Nick Borenstein’s ‘Sweater’ is a Warm, Gay Reminder That One Small Gesture Can Turn Someone’s Day Around: WATCH
Nick Borenstein debuted his short film Sweater at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, and it went on to screen at festivals in Toronto, London, L.A., and other cities. Now, lucky for us, it’s online for everyone to see.
Said Borenstein to HuffPost: “I wanted to tell this funny, joyful story that also commented on the all-to-relatable themes of rejection and worth. I really do believe dancing makes everything better.”
Starring Borenstein, Jonathan Marballi, Evan Hoyt Thompson, Lauren Ireland, Daniel Jaffe and Yedoye Travis.
MJ Rodriguez becomes the face (and body) of Olay Body
Striking a blow for inclusion and queer progress, actress MJ Rodriguez has announced her role as spokesperson for the beauty brand Olay Body. The news comes just ahead of the 5th Annual Diversity Summit in Washington DC this week, where Rodriguez will deliver the keynote address.
“Olay Body is leading by example for other brands by opening doors for trans individuals like myself,” the Pose star said in a statement of her new gig. “I am so excited to work with Olay Body on this campaign leading up to my speech at the Diversity Summit. This is officially my first ever beauty campaign — I am so thankful to have the opportunity to show other transwomen of color everywhere that they are seen and that they are worthy.”
In addition to her new role as celebrity spokesperson and her work as an actress on stage and screen, Rodriguez will take on an activist role as the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Diversity Summit. Held at George Washington University, the conference aims to create dialogue and raise awareness about diversity and inclusion among higher learning professionals.
This Viral Sprite LGBTQ Pride Ad Was Made for Buenos Aires Pride, But is Universally Touching: WATCH
A new ad from Sprite celebrating Pride with the hashtags #NoEstasSolx (you are not alone) and #Orgullo (pride) has gone viral in Argentina. The ad was created with help from the Santo advertising agency and Federacion Argentina LGBT to help celebrate Pride in Buenos Aires, which was held on November 2.
The 1 minute, 35 second ad features a mom helping her son with makeup, a grandmother helping her grandson get dressed in drag, a girl helping her trans brother, a family painting a Pride flag, and a dad driving his son and his son’s boyfriend to Pride.
Far-Right Group Threatens to Enter Cinemas and Turn Off Film Projectors if This Gay Love Story is Screened Tonight: WATCH
Far-right groups in Tblisi, Georgia are threatening to take extreme steps if cinemas try to screen And Then We Danced, Sweden’s official Oscar submission in the best international feature film category.
The film, directed by Levan Akin, is a love story about two dancers in Georgia’s national dance company. It is scheduled to screen in Tblisi on Friday night.
AFP reports: “Levan Vasadze, a Georgian businessman with links to Russia’s anti-Western and far-right groups, said his supporters will ‘enter screening rooms in the six cinemas in Tbilisi and turn off the projectors,’ also vowing to ‘shove back police if need be.’
Vasadze and his nationalist group Georgian March have planned protests today ahead of the film’s screening.
Konstantin Morgoshia, a member of Georgian March, said, “Our goal is to prevent the film from showing. If they wanted to make a film about love, then why couldn’t they make a film about the love of a man and a woman, when most of Sukhishvili’s dances are based on man’s respect for a woman.”
Another former politician who is part of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s government, called And Then We Danced a “propaganda of sodomy” and vowed that it would not be screened.
According to Screen Daily, “The film will play in five venues on November 8, 9 and 10 in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and coastal city Batumi. Tickets for the first screenings reportedly sold out in minutes. … Shot in Tbilisi, the Georgian-Swedish co-production premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes 2019, where it was nominated for the independent Queer Palm for best LGBT-relevant film. It has also been a hit on the festival circuit, winning three prizes at Odessa, two at Valladolid, and the best actor award for lead Levan Gelbakhiani at Sarajevo.”
Wrote Akin on his Facebook page: “So many people have asked me about what’s going on in Georgia regarding the premiere of And Then We Danced on Friday the 8th. Some far right groups and the Church have basically condemned the film and are planning to stop people from entering the sold out screenings. It is absurd that people who bought tickets need to be brave and risk getting harassed or even assaulted just for going to see a film. I made this film with love and compassion. It is my love letter to Georgia and to my heritage. With this story I wanted to reclaim and redefine Georgian culture to include all not just some. But unfortunately these are the dark times we live in and the pending protests just proves how vital it is to stand up against these shadowy forces in any way we can. Over and out.”
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement: “One of the tasks of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to protect human rights and freedoms, regardless of a person’s gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, political views and other signs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia ensures the protection of public safety and order, as well as the freedom of self-expression (which, of course, corresponds to the frames of the law). We address everyone: obey the law. Otherwise, police will use their lawful mandate and suppress unlawful acts immediately.”
Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, and a Bunch of Lesbians Join Billy Eichner to Accost Unwitting New Yorkers: WATCH
Captain America Chris Evans joined Billy Eichner for a new edition of Billy on the Street (now on Netflix) to celebrate the show’s 15th anniversary, and pretty person Paul Rudd showed up to put Evans in his place.
