‘Love, Simon’ spin-off series is coming to a TV near you

Iced coffee for everyone! Love, Simon, the groundbreaking gay teen rom-com film, is getting a small-screen spin-off.

The TV show, also titled Love, Simon, will start production later this month and will premiere at a later date on Disney+, the streaming service that will launch in November.

Related: A boyband megastar posted about Love, Simon and Twitter just about lost its mind

Anabelle Comes Home actor Michael Cimino will star as Victor, who embarks on a “journey of discovery as he’s facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city and struggling with his sexuality” and who “reaches out to Simon to help him navigate high school,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Cimino (@itsmichaelcimino) on Aug 8, 2019 at 9:25am PDT

Nick Robinson, who played Simon in the feature film, will executive-produce and narrate the show. Ugly Betty alum Ana Ortiz will costar as Victor’s mother.

“Love, Simon is a powerful story embraced by critics and audiences alike for its universal messages of authenticity, love, and acceptance,” Disney+ SVP Agnes Chu said in a statement. “We are honored to partner with the talented team at 20th Century Fox Television to bring this new chapter of a beloved story to Disney+, continuing the personal and uplifting narrative that captivated fans of the original film.”

Related: 7 new gay TV couples we’re already shipping

Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who adapted the Becky Albertalli book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda for the 2018 film, will be the showrunners of the TV show. “We could not be more excited to be making Love, Simon for Disney+,” they said. “Writing Love, Simon was one of the most profound and enjoyable experiences of our careers to date and we are beyond thrilled that we get to revisit this world and tell the story of Victor, a brand-new Creekwood student, and his family and friends.”

www.queerty.com/love-simon-spin-off-series-coming-tv-near-20190821?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Michelangelo Signorile, James Bond, Anti-Gay T-Shirt Shop, Octavia Spencer, Mika, Elite: HOT LINKS

DON’T DENY THE TRUTH. Michelangelo Signorile slams Log Cabin Republicans in Washington Post op-ed: “What planet has this group been living on?”

BOND 25. And the title is…

KENTUCKY. 7-year battle with anti-gay t-shirt shop to go before state Supreme Court: ‘Much of the debate in the case boils down to whether or not Hands On Originals refused to provide a service because of the sexual orientation of a customer — the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization — or refused to print a message that does not align with its beliefs. The human rights commission argues that the shirt company sells goods or services to the general public, a so-called public accommodation in the ordinance, and can’t deny goods or services because of race, gender, national origin or other factors. Attorneys arguing on behalf of Hands On Originals said that the “service” the business provides by printing shirts is the promotion of messages, making its decision a freedom of speech issue.’

JIM WATSON. Ottawa mayor responds to homophobia after coming out: “Social media is an anonymous way to attack people,” he said. “You grow a thicker skin when you’re in politics like I’ve been for many years, but I think it’s just standing up to these bullies and pushing back.”

UNLEARNING PREJUDICE. Homophobia rises in European countries without gay marriage: “Homophobia has risen in European countries that do not legally recognize same-sex relationships, while acceptance of gay and lesbian people has jumped in states where they can marry, research released on Wednesday showed.”

BLESS YOUR HEART. It’s Octavia Spencer’s favorite expression.

DELETED SHIRTLESS SCENE OF THE DAY. Chris Hemsworth in Men in Black.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Mika “Tiny Love”.

TV TRAILER OF THE DAY. Elite Season 2.

HUMP DAY HAIRY. Justin Russo.

View this post on Instagram

After a lost weekend, Let’s do this, #monday! #beefcake #muscle #theresaladybugmovingin @beefcakesmen @thebeardedway

A post shared by JUSTIN T. RUSSO (@justintrusso) on Aug 19, 2019 at 5:32am PDT

The post Michelangelo Signorile, James Bond, Anti-Gay T-Shirt Shop, Octavia Spencer, Mika, Elite: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Michelangelo Signorile, James Bond, Anti-Gay T-Shirt Shop, Octavia Spencer, Mika, Elite: HOT LINKS

Five Must-Have Resources to Make Back to School Gender-Inclusive

For many children with marginalized identities, the first few days back to school can make or break their year — and for trans and non-binary students, it can be doubly difficult to know where to turn to seek support for their unique needs.

