News Round-Up: June 27, 2019

Nick Jonas (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Nick Jonas is giving you seriously 'daddy' grown-up goodness in this promo pic introducing his character "Bruno Gaido" from his upcoming movie, Midway, due out November 8. #Dang

• A gay couple were the target of homophobic insults before being spat on, clawed and physically attacked in an unprovoked attack in Essex in southeast England.

• Senate Democrats have introduced a resolution recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the first time Congress has formally acknowledged the event that led to the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

• Alphonso David has been named the next president of the Human Rights Campaign. He is the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to lead the LGBTQ advocacy organization.

BREAKING: Alphonso David has been named the next president of the Human Rights Campaign! David will be the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to lead @HRC. #AlphonsoDavid pic.twitter.com/GgiFQBtUVP

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 25, 2019

• Prince William says it would be "absolutely fine" if one of his children came out as gay.

• Deadline reports that Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, along with James Corden, Andrew Rannells, and Keegan-Michael Key, have all been tapped by Ryan Murphy for the Netflix adaptation of the LGBTQ-themed Broadway musical, The Prom.

• As WorldPride gets underway in New York City today, just a reminder of how a leader CAN relate to his LGBTQ constituents. Folks, I give you Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Toronto's Pride event this past weekend.

Justin Trudeau joined the Toronto #Pride parade this past weekend, and it was rather adorable! 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/lnvppOz7s0

— Shomeo (@SassBaller) June 26, 2019

Ryan Murphy Will Bring Broadway's 'Boys In The Band' To Netflix

Super producer/director Ryan Murphy announced today he will produce the acclaimed Broadway revival of The Boys in the Band for Netflix as a 'movie event.'

Last summer, THE BOYS IN THE BAND were on Broadway, breaking house records at The Booth. THIS summer, The Boys In the Band will be filming a Netflix movie event.

The incomparable Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway revival, will direct the film adaptation. 

The Broadway cast of BOYS was so important to me, and as equally groundbreaking as Mart Crowley's seminal work. Everyone in the cast was out and proud...and feeling so blessed to mark the 50th anniversary of Mart's landmark play. 

The entire Broadway cast will reprise their roles in the film. 

I can't wait to be on set with Joe and Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesus, Tuc Watkins, Michael Benjamin Washington and Brian Hutchison. 

I will be producing the film with David Stone and Ned Martel. 

Look for THE BOYS on Netflix in 2020.

The cast of the Broadway revival of 'The Boys in the Band'

Last week, I reported that Murphy will also produce a 'movie event' adaptation of Broadway's The Prom for Netflix. That project, like Boys in the Band, is LGBTQ-themed.

It all makes me uber-happy. More Broadway, more gay... more, more, more!

View this post on Instagram

Last summer, THE BOYS IN THE BAND were on Broadway, breaking house records at The Booth. THIS summer, The Boys In the Band will be filming a Netflix movie event. The incomparable Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway revival, will direct the film adaptation. The Broadway cast of BOYS was so important to me, and as equally groundbreaking as Mart Crowley's seminal work. Everyone in the cast was out and proud...and feeling so blessed to mark the 50th anniversary of Mart's landmark play. The entire Broadway cast will reprise their roles in the film. I can't wait to be on set with Joe and Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesus, Tuc Watkins, Michael Benjamin Washington and Brian Hutchison. I will be producing the film with David Stone and Ned Martel. Look for THE BOYS on Netflix in 2020.

A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on Apr 17, 2019 at 10:46am PDT

Ryan Murphy Will Turn Broadway's THE PROM Into A Netflix Movie Event

Ryan Murphy will bring Broadway musical The Prom to Netflix

Hollywood super-producer/director Ryan Murphy (Pose, American Horror Story, GLEE) has announced he’s bringing another queer story to the small screen.

Murphy announced on his Instagram Wednesday that he will turn the new Broadway musical, The Prom, into a Netflix “movie event.”

