Photo Credit: ABC

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

It was announced this week that ABC has re-launched its streaming service, making 38 classic shows available to its viewers, including My So-Called Life and Brothers & Sisters. The two drama series brought visibility to the screen, with characters such as Rickie Vasquez and Kevin Walker highlighting aspects of the LGBT experience. In other streaming news, Netflix will be reuniting Degrassi: The Next Generation cast members for its season two premiere out today. Lauren Collins and Adamo Ruggiero, known for their out characters Paige and Marco, will be among the many cameos in LGBT-inclusive series.

George Takei will be returning to the musical stage in the revival of Pacific Overtures, the Tony Award-winning story that focuses on the westernization of 19^th century Japan through the friendship of a fisherman and a samurai. Takei is set to narrate the Stephen Sondheim musical and will be leading the cast as The Reciter in the upcoming show.

A series of new out characters and actors are hitting all parts of the entertainment sphere. Out actor TR Knight has landed a recurring role on ABC’s The Catch. The Grey’s Anatomy alum will join the mystery drama’s second season as it focuses in on a key arrest and a sudden confession. Supergirl will also be adding out superheroine Batwoman to its show, fresh off of casting Floriana Lima as out detective Maggie Sawyer. In the animated world of Nickelodeon, gay married couple, the McBrides, were recently introduced as the parents of Clyde, the best friend of protagonist Lincoln Loud in The Loud House. In the sci-fi genre, new web series Inhuman Condition has placed Dr. Michelle Kessler, an openly bisexual therapist, at the forefront of its story. The show focuses on Kessler who, after recently divorcing from her ex-wife focuses her attention on her zombie, werewolf, and superhuman patients.

In music news, punk band Against Me! shared the lead single “333” off their upcoming album, Shape Shift With Me, set to release early this fall. With vocals from frontwoman Laura Jane Grace and edgy sound, the band’s new album will focus on love from a “trans perspective”. Check out the new single below.

As part of Denver Film Society’s CinemaQ Film Festival, the Lesbian Voices CinemaQ Panel takes place this Saturday July 23^rd at 2:00pm.  Join Los Angeles Film Festival Senior Programmer and FilmIndependent staffer Jennifer Wilson, award-winning filmmaker Ingrid Jungermann, and Peabody Award-winning producer Jessica Devaney for a discussion about their careers and the state of lesbian cinema. The panel is moderated by former chief film critic at the Denver Post, and founder of the Diary of a Mad Moviegoer blog, Lisa Kennedy.   Filmmaker Focus offers a robust series of programs to support filmmaking in Colorado, and is produced in partnership with Colorado Film and Video Association, Colorado Office of Film Television Media, and Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.  Check here for information on the Lesbian Voices CinemaQ panel and to purchase tickets.

Two crowdfunding campaigns have been started in hopes of preserving LGBT history. Small film initiative IndieCollect has launched a Kickstarter to fund the costs of making Christine Vachon and Todd Haynes classics available in digital format. The two filmmakers are known for producing some of queer cinemas most prominent films, including Boys Don’t Cry, Poison, and Carol. For more information, check out their site here:

In addition, three filmmakers are looking to spotlight the empowering impact of Southern California for Women in the new documentary, “SCWU: Our Name Spells Lesbian”. With the funds it gains from its Kickstarter campaign, the film intends on showcasing SCWU’s role in providing a voice, social outlets, and education to closeted lesbians within the local community.