That’s why it’s critical that educators and school administrators continue learning how to create safe and supportive schools for transgender and non-binary students so that their classrooms provide safe, supportive environments.  

Here are some valuable resources from HRC Foundation that will help ensure your classrooms are fully inclusive of gender-expansive identities and help students understand the ways that gender stereotyping impacts everyone.

1. Children’s Books Featuring Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender-Expansive Children 

Books such as Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita’s “When Aidan Became A Big Brother” and  Vivek Shraya’s “The Boy & the Bindi” teach children about gender identities and how to express their inner selves. 

2. HRC Foundation’s 2018 Gender-Expansive Youth Report 

This report captures experiences of approximately 5,600 transgender and gender-expansive youth in their families, schools, social circles and communities. It details the alarming challenges and barriers facing transgender and gender-expansive youth around the country — and their perseverance in the face of discrimination and harassment.

3. Resources for Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students in Schools

As school communities work to create environments that embrace and welcome transgender and non-binary students, all students benefit when educators encourage youth to be themselves without limitations based upon gender or their gender expression.

4. Lesson Plans to Help Students Understand Gender and to Support Transgender and Non-Binary Children

These lesson plans are great tools for educators to use when discussing and challenging gender stereotypes with their students, expanding children’s ideas about gender and helping gender-expansive youth feel welcome in the classroom. 

5. Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings

After a national anti-LGBTQ hate group bullied a young transgender girl in rural Wisconsin, her community rallied behind her by hosting a community reading of “I Am Jazz,” a book co-written by transgender trailblazer and former HRC Youth Ambassador Jazz Jennings about her experience as a transgender girl. In honor of the original event in Mount Horeb, communities across the country are invited to join HRC’s Welcoming Schools program and the National Education Association for our next annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings on February 27, 2020.

For more resources like these, visit WelcomingSchools.org. 

Housed by the HRC Foundation, Welcoming Schools and Time to THRIVE are national programs designed to help LGBTQ youth succeed. Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier professional development program providing LGBTQ- and gender-inclusive resources to schools to reduce bullying behavior and establish a positive school climate. Time to THRIVE is an annual national conference that brings together K-12 educators, counselors and other youth-serving professionals to build awareness and cultural competency to better support LGBTQ youth.

www.hrc.org/blog/five-must-have-resources-to-make-back-to-school-gender-inclusive?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Conversion Therapy Ringleaders Arrested for Trafficking Boys

Gary Wiggins and his wife, Meaghan Wiggins, who’ve been hopping from state to state opening abusive “religious” camps, have finally been arrested. 

www.advocate.com/crime/2019/8/21/conversion-therapy-ringleaders-arrested-trafficking-boys

Priest arrested for spending church money on beach house, boyfriends, and a Grindr XTRA account

A Catholic priest from Pennsylvania is accused of stealing almost $100,000 from his church to pay for a lavish beach house, boyfriends, and other personal expenses.

The Chester County District Attorney’s office announced that Joseph McLoone of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downingtown, Pennsylvania was arrested this week after over a year-long investigation.

Philly Mag reports:

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Chester County detectives began investigating McLoone more than a year ago. He had been with the church since 2010, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia conducted their own internal investigation of McLoone in 2017.

Investigators claim that McLoone opened a secret checking account in 2011 and diverted parishioner donations into that account and misappropriated other church funds undetected for the next seven years.

McLoone allegedly embezzled money from the church into the secret checking account and then used it to pay for expensive dinners, travel expenses, and a beach house in Ocean City, New Jersey, as well as a Grindr XTRA account and to make several multiple online purchases.

When confronted about it by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 58-year-old McLoone admitted to paying for “personal relationships” with men using church funds. He was placed on administrative leave and now faces 18 charges, including multiple counts of felony theft.

“These charges are serious and disturbing,” Kenneth Gavin, chief communications officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, says. “The Archdiocese and the parish will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the criminal matter enters its next phase.”