“THE PROM is one of the most uplifting, heartfelt and special musicals I have ever seen on Broadway,” wrote Murphy. “It's truly an original that celebrates the underdog and says in a loving spectacular way that LGBTQ rights are human rights.”

Citing a “special connection” to the piece due to the location of the musical, Indiana, which happens to be where Murphy hails from, he told his followers, “I’m thrilled to announce I’m turning it into a MOVIE EVENT for Netflix.”

View this post on Instagram

THE PROM is one of the most uplifting, heartfelt and special musicals I have ever seen on Broadway. It's truly an original that celebrates the underdog and says in a loving spectacular way that LGBTQ rights are human rights. I feel a special connection to it because it's set in Indiana, and that's where I grew up, too. I'm thrilled to announce I'm turning it into a MOVIE EVENT for Netflix, and I'm bringing producers @billdamaschke and @dori.berinstein and the amazing creative team with me -- Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, Tony Award winner Bob Martin, Tony award nominee @sklarbar73 and Tony Award nominee @Chadbeg. See it first at the Longacre Theatre. It has a musical score that will leave you singing for days, a hilarious and moving book and some of the most showstopping direction, choreography and performances I've ever seen on Broadway. @theprommusical

A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on Apr 9, 2019 at 5:32pm PDT

In adapting the material for TV, the 6-time Emmy Award winner shared that the Broadway creative team - including Tony Award winning director/choreographer Casey Nickolaw - will come along for the ride, as well as the stage producers.

The show, which follows the story of a high school student in a small Indiana town who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom, opened at the Longacre Theater on Broadway last fall to rave reviews.

"So full of happiness you think your heart is about to burst!" - Variety

"Comic gold!" - The Hollywood Reporter

"Broadway Comedy Razzle Dazzles Small Town Bigotry" - Deadline

You may recall the splash the show made when the cast performed the number “Build A Prom” on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November.

Upbeat, lively and full of energy, the musical number closes with the two female leading characters kissing.

I'm pretty sure that was the first same-sex kiss to be televised on the long-running parade.

News Round-Up: April 10, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Dan Tai gets up close to a mama elephant. If that's not enough elephant action for you, check this baby elephant pretending to be brave. #ElephantsRock

• Following an overall trend of increased hate crimes since Donald Trump took office, a Colorado transgender man was attacked on his own front porch for "acting gay."

• It's National Siblings Day, so here's a shout out to my brother, Gary, who I fought with throughout my childhood. But, as adults, we found common ground - wonder what that was...? #MoreWine

Happy Siblings Day to my big bro, Gary

• A gay guy wrote an essay titled, "Why Pete Buttigieg Is Bad For Gays," and he's wrong.

• Hollywood powerhouse producer/director Ryan Murphy announced he will make the hit Broadway musical The Prom (about a high school girl asking another girl to the prom) into a Netflix movie.

• Testifying before Congress today, Education Secretary Betsy Devos admitted she knew rolling back Obama-era guidance that protected trans students would lead to lower attendance and depression for those students.

.@RepBonamici: "Did you know when you rolled back the guidance that the stress of harassment and discrimination can lead to lower attendance and grades as well as depression for transgender students?"

Secretary @BetsyDeVosED: "I do know that." pic.twitter.com/nEMvk2sFUQ

— CSPAN (@cspan) April 10, 2019

Broadway Diva Patti LuPone Set To Join Cast Of FX's 'Pose"

Tony & Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone

Producer/director Ryan Murphy made news Saturday night at PaleyFest in Los Angeles when he announced a new diva would be joining the cast of FX’s Pose.

While moderating a panel with cast members of the ground-breaking series, Murphy surprised the audience - and cast - that Broadway icon, Patti LuPone, will be joining the show for season two.

According to Deadline, Murphy told cast members MJ Rodriguez and Billy Porter they would be sharing plenty of scenes with the two-time Tony Award winner.

LuPone is currently appearing in the gender-bending revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company in London, where she has been nominated for an Olivier Award for “Best Actress in a Supporting Role.”

Murphy also told the crowd that the series will time-jump from the late 1980s to the year 1990. The first episode of the new season will take place on the day Madonna’s mega-hit “Vogue” was released.

