" Study Reveals Some Interesting Statistics

Some interesting bullet points from Logo's recently released "Gay Men in America" study.

The survey of 1,000 gay men ages 18-49 revealed this:

• 61 percent of gay men in their 20s and 30s believe the gay community was more united in the past.

• 85 percent of gay men ages 18-49 agree, “even as gay people become more accepted, we should have places that are just for us” and that, “it’s sad to see gay neighborhoods and bars disappear.”

• 67 percent agree “my life is more interesting because I’m gay.”

• 75 percent agree that being gay “has had a positive effect on my life.”

• 55 percent of gay men in their 20s view being gay as extremely or very important to their identity, a sizeable increase compared to gay men in their 40s (40%).

* 88 percent agree “gay people shouldn’t have to conform to straight people’s norms and values.”

Documentary: "Matt Shepard Is A Friend Of Mine" To Make TV Premiere July 27 On LOGO

On Monday, July 27 at 9pm ET, the moving documentary Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine will make its television premiere on Logo.

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine explores the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, the gay student brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history.

Framed through the personal lens of friends and family, it’s a story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

LogoTV Set To Serve "Cocktails & Classics" With Michael Urie

Logo today announced that actor Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") and a group of his most pop culture-minded friends will serve up a new twist on classic films with “Cocktails & Classics,” a new film series premiering this Sunday, April 19 at 7pm ET/PT.

Each week Michael Urie and his guests will gather to dish about behind-the-scenes gossip during breaks of one of their favorite movies. Together they will re-watch iconic and hilarious scenes and reenact their most beloved quotes from classics including “Cabaret,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “Valley of the Dolls.”

The series launches with a screening of “Steel Magnolias.” In the episode, “Steel Magnolias” star Olympia Dukakis and screenwriter Robert Harling share how Meg Ryan, Winona Ryder, Laura Dern and Julianne Moore were all in talks to play the iconic role of Shelby, the part which ultimately went to Julia Roberts.

“Cocktails & Classics” guests include actors like Lea DeLaria (“Orange is the New Black”), Olympia Dukakis (“Steel Magnolias”) and Joel Grey (“Cabaret”), as well as journalists Jess Cagle (People, Entertainment Weekly), Michael Musto (OUT), Jessica Shaw (Entertainment Weekly) and Michael Ausiello (TVLine).

Upcoming films include “Auntie Mame,” “Barbarella,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Private Benjamin.”

“Everyone remembers the first time they saw and fell in love with these classic films,” said Chris McCarthy, General Manager of Logo. “We’re thrilled to bring them to a new generation with Michael Urie and a cast who share their own unique and hysterical perspectives on these iconic films and the Hollywood legends who starred in them.”

Get More:
Cocktails & Classics, Logo TV

LOGO TV: "Gay Lives of Straight Men"

With an announced premiere date of June 10th, LOGO will air a documentary - "Gay Lives of Straight Guys" - which will follow heterosexual men who work and/or play in what is often considered "gay" culture.

Following a hairstylist, a fashion designer, a straight personal trainer at a primarily gay gym, a straight man who plays football in a gay league, the show seems to demonstrate that hetero men can play with the gays and still come out alive.

Positive premise although I think it could send a wider message if it were on a different network since LOGO is watched primarily by gay men already. Not sure how many hetero folks will see the doc.  But you never know :)

From the producers:

A new generation of men is turning the tables on the catch phrase "That's so Gay!" feeling free to explore professions, friendships and lifestyles once considered strictly off-limits to the hetero-male.

In careers such as hairstyling and fashion design to personal appearance, straight dudes are finding a new freedom to express their true talents in areas often reserved for gay men, making friends for the first time across the sexual divide and discovering a new emotional freedom.

"Gay Lives of Straight Guys" is documentary that explores these changing attitudes and more through the compelling and intriguing stories of men brave enough to break down barriers and become pioneers in the melting pot of cultures.

The trailer seems to indicate there's plenty of eye-candy throughout the film.