Chester County D.A.’s office put out a statement saying: “Father McLoone held a position of leadership and his parishioners trusted him to properly handle their generous donations to the church. Father McLoone violated the trust of the members of St. Joseph for his own personal gain.”

McLoone, who is out on $50,000 bail, has declined to comment on the matter.

Related: Antigay youth pastor busted for sexting teen boy, asking for x-rated pics

www.queerty.com/priest-arrested-spending-church-money-beach-house-boyfriends-grindr-xtra-account-20190821?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

‘Pose’ Ends Strong Second Season with a Series Best [RECAP]

The second season of Pose on FX wrapped last night with an installment that may be the best representation of the show at the top of its game. Stylish and packed with pathos, the super-sized episode justified the extended running time with moments of humor, unforgettable ballroom performances and a satisfying tie at the end of nearly every narrative thread.

It’s easy to imagine this was written as a series finale, but, thankfully, the show has been renewed for another season. The one plot point folks may be disappointed to see left unaddressed is Elektra’s body in the closet. Chekhov’s checked luggage may seem like a tell-tale heart pounding away in Elektra’s closet, but if you consider the real-life inspiration for the story, it’s entirely possible the writers never intended for it to resurface later.

So what was addressed? Let’s rehash some of the highlights in our recap below.

The episode opens with a time jump to about nine months in the future. Blanca, now doing nails in her otherwise empty apartment, is clearly not in good health. Pray arrives, the first time interacting since their falling out at Damon’s graduation party. There’s not much more the audience would have gained from seeing more of Blanca being lonely and sad that wasn’t already beautifully conveyed in that final tracking shot last week, so it was a smart move to skip to the reunion.

Pray gets Blanca to the hospital to recover, and it’s heartwarming to see Angel, Elektra, Lulu and Pray all rally to her side. It’s not long before Blanca is spreading her magic across the ward, sort of like the Mother of the House of the Infectious Disease Ward. She also learns Frederica was arrested for arson and insurance fraud.

In a quick flash to the prison, we also learn Frederica was denied bail since she has so many resources. Frederica is enraged and feels like she’s being punished for being a successful woman. Her one regret? Ruining another woman’s business. That’s justice, baby, and it so rarely plays out as satisfyingly in real life.

Before Blanca is released, she’s visited by Damon, back temporarily from Paris. The tour was great, and now they want him to choreograph. He’s thriving. He also started his own extension of the House of Evangelista with his own children.

It is easily the best Damon scene from the series. This maturity and confidence suits him well, and Ryan Jamaal Swain seems liberated from the caricature of naïveté Damon sometimes fell into over the last two seasons.

Most importantly, Damon reminds Blanca of all the other children out there that need her to raise them. From the beginning, Blanca’s journey of motherhood has been the beating heart of the series, and the notion of Evangelista: The Next Generation is an exciting opportunity for Blanca (and viewers, as well.)

As Blanca leans into life as a grandmother, her own mother, Elektra is shaking up the ball scene. All these new categories have displaced the trans girls at the balls. The emcees are all men, as are the judges.

Pray brings her concern to the council, and they come up with the idea to host a “Butch Queen First Time Up in Drags at a Ball” category. It seems counterintuitive to address Elektra’s concern with ANOTHER category aimed at cis men, but it’s more of a loving homage than anything else.

To help learn to walk in heels, Elektra hosts the boys and gives them some tough love. It’s all too much for the struggling Pray, who leaves the training session in a huff. Ricky follows him outside, and Pray confesses he struggles to embrace his femininity due to his father’s discomfort. In a refreshing change of pace, it’s Ricky imparting the wisdom to the older Pray, explaining how it’s possible to balance masculine and feminine energies, sometimes at the same time.

It’s one hell of a scene. The walking-in-heels lesson is mostly played for comedy, as Elektra read each guy for filth. Then we got this beautiful exchange between Pray and Ricky that addressed internalized homophobia and misogyny in the gay community, attitudes toward homosexuality and femininity in the black community and intergenerational differences between gay men, plus it further developed the relationship between Ricky and Pray.

I mean, what other show can pull all that off over the course of a SERIES, let alone an episode, LET ALONE ONE SCENE?