Expect to hear about Madge’s co-opting of the vogueing/ ball culture of New York City for her now-iconic music video. Plus, since LuPone has been an outspoken critic of Madonna in the past, we’ll be curious to see if any of that animosity surfaces in the diva’s scenes.

The talk-back took place after a screening of episode six from season one of the series, “Love is the Message,” which was written and directed by acclaimed transgender activist Janet Mock. The episode, the first in television history to be directed by a transgender woman, was also Mock’s directorial debut.

And speaking of directing, Murphy announced during the panel that Mock, Porter and producer Our Lady J would all be helming episodes in the upcoming season.

Season two of Pose begins shooting next week and will premiere in June.

(cropped image via Flickr/Etro053 - CC license)

Ryan Murphy Plans To Give Millions To Help Elect Pro-LGBTQ Politicians

Ryan Murphy (Credit: Getty on behalf of The Trevor Project)

Out producer/director/writer Ryan Murphy announced at The Trevor Project’s annual gala on Sunday night that he is on a mission to vote out of office anti-LGBTQ lawmakers.

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Janet Mock presented the Hero Award to Ryan Murphy and the cast of POSE.

Murphy accepted the award and shared, “When I was 19, in Indiana, I myself called a suicide hotline. Overwhelmed by the AIDS crisis, by the fact that I was the only ‘out’ person in my friend group, the only ‘out’ person I knew at the time, and alienated from my family, I felt profound despair. I made a call one late night in November. I made a connection, got some hope, and carried on. It’s powerful life saving work this organization does. In my roundabout way, I know this first hand.”

Murphy also told the audience he will launch a multi-million dollar initiative in 2020, “Pose Gives Back,” to target those legislators in Congress who work against the rights of LGBTQ Americans, according to Variety.

“Why don’t we consider ever targeting the people who are causing the problem here?,” the TV guru asked the crowd. “The homophobes, the trans naysayers, and the small restricted and dangerous minds who are causing so many young people to needlessly hate themselves and doubt themselves…”

Noting the results of this year’s midterm elections which saw over 20 anti-LGBTQ politicians defeated in a single night, Murphy says he felt inspired.

“We are going to send a message which says you cannot make discrimination against us a political virtue anymore,” said the 54-year-old producer of Pose and American Horror Story. “You can’t keep killing our vulnerable young people by promoting and nationalizing your rural, close-minded anti-constitutional viewpoints.”

Calling out some lawmakers by name, including Senators Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee and Congressman Steve King, Murphy said, “I want these hateful and wrong politicians to go, and to stop polluting our moral and ethical ether.”

According to Murphy, “Pose Gives Back” will provide financial support to at least 20 pro-LGBTQ candidates in 2020 in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

He ended his speech announcing a $50,000 donation to The Trevor Project.

You can watch Murphy’s acceptance speech and announcement below from The Trevor Project’s livestream below. Trans activist/writer Janet Mock introduces Murphy at the 124:00 mark.

Tune in to enjoy the official Livestream of TrevorLIVE LA 2018! Honoring Ryan Murphy and the Cast of Pose, Amandla Stenberg and AT&T. With appearances by Nico Santos, Lauren Ash and Jussie Smollett. Hosted by Eugene Lee Yang.  Presented by Revry. https://t.co/eiLHRcPf5F

— The Trevor Project (@TrevorProject) December 3, 2018

The gala evening raised over $1.5 million Sunday night for The Trevor Project's mission to help LGBTQ teens in crisis.

On a lighter note, Pose stars MJ Rodriguez and Billy Porter thrilled the gala audience with a reprise of their duet of “Home” from The Wiz. Watch below.

MJ Rodriguez and Billy Porter (Credit: Getty on behalf of The Trevor Project)

More power at #TrevorLIVE with @MjRodriguez7 and @theebillyporter pic.twitter.com/LCHNRbYaTX

— Marc Malkin (@marcmalkin) December 3, 2018

Big Night At The 2018 Emmy Awards For LGBTs

RuPaul accepts the Emmy Award for "Best Reality Competition Series"

It was a great night for LGBT-themed entertainment last night at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards as RuPaul's Drag Race and the FX series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story took home top honors in their categories.

