Bridal Is the New Black

Congratulations and best wishes are in order for actress Samira Wiley and writer-producer Lauren Morelli. The couple announced yesterday that they have gotten engaged.

In case you didn’t know, the pair met while working on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. They have been together since, at least, May 2014, which is when a then-married-to-a-man Morelli penned and published an essay for Mic about how working on the streamer’s hit helped her realize that she is, in fact, gay and in love with Wiley.

Good for them.

And remember, kids – life is what happens while you’re living out your plans (so don’t plan too much).

Photo: EW.com.

Pushing Nashville Forward

A face familiar to anyone who watched and enjoyed and learned from E!’s now-cancelled I Am Cait is bound for CMT’s Nashville.

Emmy-nominated transgender actress-activist Jen Richards (Her Story) has been tapped to recur on the show’s upcoming fifth season, as Allyson Del Lago, a tough, yet understanding physical therapist who helps one of our faves get through a really tough patch.

My money, of course, is on Hayden Panettiere’s Juliette Barnes, who was last, well...not seen being in a plane crash.

Richards’ casting is a watershed moment for CMT, which had yet to feature an out transgender performer or a transgender storyline on its air.

Yay! Forward movement’s the best!

Nashville will sing again on Jan. 5.

Photo: NBCNews.com.

Sulu’s Coming Out!

Did you hear? The upcoming Star Trek Beyond is kinda gay.

Apparently, the powers that be have decided to make John Cho’s Hikaru Sulu a homosexual in the timeline of the rebooted property, in homage to George Takei, the OG portrayer of the character (and himself an openly gay man). Alas, Takei ain’t feeling it.

During production, the actor reportedly urged Cho, as well as new-to-the-franchise director Justin Lin and co-writer and co-star Simon Pegg, not to go against the vision of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and instead to “be imaginative and create a [new] character who has a history of being gay, rather than [having] Sulu suddenly being revealed as being closeted.”

Pegg, for his part, respectfully disagrees with Takei, whom he calls an inspiration for his heart, courage, and humor.

“We could have introduced a new gay character, but he or she would have been primarily defined by their sexuality rather than simply for who they are, and isn’t that tokenism?”

Fair point.

And, hey, perhaps, Roddenberry might have envisioned Sulu as gay, and approved of Takei’s casting knowing full well that he was a friend of Dorothy and bound to come when the time was right.

Food for thought, if you ask moi.

Star Trek Beyond is due out on July 22.

Photo: SlashFilm.com.

Update: Check out the follow-up from Takei, who says he understands and appreciates the change to the sexuality of Sulu...while maintaining his stance on the matter.

Gaychelor Alert!

Lance Bass, Hollywood’s GBF, is doing it for the gays.

The multi-hyphenate is going to host Finding Prince Charming, the first-of-its-kind – is it, really? – reality dating series that Logo will air.

Yas queens: We are going to have the chance to compete to win the heart of quote-unquote America’s Most Eligible Gay Heartthrob, as well as the notoriety that comes with the task (how’s that brand of yours coming up?).

Finding Prince Charming is expected to premiere this fall.

Photo: Billboard.com.

Colton Out

Good for Colton Haynes, for coming out in his own time and terms.

The actor had long be subject of speculation, especially lately, since he suggested that he had never really been in the closet just four months ago.

Kudos, too, for candidly opening up about his lifelong struggle with anxiety. These days, I know there are far more anxious people out there than not, so to talk about it, it really can help folks cope, if not find solace and salvation.

:)

Photo: AZCentral.com.

Wedded Wu

Congratulations go out to fashion designer Jason Wu, on his nuptials to longtime partner Gustavo Rangel (the CFO of Wu’s brand).

The couple tied the knot on Friday in Tulum, Mexico.

Diane Kruger, Wu’s BFF, was among the stars in attendance. No Michelle Obama, though – although I’ll bet she sent a little something.

Here’s to a happy and long marriage!

Photo: Vogue.co.uk.

The Other Wachowski Girl

Meet Lilly Wachowski, world!

She is the second half of the filmmaking duo f.n.a. the Wachowski brothers. Né Andy, Lilly – sister to Lana – Wachowski announced the news this week, in a statement given to the Windy City Times, a Chicago LGBT weekly, after being threatened with a public outing.

For shame! In 2016? Where is the decency?

Welcome to us, Lilly! Be happy, and now that a lot of people have your back.

Photo: Facebook.com/windycitymediagroup.

