Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for GLAAD

1)  Whitney, the documentary from Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, about the late singer Whitney Houston premieres in theaters today. Composed of archival footage Macdonald received, the film sheds light on Houston’s issues with race, sexuality, her career, and marriage. Houston’s sexuality was labeled as “fluid” by her close friends and many believed she was in a romantic relationship with her former creative director, Robyn Crawford, which was criticized by the singer’s family. Click here for more information and tickets for the film.

2) Premiering this summer on July 19, August 9 and 23, is a slate of LGBTQ documentaries that Logo Documentary Films have acquired including Quiet Heroes, When the Beat Drops, and Light in the Water. Quiet Heroes unfolds the previously untold story of Dr. Kristen Ries, a doctor in Salt Lake City, Utah, who treated gay men affected by HIV and AIDS. From famed out choreographer Jamal Sims, When the Beat Drops, sheds light on the underground “bucking” dance scene of southern gay men who face discrimination from the outside community. Light in the Water follows the first gay and lesbian Master swim team, and their fight for LGBTQ acceptance in sports.

3) Nicole Amber Maines (The Trans List, Royal Pains) will star in the upcoming indie film, Bit. Maines’s character, Laurel, moves to LA and finds her chosen family in a group of “intersectional feminist vampires.” Also coming to theaters is the documentary, Susanne Bartsch: On Top, premiering on September 7. Created by RuPaul and Drag Race producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the documentary highlights Susanne Bartsch as she created the “Love Ball,” which raised millions of dollars for HIV and AIDS research in 1989.

4) In more movie news, a new trailer has been released for the screen adaptation of Justin Torres’s novel, We the Animals, which will premiere in theaters on August 17. The film illustrates the story of three brothers growing up in upstate New York. Narrated by the youngest sibling who is queer, the film explores themes of masculinity and gender expression. Watch the trailer below.

5) Out actor Tommy Dorfman has been cast in Lifetime’s new series American Princess as Nick, a gay friend of the main character. Another character of the series will have two gay Jewish adoptive parents. The series revolves around a wealthy New York runaway bride who stumbles upon a Renaissance Fair and finds everything she was looking for. More television news includes the addition of out writer and creator James Duff (The Closer) to the crew of Star Trek: Discovery as an executive producer for its second season.

6) TNT’s shows Claws and Animal Kingdom have both been renewed for another season. Renewed for a third season, Claws follows the lives of five workers of a nail salon who become involved in organized crime, and features several LGBTQ characters including Uncle Daddy, Quiet Ann, and Toby. Renewed for a fourth season, Animal Kingdom follows the Cody crime family including Deran (Jake Weary) who is a former competitive surfer and helps the family by opening a legitimate side business.

7) Out bisexual singer Taylor Bennett has released a new video for his song “Rock ‘N’ Roll” featuring Zxxk off his upcoming EP Be Yourself which comes out on July 12. Watch the video below. Another out singer, MNEK, also released a new video for his single, “Colour” featuring Hailee Steinfeld. In other music news, Shea Diamond put out a new video for her song, “American Pie,” from her recently released EP Seen It All. Click here to watch the video.

 

8) Winner of Drag Race season 10, drag superstar Aquaria released her debut single titled “Burn Rubber” along with a lyric video. Click here for Aquaria tour tickets and here to watch the video. More drag news includes the release of a new music video from Drag Race season 10 finalist, Eureka O’Hara. The body positive single titled, “The Big Girl,” was co-written by former Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen and can be viewed below. Click here for Eureka O’Hara tour tickets.

 

9) British band Years & Years, featuring out singer Olly Alexander, just released their second album titled Palo Santo. The new album includes previously released songs “All for You,” “Karma”, and “If You’re Over Me” while displaying a dystopian future theme. Additionally, out singer Christine and the Queens released a new video for her song “Doesn’t Matter” off her upcoming album, Chris. Click here for tour tickets and here to watch the video.

10) A new special for the LGBTQ-inclusive comic, The Backstagers, has been announced. Continuing to display the lives of several queer and trans teenagers in theater production who also battle monsters, The Backstagers Halloween Intermission #1 will include Sasha’s scary adventure of being locked in the theater overnight and many other stories of the characters. Print copies of this special will be available in October 2018 at local comic shops or on the BOOM! Studios website. Digital copies can be purchased on comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app.

11) Buffer Festival, the largest festival for elevated YouTube content, is now accepting video submissions worldwide from upcoming creators through August 27 for their Uplist program. The program provides an opportunity for any YouTuber, regardless of subscribers, to be flown to Toronto to be a featured creator in the festival and more. The program chooses winners for six programming categories, including LGBTQ+, Empowerment and Acceptance, Comedy, Short Films, Music, and Documentaries and Mockumentaries. Click here for more information about submissions.

12) A new documentary about the highly-respected out neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks, is seeking funding. Titled The Animated Mind of Oliver Sacks, the documentary combines animation, live action, interview footage, and archived materials to explore the life of the first neurologist to see patients as people rather than diseases. Click here to support this project.