Making Emmy Award history, RuPaul’s Drag Race won for "Best Reality Competition Series" and RuPaul took home his own Emmy for "Best Host of a Reality Competition Series." This is the first time one series has won both awards in the reality category in the same year.

Taking home the awards for series AND host. #Blessed 🙏 #DragRace #Emmys https://t.co/iqWD6T6DAl

— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) September 18, 2018

Accepting the honor for the series, RuPaul thanked all those who have supported and contributed to the success of the show, as well as, "all of the dreamers out there."

The 'Supermodel of the World' closed his thanks by reminding folks, "If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else."

In the "Best Limited Series" category, The Assassination of Gianni Versace garnered three Emmys last night, adding to the two won last week at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

In addition to the "Best Limited Series" trophy, Darren Criss, who turned in a star turn as gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan, won for "Best Actor in a Limited Series."

#Emmys: @DarrenCriss thanks Ryan Murphy for "entrusting me with this opportunity of a lifetime" https://t.co/4FQezcH3JN pic.twitter.com/6oXjz5Cgob

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 18, 2018

And uber-gay creator and producer of the show, Ryan Murphy, won the award for Directing for the Gianni Versace episode, "The Man Who Would Be Vogue."

In accepting the award for "Best Limited Series," he dedicated the moment to the LGBTQ community.

Ryan Murphy dedicates his #Emmys win to the LGBTQ community. “We dedicate this award to awareness. To stricter hate crime laws.” (via THR) pic.twitter.com/Wh8Svi2GCT

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 18, 2018

Here's the full list of 2018 Emmy Award winners:

Drama Series

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Comedy Series

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

Limited Series

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)

Lead actress in a drama series

Claire Foy in The Crown

Lead actor in a drama series

Matthew Rhys in The Americans

Lead actress in a limited series or movie

Regina King in Seven Seconds

Lead actor in a limited series or movie

Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Lead actress in a comedy series

Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Lead actor in a comedy series

Bill Hader in Barry

Supporting actor in a drama series

Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones

Supporting actress in a drama series

Thandie Newton in Westworld

Supporting actor in a comedy series

Henry Winkler in Barry

Supporting actress in a comedy series

Alex Borstein in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Supporting actor in a limited series or movie

Jeff Daniels in Godless

Supporting actress in a limited series or movie

Merritt Wever in Godless

Reality-competition program

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Variety talk series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Variety sketch series

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Directing for a comedy series

Amy Sherman-Palladino for: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (‘Pilot’)

Directing for a drama series

Stephen Daldry for: The Crown (‘Paterfamilias’)

Directing for a limited series, TV movie or dramatic special

Ryan Murphy for: The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (‘The Man Who Would Be Vogue’)

Writing for a comedy series

Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Pilot”)

Writing for a drama series

Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg for: The Americans (‘Start’)

Writing for a limited series, TV movie or dramatic special

William Bridges and Charlie Brooker for: USS Callister: Black Mirror

Writing for a variety series

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)

Ryan Murphy's New Queer-Centric Series, POSE, Premieres Tonight On FX

Tony Award winner Billy Porter in POSE

In the first episode of Ryan Murphy's new groundbreaking series, POSE, Tony Award winner Billy Porter announces, “You ain't dead yet.”

Porter, starring as the drag ball emcee Pray Tell, is giving some tough love to House mother Blanca Rodriguez (Mj Rodriguez). “There is nothing more tragic than a sad queen," he adds.

The show, which centers on marginalized queer and brown people, signals early on there will be no resorting to sad-sack tropes about unhappy, suffering queers.