Transcending Progress

While Fifty Shades of Grey got Razzied last night, the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards were making a little history by honoring Tangerine.

Specifically, the powers that be awarded that film’s Mya Taylor the Best Supporting Female award, thus marking the first time a transgender performer has been honored during a major awards ceremony.

In accepting her hardware, the actress said, “There is transgender talent. There’s very beautiful transgender talent. So, you better get it out there and put it in your next movie.”

Loves it! Everyone has a story, and everyone should see his or her story reflected up on that gorgeous silver screen.

Here’s to more inclusion in the years ahead. We need it.

Photo: EW.com.

The Past Is a Part of Him

Kids these days. So nonchalant.

Hollywood player Colton Haynes (The CW’s Arrow) may have cracked open the door the perceived closet a little bit as the year begun, by Tumblring back to a fan who suggested his so-called gay past must have been a total secret kept from the world.

“Was it a secret?” the actor wrote in his reply.

How you like them apples.

And did the gay stay in the past, or is it still part of his life in the present. ’Cause you know that’s the next logical question.

Photo: Hollywire.com.

They Will Rise

Milk, reunited.

Director Gus Van Sant and Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black are set to collaborate yet again on an eight-hour series that ABC has commissioned.

Titled When We Rise, the project will chronicle the rise the LGBT rights movement, from a mere flicker of hope in San Francisco to the life-changing changer of the game it has become today.

Right on.

Photo: Spokeo.com.

Old and Out and There You Go

Emmy winner Holland Taylor is gay.

But don’t call the revelation, which broke yesterday, a coming-out party.

“I haven’t come out because I am out,” the 72-year-old TV actress (Two and a Half Men, The Practice) said, noting that she lives out, has lived out.

Taylor also shared that she is in a committed relationship – her first at this level – with a younger woman she did not ID (because why should she).

No big deal, right?

And good for her!

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

Update: Looks like the younger woman who has Taylor’s heart is actress Sarah Paulson.

Paulson was previously in a relationship with actress Cherry Jones. FYI.

Obama’s Gay Support...on the Cover of a Magazine

Good for Barack Obama. And good for him.

The most consequential president we’ve had in quite a while, and a more-than-fair supporter of the LGBT community, has become the first commander in chief to grace the cover of a national gay magazine when he posed for Out, which is highlighting him as the Ally of the Year as part of the Out 100.

Beautiful!

Photo: TheDailyBeast.com.

A Gay Freeskier

Another day, another queer Olympian making news.

Yes, Caitlyn Jenner’s I Am Cait got picked up for a second season by E!, but I’m talking about Gus Kenworthy.

The 24-year-old silver medal-winner freeskier came out of the closet yesterday, publicly, via an ESPN The Magazine cover story.

X-tremely gay...and proud. Plus cute? Terrific combo!

Photo: ESPN.Go.com.

Introducing the Andreesen-Garbers!

Sweet.

Papa Bristow is a married man!

Sicario star and Jennifer Garner’s erstwhile TV dad (aww...Alias), Victor Garber, has gone and made it official with his longtime boyfriend, artist/model/handsome looker Rainer Andreesen.

Per Miami drag queen Elaine Lancaster, a friend of Andreesen and Garber (who can also be seen on The CW’s The Flash these days), the couple was married on Vancouver Island yesterday.

Congratulations to them!

Photo: Facebook.com/elaine.lancaster.

A Gay May-December Forever

That c--- Kim Davis is not gonna like this.

Congratulations are in order, to gay power couple Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley.

The Milk Oscar winner and the young Olympian – a couple since late 2013 – are engaged to be married. The announcement was made the traditional way: via The Times of London (what...a Cumberbatchian move!).

Natch.

Good for them!

Photo: InstinctMagazine.com.

Caitlyn’s Courageous Moment

The ESPY Awards were on last night....

A bunch of sportspeople were on hand to have their deservedly earned moment in the spotlight, but they were controversially upstaged by the It reality star du jour: Caitlyn Jenner.

Following an almost-14-minute tribute narrated by Jon Hamm, a clad-in-a-crisp-white-gown Jenner (f.k.a. Bruce Jenner) was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and girlfriend addressed the controversy surrounding the kudos head on. Acknowledging that she owes plenty to sports, including her ability to weather any storm (especially one full of criticisms), the erstwhile Olympian told “the people out here wondering what this [getting the award] is all about, whether it’s about courage or controversy or publicity, I’ll tell you what it’s all about: It’s about what happens from here.

