Justin Tranter is an award-winning singer and songwriter who is behind some of the biggest and most beloved songs of today. They were named BMI’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ last year. Tranter is also one of today’s most passionate, inspiring, and tireless LGBTQ activists. They advocate for a better world for LGBTQ people and all marginalized communities in their role on GLAAD’s Board of Directors as well as several other LGBTQ, gender equality, and gun reform organizations.

Tranter hosted friends and LGBTQ community members at ‘BEYOND,’ a concert on the eve of Spirit Day. Everyone in the room felt the love and acceptance that Tranter embodies during the sold out show.

During the show, Tranter gave other LGBTQ songwriters behind some of the most well-known songs of today a chance to tell their own stories and speak out on stage. Tranter sang their owns hits including ‘Sorry’ and ‘Bad At Love.’ They also welcomed Sarah Aarons to sing Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey’s colossal hit “The Middle,” a song she had a hand in co-writing. Queer songwriter Cameron Forbes also performed Tyga and Offset’s “Taste,” the hip-hot hit that he co-wrote.

‘BEYOND’ raised over $400,000 for GLAAD’s work to accelerate acceptance for LGTBQ youth. Guests including Nick Jonas, Dan Reynolds, Darren Criss, Derek Hough, Ariadne Getty, August Getty 

Check out some of the incredible performances and pics from ‘BEYOND!’

Shea Diamond wowed the crowd with her single ‘American Pie.’

LGBTQ ally Dan Reynolds, of Imagine Dragons, spoke to the crowd about how he met Tranter and became inspired to stand with the LGBTQ community. Together, the two also sang Imagine Dragons’ ‘Believer,’ a song penned by Tranter.

Emmy Award-winning actor Darren Criss surprised the audience when he pulled out a guitar and dueted with Tranter to ‘Issues,’ another one of their many beloved hits.

The night was hosted by CAA, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, the Ariadne Getty Foundation, Warner Chappell, Aaron Rosenberg, Benny Blanco and Sony ATV.

Other guests included Nick Jonas, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Tommy Dorfman (13 Reasons Why), CEO of Warner Bros. Records Aaron Bay-Schuck, JoJo, August Getty, Shea Diamond, Trace Lysette (Transparent), Parson James, Bea Miller, Daya, Laura Marano, VINCINT, Raymond Braun, Jacob Tobia, Alma, Ashlee Marie Preston, Shawn Wasabi, Willam, Sarah Aarons, Wes Period, and GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis.

Every week, the GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend!

1) The critically lauded film Can You Ever Forgive Me? opens today in theaters. Based on a true story, the film stars Melissa McCarthy as Lee Israel, a lesbian writer who, after falling on hard times, turns to forging letters by deceased writers and actors. She is joined in this venture by her friend Jack, a gay man also down on his luck, and the film focuses on the relationship between the two. Can You Ever Forgive Me? plays in New York and Los Angeles this week, and will spread to further cities over the coming weeks. 

2) Casting has been announced for the highly anticipated Netflix continuation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City. LGBTQ stars on the show includes Murray Bartlett (Looking), Jen Richards (Mrs. Fletcher, Her Story), Daniela Vega (A Fantastic Woman), and Drag Race winner Caldwell Tidicue aka Bob the Drag Queen, as well as a host of newcomer LGBTQ stars. The show stars Ellen Page as well, and will have an entirely queer writing team led by showrunner Lauren Morelli. There is also trans talent involved at all levels, with directors Sydney Freeland, Silas Howard, and non-binary actor Josiah Victoria Garcia and more. The show will be released on Netflix in 2019. Read all about it here!

3) A teaser has been released for season four of Syfy’s The Magicians. The trailer picks up with magic returning under the library’s control, and shows queer character Eliot being possessed by a monster. The fourth season of the show will premiere January 23 and the trailer is below. The first trailer has also been released for season two of Starz’s Counterpart. The science fiction show, which follows spies in parallel universes, includes lesbian assassin Baldwin. The second season will premiere on December 9, and the trailer can be viewed here.

4) Lesbian comedian Sabrina Jalees teamed up with Tully and One Mississippi writer Diablo Cody on Hanging On, a comedy that Fox has put into development. The show follows a couple in a strained relationship who move in across the street from their lesbian daughter (potentially played by Jalees) and her fiancé. In other TV news, FX is developing an anthology series based on the Lambda Literary Award-winning book Her Body and Other Parties by queer author Carmen Maria Machado. The show is described as “an anthological series staging psychologically vivid tales of women’s fears and desires on landscapes of horror, fabulism, and wild-haired absurdity.”

5) Sundance Now’s This Close, co-created by and starring deaf gay actor and writer Josh Feldman, has announced guest stars for its upcoming second season. These stars includes Marcia Cross, Millicent Simmonds, queer comedian Margaret Cho, and more! The new season will be on Sundance Now in 2019. In further TV news, Netflix is developing series Trinkets based on the YA novel of the same name, and out actress Brianna Hildebrand is set to be a lead in the show about three teenage girls who become friends at a shoplifter’s anonymous meeting.

6) On Thursday, out singer Troye Sivan and Jónsi of Sigur Rós released the first track from the Boy Erased soundtrack, “Revelations.” The film follows the story of a young man sent to so-called “conversion therapy” and how he finds himself during this all. Sivan acts in the film as well, in a supporting role. “Revelations” is available for streaming and the Boy Erased soundtrack can be pre-ordered here. Boy Erased opens on November 2.

7) Out singer Calum Scott just announced a special edition of his album Only Human, which will include three bonus tracks and today’s newest single “No Matter What.” Scott says of the single, “It’s a song born from loneliness, acceptance and the heartbreaking but liberating tale of my coming out experience. What I love about this song is that it isn’t just limited to a story of sexual identity, but about the relationship between parent and child and acceptance as a whole.” Pre-order Only Human (Special Edition) here, and listen to “No Matter What” below.

8) Lesbian singer Brandi Carlile released a new music video for her song “Party of One” with out singer Sam Smith. Proceeds from the single will be donated to Children in Conflict, which helps children impacted by war. More information can be found here, and the video is below. The song can be bought or streamed here.

9) Bi singer Sia released a new track “I’m Still Here.” The song was released along with her new shoe line, and it will also be featured in documentary At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal, coming soon to HBO. Non-binary singer Grayson, also released a new song “Brother” this week, their debut release with One Half Records, a label where half of their artists are LGBTQ. Buy and stream “Brother” here and watch the lyric video below.

10) The Gotham Award nominations were announced on Thursday, honoring film and television from the Independent Filmmaker Project. FX’s Pose, which boasts the highest number of trans series regulars ever seen on scripted television, received a nomination for  “Breakthrough Series – Long Form,” along with other LGBTQ-inclusive series, Big Mouth, The End of the F**ing World, and Killing Eve. Upcoming film The Favorite, which follows a historical love triangle between Queen Anne and two women working under her, is also nominated. The awards will be handed out on November 26.  

11) On Tuesday, the first season of web series Same Same was released in full on Vimeo. The series follows three queer women, Emily, Aviva, and Sam, who all meet on a dating app, the titular Same Same. The original pilot starred Sense8’s Jamie Clayton and had a quarter of a millions views. The cast and creative team are predominately LGBTQ and the series comes from queer writer/director Lauren Augarten. The full season is available to watch here, and the trailer is below!

12) A new web series, The Disappointments, is currently seeking funding. The comedy will revolve around a group of gay men in their 50s, who realize that their lives didn’t go where they had imagined when they were younger. The show is inspired by conversations had by creator Richard Burns and his friends, and seeks to tell a realistic story through a humorous lens. To find out how you can help, click here!