From Buzzfeed:

By centering negotiations of identity and oppression — as well as love and desire — between queer characters of color, the show allows for thoughtful exploration of intra-community hierarchies and conflicts. There are some limitations to this woke soap approach, but the show stands out in a television landscape dominated by straight stories “about race” and white stories “about queerness.” In telling a kind of intersectional fairy tale of queer brown lives, the show highlights just how limited the scope of most TV creators' imaginations still is.

Pose’s story — as laid out in the first four episodes made available to critics — is ostensibly organized around a battle between two warring ball houses: the House of Abundance, mothered by Elektra Abundance (Dominique Jackson) and their upstart rivals, the House of Evangelista, led by former Abundance daughter Blanca Rodriguez (Mj Rodriguez). The show uses the House structures and the ball setting to dramatize the stories of the gay men and trans women of color who were — and are — the real-life protagonists of those settings, in service of Murphy’s usual goal of turning characters who might be written elsewhere as sidekicks into stars.

Ultimately, Pose is a queer fantasy, and a savvy take on the importance of fantasy for subjects marginalized through race, gender, and sexuality. “How lucky are we?” a house daughter says to Elektra at one point. “We create ourselves. Shit, we are the real dream girls.”

And in the glossy world of Pose, they finally are.

POSE premieres tonight at 9PM on FX.

Tonight we will show the world just who we are! Are you ready? #PoseFX

A post shared by fxnetworks (@fxnetworks) on Jun 3, 2018 at 1:43pm PDT

Own everything. #PoseFX

A post shared by Pose FX (@poseonfx) on Apr 26, 2018 at 10:00am PDT

News Round-Up: May 9, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news stories you might have missed:

• This was a looooong day. LA stuntman Trevor Lapaglia (above) shows how to finish a tough day like a boss.

• Out actor Mario Cantone explains why he's not in the current Broadway revival of The Boys in the Band. (Tip of the hat to kenneth-in-the-212)

• With almost 15,000 transgender service members in our military, Rolling Stone did a deep dive into what it's like to be trans and serve while our Cheeto-In-Chief attacks them on a regular basis.

• The housing crisis in London is so extreme homeless gay men are checking into gay saunas over night just to have a place to sleep.

• A teacher in Texas who was twice voted teacher of the year and received "exemplary reviews" found herself on "administrative leave" because she was accused of promoting a 'homosexual agenda.' Now she's suing.

• TV's wonder producer Ryan Murphy is donating all of his profits from his upcoming FX series Pose to LGBTQ charities.

I am donating 100 percent of my profits from my new FX show POSE towards trans and LGBTQ charitable organizations. These groups do amazing work and need our support. Every day for the next 14 days I will highlight a group I'm supporting, and encourage you to do the same!

— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) May 9, 2018

Pose premieres June 3 on FX. Watch the trailer, which dropped last week, and then make sure you tune in ;)

Preview: Ryan Murphy's New Series "Pose"

FX recently dropped the first full preview of Ryan Murphy’s upcoming new series Pose, which plays across the landscape of drag ball culture in 1980s New York City.

The series initially made headlines after announcing five transgender actors in trans roles as series regulars - Indya Moore, Angelica Ross, Hailie Sahar, Dominique Jackson, and M.J. Rodriguez - easily the most ever cast in a TV series.

The series also stars TV veterans James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek), Kate Mara (House of Cards), Murphy regular Evan Peters, and Tony Award-winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots).

According to press materials, Murphy looks to journey across 1986 NYC finding the intersections of the downtown literary scene, the ball culture and the lavish luxe of the emerging Trump era.

Pose premieres Sunday, June 3 on FX. Watch the preview below.

News Round-Up: February 15, 2018

Danny Jones

Some news items you might have missed:

• "Tree Man" Danny Jones (above) - who has over 850K followers on Instagram thanks to his incredible body, handsome face and inspiring thoughts - has his own insecurities in life. Check out his post on overcoming perceived "weaknesses" on his Instagram here.

• Woofy openly gay Marine Neil Rafferty has announced he plans on running for the Alabama State House.

• Jeffrey Tambor, the Emmy-winning star of Transparent where he plays trans woman "Maura Pfefferman, will not be returning for the show's upcoming fifth season after multiple claims of sexual misconduct have been raised against him.