Meanwhile, Angel’s modeling gigs have dried up. Ms. Ford calls her in and breaks the news. The word is out about Angel’s identity, and most companies have pulled their contracts. Ms. Ford is almost overwhelmingly supportive, though realistic, about her prospects. (I imagine part of the deal to use Eileen Ford’s likeness/name had something to do with portraying her relatively positively.)

This is terrible news for Angel, and she resigns herself to a life on the couch. Papi will not let this stand, so he devises a plan. He’s going to open a business managing trans talent. It sounds optimistic in 2019; in 1991, it sounds insane.

Still, this is Pose, where, no matter what, there is always hope. Papi wisely goes to Ms. Ford and pitches her on this idea of an agency-within-an agency focused on trans/queer talent. She’s skeptical, but he and Angel make a passionate pitch.

“The world doesn’t change,” Angel pleads with a skeptical Ford. “People change it.”

Although not totally sold, Ford agrees to give Papi a desk, a phone and her watchful eye. If he can land a deal within two weeks, she’ll take him up on it.

Wisely, Papi asks Ford for a list of clients deemed not good enough for Ford. These clients tend to be more open-minded, and it’s not long before Papi books Angel a commercial for a new soda in Germany.

The episode and season ends with an extended ball scene, and it’s one of Pose‘s best (which is saying a lot). A member of the House of Ferocity wins the vogueing category and dedicates the trophy to her former House Mother, Candy. Elektra wins mother of the year.

Then it’s time for Candy’s Sweet Refrain, and, you guys are not ready. I wasn’t. (I’m still not?) Angel pushes Blanca out in her wheelchair pretty fresh from the hospital. She starts lip syncing Whitney Houston’s famous rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and it’s … everything. As someone who regularly writes thousands of words about this show every week, I’m at a loss, but I will do my best.

At one point she leaps to her feet and tears away her clothes to reveal a gorgeous red jumpsuit. It finishes with Papi waving a Pride flag and Damon waving a House of Evangelista flag behind her. “Triumphant” doesn’t even begin to describe it. If they could turn the feeling this gave me into a pill, I would take it each day with my Truvada and feel amazing.

The ball ends with the Butch Queens walking, and it’s fun. Elektra takes over the role of emcee, which truly she was born to play. I hope they explore this next season, because it’s a natural fit for her critical eye and acid tongue. Pray gets to have his big Diana Ross moment, and it’s a wonderfully light (though still powerful) note to end on. He doesn’t win, but it doesn’t matter. This wasn’t about a trophy; it was about being comfortable in your own skin, which is infinitely more valuable.

Finally, outside, Blanca waits for Pray when she notices two youths loitering about. They’re homeless and stealing, probably worse, and she invites them to dinner, her treat. It certainly looks like the House of Evangelista will live on.

And thankfully, so will Pose. I know I breathlessly champion the series week after week, but it can’t be underscored enough just how absolutely vital this series is. Even as someone who watches television professionally, I have rarely encountered a series as emotionally evocative. It’s expanded and challenged my own understanding of our greater community. It’s taken enormous pieces of LGBTQ history and distilled them down to the human parts in a way too few films and television shows have even attempted. It’s introduced us to a collection of incredible actresses we would likely never have been exposed to otherwise. It put people on television that most folks would never think they would see on this scale, and it empowered a generation to dare to dream bigger than their current circumstances. While, of course, it’s not flawless, it does exactly what great art should.

Indeed, the world doesn’t change on its own, but we should all be grateful Pose continues to try.

The post ‘Pose’ Ends Strong Second Season with a Series Best [RECAP] appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

‘Pose’ Ends Strong Second Season with a Series Best [RECAP]

Ali Rosenthal to be honored with the Ric Weiland Award at the 2019 GLAAD Gala San Francisco

www.glaad.org/blog/ali-rosenthal-be-honored-ric-weiland-award-2019-glaad-gala-san-francisco

Cory Booker: I Have a Nonbinary ‘Niephew’

Booker says his “‘niephew,’ which is a combination of niece and nephew,” has helped him understand issues facing trans and nonbinary youth.

www.advocate.com/election/2019/8/21/cory-booker-i-have-nonbinary-niephew