WATCH: Queen Latifah slays as Ursula in ‘The Little Mermaid: Live’
For anyone who missed out on ABC’s live production of The Little Mermaid, take heart: One of the show’s best songs is ready to be streamed.
The Little Mermaid: Live starred Auliʻi Cravalho, Graham Phillips, John Stamos and Shaggy, though the biggest scene-stealer of the night should come as no surprise. Academy Award-nominee Queen Latifah stepped into the tentacles of the sea witch Ursula, and proceeded to win the evening.
The highlight for Latifah came with Usula’s barnburner number “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” which gave the singer/actress ample opportunity to show off her dramatic and vocal ranges. Aided by some great special effects, lighting and inventive puppetry, Latifah slid and slunk around the stage belting out the song to cries of joy from the audience.
If nothing else, The Little Mermaid: Live raises the bar on what fans can expect from Disney’s forthcoming live-action remake of the classic animated film. Awkwafina, who will play Ursula in that version, has a tough act to follow.
WATCH: UK’s version of Dancing With The Stars features same-sex dance duo
Emeli Sande sings while Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima dance together (Photo: @johannesradebe | Instagram | BBC)
UK TV show Strictly Come Dancing – forerunner to Dancing With The Stars in the US and other countries – featured its first same-sex dance routine on the weekend.
The hit BBC show has often been criticized by LGBTQ advocates for refusing to have any of its celebrity contestants teamed with professional dancers of the same sex. This is despite often featuring gay contestants.
In 2018, it did feature two professionals dancing together as part of a group routine. However, the broadcaster – perhaps testing how audiences would react – featured a spot on Sunday during its results show with two male dancers.
They were Johannes Radebe, who is gay, and Graziano di Prima, who is heterosexual.
Originally from South Africa, Radebe has recently spoken out about being bullied when younger and how difficult it was to grow up as a gayman in South Africa. He says he was out from an early age, but the bullying culminated in another boy calling him “faggot” and attacking him with a baseball bat when he was 17.
He is now based in the UK. He and his celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley were eliminated from the show last week. However, he told Hello magazine what being asked to take part in the historic dance with another man meant to him.
“I’ve never felt so liberated. For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am. That says so much about the people of this country.
“To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous. There’s bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement. It was beautiful, classy and elegant.”
Both men took to social media to comment on the dance.
Radebe posted photos of him and di Prima with the comment, “Love knows no boundaries.”
Meanwhile, di Prima posted a clip to his Twitter with the message: “REPRESENTATION always matters!unforgettable moment, loved to dance with you @johannesradebe.”
The tweet has had over 24,000 likes and thousands of comments. Some expressed disappointment and said they would not watch the show in the future if it featured more same-sex couplings.
I won’t watch if this is the future of the show. I’m sorry
In an Instagram story, Radebe thanked people for their support.
“I see all those messages coming in and I feel the love. I’m going to take time to respond to each and every message. There’s a lot! I’m really grateful and I’m really thankful.”
You can watch the full dance below. The men danced to singer Emeli Sande, performing her track, Shine.
Last year, Italy’s version of Dancing With The Stars, Ballando con le Stelle, featured a gay celebrity partnered with a male professional dancer. The duo reached the competition’s grand final and came third.
The Israeli version of the show has featured a same-sexfemale competing couple and the Austrian version has featured a male competing couple. Earlier this year, Courtney Act danced with a male partner in the Australian version of the show.
There has yet to be a same-sex competing pairing on the US’s Dancing With The Stars. Nyle DiMarco did participate in a brief, same-sex routine in a January 2016 episode of the show. He went on to win the series with his female dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd.
News Anchors Lose It When Meteorologist Shows Up in Mystical Unicorn Costume: WATCH
Global News’ Calgary meteorologist Jordan Witzel showed up for his Halloween forecast in a mystical unicorn costume, and judging from the reactions of his newsroom colleagues, the tight white and pink bodysuit was a huge hit.
WATCH: Queer non-binary makeup artist gives lesbian activist makeover for LGBTQ+ History Month
Carolyn Weathers has fought on the front lines of the LGBTQ rights movement since the 1970s, helping to get homosexuality removed from the DSM’s list of mental illnesses, working tirelessly with the Los Angeles Gay Liberation Front, creating one of the earliest lesbian-feminist publishing houses in Southern California, and so much more.
She helped pave the way for queer people to live with the unprecedented freedoms we now enjoy, so when the It Gets Better Project decided to pair an LGBTQ activist with a makeup artist for a video project, Weathers was a perfect choice.
J is a non-binary queer makeup artist who gave Weathers a new look while hearing about her incredible work, and it’s really never a bad time to learn some vital queer history or a few sensible makeup pointers.
People decried, “Red Hot!” Elle took the bait on some wordplay, calling it “steamy.” Who cares if that’s a dry sauna and not a steam room? It’s the thought that counts.
News.com.au, however, took a more investigative approach.
“A phallic-shaped detail on his white shorts drew eyes crotch-ward,” the site reported, “with many pointing out that from afar – it looked like an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction.”
A close analysis determined it was just the drawstring of Zac’s shorts poking up.
unforgettable moment, loved to dance with you @johannesradebe.”