• Out Hollywood wonder boy Ryan Murphy (American Crime Story, GLEE, American Horror Story, Feud) has inked a five-year, $300 million deal to create and produce for Netflix.

• Out Canadian figure skater Eric Radford, who became the first openly gay man to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics on this past Sunday, has announced he and partner Meagan Duhamel will retire immediately after these Winter Olympic Games. Radford and Duhamel won another medal, this time bronze, last night in the pairs competition.

• Bristol Palin, daughter of former half-term Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, has publicly criticized US Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon for refusing to meet with virulently anti-LGBT Vice President Mike Pence. You know, the paid spokesperson for teen celibacy who gave birth to two children out of wedlock? Yeah, her.

• Out singer Calum Scott has recorded a duet version of his single, "You Are The Reason," with 3-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis. The solo version of the track has garnered over 50 million streams online and the music video has over 40 million views.

You can check out the talented Mr. Scott with Ms. Lewis below. The track comes from Scott's debut album Only Human due out March 9th.

News Round-Up: February 8, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• A little #TBT action: two years ago today we were all kinda in awe of Super Bowl referee Clete Blakeman (above) whose biceps made him one of the most jacked guys on the field.

• The Netflix reboot of Queer Eye launched last night with members of the new and original cast taking part in the premiere. Hard to believe it's been 15 years since the original Emmy Award-winning series made it's bow in 2003.

• Gay porn star Topher DiMaggio has been suspended as a "trophy boy" for Andrew Christian fashion label as two more allegations of sexual assault have been made. That brings the total to five different accusers.

Andrew Christian does not condone sexual abuse or any other type of abuse or mistreatment to members of our community. We are taking allegations made by the victims very seriously. Accordingly, Topher is on indefinite suspension while we look into the matter...

— Andrew Christian (@andrewchristian) February 8, 2018

• Walgreens has changed its national bathroom policy after a lesbian in Los Angeles was told she couldn't use the ladies room because she looked like a man. The new policy will allow people to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

• Gold star Trump supporter Scott Baio is facing new allegations from another "Charles in Charge" co-star.

• Power producer Ryan Murphy just got a two-season straight-to-series order from Netflix for The Politician which will star Tony Award winner Ben Platt. Barbra Streisand and Gwyneth Paltrow are in talks to co-star. Platt will play a wealthy Santa Barbara resident running for public office. And yes, Platt will have musical numbers in the series.

• Cosmopolitan invited several hunky U.S. Olympic athletes heading to Pyeongchang for the Winter Games to recite really cheesy pick-up lines as they gave a little peek at their well-toned bodies.

I think out freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy scored the best moment with his line: “I wanted the gold medal in Sochi, but I settled for silver because I want to make sure you come first.” Watch below.

Podcast: Egypt Lawmakers Propose Criminalizing LGBTs; Ryan Murphy's New Series Casts Record Number Of Trans Actors; Colton Haynes Gets Married

In this week's podcast:

• Lawmakers in Egypt have drafted legislation which would criminalize homosexuality, making being gay punishable with prison time

• The Trump administration now wants to argue against LGBTQ protections at the U.S. Supreme Court

• Ryan Murphy’s new series Pose has cast a record number of transgender actors

• Arrow/Teen Wolf/American Horror Story star Colton Haynes got married in Palm Springs with lots of famous friends in attendance

• plus, my suggestions for some Halloween movies with a queer slant

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

(btw - how do you like the new logo for the podcast?)

New Ryan Murphy Series Will Feature Largest Trans Cast Ever In Scripted TV History

Pose, the new series for FX from TV wonder-genius Ryan Murphy, will continue his practice of breaking down barriers and celebrating diversity by featuring the largest cast of transgender actors in a scripted series ever.

Via Deadline:

The five transgender actors were cast after a six-month nationwide search led by casting director Alexa Fogel. They are MJ Rodriguez (pictured, above), Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross. All will be playing transgender characters. Also, cast in the series are Ryan Jamaal Swain, Billy Porter and Dyllon Burnside.