“It’s not about one person, it’s about thousands of people. It’s not just about me. It’s about all of us accepting one another. We’re all different and that’s not a bad thing – it’s a good thing.”

She further asked that folks offer just one vital thing to the trans community: their respect, and.... Oh, heck, just watch Jenner in action. She does a much better work of expressing herself than I could ever do relating what she said to ya:



Powerful stuff, no?

Update: Oh jeez.

Did you catch the ill-advised Instagramming that director Peter Berg took time to get into regarding Caitlyn Jenner and her getting this award? I didn’t get to see it yet, but I’m pretty sure he reposted a meme in which someone crassly contrasted his journey and achievement to merit the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs and that of a wounded soldier.

Berg’s apologized for it – go on and GTS if you care – and tell me that he doesn’t kinda sorta have a point. Jenner’s contribution is palpable and commendable, and while Berg has clarified that he does respect her and believes in equality and trans rights, we all also should probably spend a little more celebrating those who like, you know, fight for our freedom....

Food for thought all around.

Introducing the Dallas-Hamiltons

Nothing like getting hitched to assert your independence!

Matt Dallas, the erstwhile star of ABC Family’s Kyle XY, and his fiancé, musician Blue Hamilton, got married recently (not exactly sure when, but I understand it was real recently), and both shared the happy news via their social media over the Fourth of July weekend.

Each groom took to his Instagram to introduce “Mr. & Mr. Dallas” or “Mr. & Mr. Hamilton.”

Sweet! And congratulations.

Photo: People.com.

Gay Marriage Wins!

Woo-woos for everybody!

The Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage across the nation on June 26, 2015, a day that will go down in history as yet another major win day for the LGBT community, if not humanity. America, for sure – the leader of the free world has got a lot of catching up to do these days.

But back to the news du jour: It was, indeed, very happy news to wake up to this morning.

The Obergefell v. Hodges case that helped settle the matter came down to a 5-4 vote, though. Not terribly surprising. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, stating, among other things, that, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

“The Constitution grants them that right.”

Heck yeah it does!

And America will be all that much better because of this day, because equality for all is a beautiful thing. President Barack Obama agrees with me. :)

Photo: TheGuardian.com.

Update: Click here to read reactions from Hillary Clinton and from Hollywood, including Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, George Takei, Gabrielle Union, Olivia Wilde, Sean Hayes, Shonda Rhimes, Zach Braff, and Ian McKellen, among others.

Introducing Caitlyn Jenner

And here we thought Kim Kardashian was gonna have the news this week – she is expecting, after all.

Time to think again.

As expected, the transitioning Bruce Jenner and Vanity Fair have introduced Her, and she is named Caitlyn.

And she is pretty fackin’ stunning. That’s not just Photoshop, people – she built this city, and she is gonna rock it all the way to happiness. I mean, look at her working that ol’ 65-year-old Olympic-toned body of his in that vintage-y little number for the magazine’s July issue.... (Hey, Madonna – you are no longer the only hot older lady with guns in town.)

Work it, girl!

Two quick questions, though: Think Kris Jenner put the kibosh on Jenner spelling her name with a K? And how many of y’all thought that was Cindy Crawford there for a sec? On closer inspection, she is also giving major Jessica Lange (who, btw, totally does not mind the comparison).

Anyway, you may also follow Caitlyn on Twitter now.

Yes, unlike Bruce (whom I don’t think was all that active on social media), Caitlyn doesn’t seem like she will be silent on Twitter. Because Caitlyn has no secrets, OK.

Photo: EW.com.

Update 1: So far both Khloé Kardashian and Kendall Jenner have expressed their support for their dad. And that is awesome.

Update 2: Evidently, this is why it is Caitlyn and not Kaitlyn.

Update 3: Well that took no time.

Caitlyn Jenner is set to be honored at this year’s ESPY Awards with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Jenner is expected to pick up her new hardware when she makes her first public appearance since her Vanity Fair pin-up moment at the July 15 show. So make sure you tune in (like you haven’t set your TiVos yet...).

Update 4: It was announced on June 3 that Jenner’s own show on E! will be titled I Am Cait.

Her Debut

Someone was paying attention in class!

Rumor has it Bruce Jenner is planning on posing as his feminine alter ego for the cover of a summer issue of Vanity Fair....

You know Kris Jenner is jelly she didn’t yet get asked to do the same.

My money Jenner will be featured in the August issue. Just in time to plug into the promotion of his new E! show, the one that will chronicle his transition beginning on July 26.

Photo: People.com.