Set in the 1980s, Pose looks at the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world.

More from Reuters:

Michael Roberson and Twiggy Pucci Garcon are serving as consultants to the series on ball culture, an LGBTQ subculture rooted in 19080s nightclubs. Hector Xtravaganza, Skylar King, and Sol Williams will also serve as consultants.

Trans activist director Silas Howard will serve as a co-exec producer on the show, which will work with Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative to bring in trans directors for mentorship opportunities.

Leiomy Maldonado and Danielle Polanco will choreograph ball scenes for the show.

“We are thrilled that POSE pushes the narrative forward by centering on the unique and under-told experiences of trans women and gay people of color,” says Canals.

The pilot of Pose will be shot in New York City in November.

Ricky Martin Talks About His Upcoming Gay Role On American Crime Story

Ricky Martin, Penelope Cruz, Darren Criss, and Edgar Ramirez recently gave interviews to Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming Ryan Murphy series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story due to arrive in TV land in 2018.

Ricky portrays Versace’s longtime partner Antonio D’Amico. The role is the latin popstar's first gay role and will feature his first gay sex scene.

Says Martin, “We’re going to go mainstream with a story that talks about homophobia, that talks about hate, that talks about indifference. I feel humbled. It’s so raw and honest and so dramatic and sad. But at the same time you show the love of Gianni and Antonio and 15 years of struggling, fighting. It’s something that I really wanted to be loud about.”

.@Ricky_Martin is 🔥 in exclusive new photos from 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: #AmericanCrimeStory': https://t.co/QXLVTcGaax pic.twitter.com/BVLvwB2aaQ

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) June 21, 2017

Colton Haynes Joins Season 7 Cast Of "American Horror Story"

Colton Haynes

After his stints on horror television series' Teen Wolf and Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens, I think Colton Haynes will be quite at home as part of the upcoming 7th season of Murphy's wildly successful anthology series, American Horror Story.

Haynes confirmed the casting via Instagram posting a blood-smeared pic of his face with the caption, "American Horror Story Season 7 ... Already feels like home :) So excited @mrrpmurphy."

According to reports,  season seven’s theme will embrace aspects of the 2016 presidential election.

American Horror Story Season 7...Already feels like home :) So excited @mrrpmurphy

A post shared by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on Jun 20, 2017 at 5:28pm PDT

First Look: "American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace"

Entertainment Weekly has the first look at the followup to last year's wildly successful mini-series by Ryan Murphy, The People v. O.J. Simpson.

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace will star Edgar Ramírez as the murdered designer, Ricky Martin as Versace's lover, GLEE's Darren Criss as murderer Andrew Cunanan, and Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace.

Due in early 2018.

.@Ricky_Martin is 🔥 in exclusive new photos from 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: #AmericanCrimeStory': https://t.co/QXLVTcGaax pic.twitter.com/BVLvwB2aaQ

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) June 21, 2017

Trailer: "Feud - Bette And Joan"

With high camp possibilities, plus A-list stars, Feud: Bette and Joan looks to be delicious TV watching.

The new anthology series, by hit maker Ryan Murphy, will focus its' first season on the legendary riff between What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? stars Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange).

Watch the trailer below - the series premieres on FX March 5.

They hated each other. And we loved them for it. Watch the OFFICIAL TRAILER for FEUD: Bette and Joan. Premieres 3/5 on @FXNetworks. #FeudFX pic.twitter.com/trhrAdM1CP

— FEUD: Bette and Joan (@FeudFX) February 14, 2017

Stop The Hate: 49 Celebrities Honor The 49 Victims Of Orlando Nightclub Shooting

From the Human Rights Campaign:

The attack on Pulse nightclub has tragically become a symbol of how deadly anti-LGBTQ hate can become when it is combined with easy access to military-style assault weapons. In the wake of the attack in Orlando, HRC has been joined by a wide range of civil rights leaders in speaking out against laws and politicians who foment hate against LGBTQ people. HRC has also called on Congress to establish protections for LGBTQ people in all fifty states through the Equality Act and officially adopted a resolution in support of common-sense gun violence prevention legislation that will help ensure LGBTQ people and all Americans are safe and equal in every community.

"The 49 heroes who lost their lives on June 12 were brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives. They were mostly young and mostly Latinx. But above all, they were human beings who were loved, and who had hopes and dreams for long, full lives," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "It has been only a few short weeks since we lost 49 people to a deadly act of hatred. It is our responsibility to keep their memories alive and honor their legacies by ensuring our nation acts to end anti-LGBTQ hate and gun violence. We are incredibly grateful to Ryan Murphy, Ned Martel and the 49 artists who came together to create this beautiful and lasting tribute."

In the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, Murphy asked how he could help drive awareness about the dual epidemics of anti-LGBTQ hate violence and gun violence that, together, claimed so many lives at Pulse nightclub. The result was this moving tribute, filmed over the course of three days, at FOX Studios in Los Angeles.

"The hate that stole these 49 individuals from all those who loved them has been allowed to flourish in our country for too long," said Ryan Murphy, Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, director and producer. "No person is born hating another, and we have an obligation as Americans to stand up against prejudice and bigotry that would incite violence against someone simply for who they are. I am proud to have joined with Ned Martel, my talented colleagues, and the Human Rights Campaign to honor these 49 heroes and stop the hate."

Brief vignettes recounted by leading performers and entertainment leaders tell the stories of all 49 victims (in order of appearance): Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, 27; Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez, 37; Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40; Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33; Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21; Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Franky Jimmy De Jesús Velazquez, 50; Juan Chavez-Martinez, 25; Jerald Arthur Wright, 31; Antonio Davon Brown, 29; Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25; ‘K.J.’ Morris, 37; Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34; Frankie Hernandez, 27; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; Joel Rayon Paniagua, 31; Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24; Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24; Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25; Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25; Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22; Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33; Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35; Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Amanda Alvear, 25; Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Angel Luis Candelario-Padro, 28; Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31; Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25; Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Cory James Connell, 21; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Luis S. Vielma, 22; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22; and Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32.

Their stories are told by (in order of appearance): Lady Gaga, Chris Pine, Cuba Gooding Jr., Connie Britton, Matt Bomer, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Lea Michele, Colton Haynes, Sophia Bush, Jane Fonda, Harry Shum Jr., Denis O’Hare, Rob Reiner, Melissa Benoist, Caitlyn Jenner, Edgar Ramirez, Max Greenfield, Chaz Bono, Cheyenne Jackson, Emma Roberts, Kerry Washington, George Lopez, Evan Rachel Wood, Sofía Vergara, Diego Boneta, Nina Jacobson, Demi Lovato, Tyler Oakley, Yeardley Smith, Kid Cudi, Kaitlin Olson, Kevin McHale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Daniels, Chace Crawford, Evan Peters, Gerard Butler, Katey Sagal, John Stamos, Laverne Cox, Jordana Brewster, Wes Bentley, Finn Wittrock, Darren Criss, Kathy Bates, Anna Paquin, Guillermo Díaz and Joe Mantello.

Barbra Streisand/Lady Gaga Summit - Part 2

Barbra and me. 🎈 what a completely amazing woman. #Funnygirls

A photo posted by The Countess (@ladygaga) on Aug 22, 2015 at 11:44pm PDT

First, we got the above pic via Instagram of Lady Gaga and Barbra Streisand on Saturday night.

Then the story becomes even more interesting as it appears Streisand and hubby James Brolin not only hosted Gaga but also John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston, and writer/director Ryan Murphy (GLEE, American Horror Story).

What could the Hollywood powerhouses be up to?

Enquiring minds want to know...

A wonderful evening at home. (L-R). Ryan Murphy. @ladygaga. John Travolta. @barbrastreisand. Kelly Preston. Jim Brolin.

A photo posted by Barbra Streisand (@barbrastreisand) on Aug 23, 2015 at 1:04pm PDT