The ad, which was directed by Jodie Foster, encourages women to vote during the midterm elections on Nov. 6.
A star-studded group of female entertainers — including Cher, Lily Tomlin, Ellen Pompeo and Olivia Munn — are urging other women to vote in next week’s midterm elections as part of a Jodie Foster – directed PSA.
The ad, titled Because it Matters, names a number of hot-button issues on their minds, including equal pay, immigration reform and gun control and encourages women to vote during the midterm elections on Nov. 6.
“If somebody asked you ‘What do you care about?,’ what would you say?” actress Tea Leoni asks the camera in the video.
Foster said in a statement announcing the ad’s release.
“Women’s voices are being listened to in a way that they haven’t been before. And it’s not just women candidates. It’s women voters and women activists. We hope that this campaign, featuring familiar faces in the entertainment industry, will inspire others to share their views and more importantly take action on Election Day. It really matters.”
Among the biggest winners at the 2017 Emmy Awards: LGBTQ stories and storytellers.
We’ve put together the top rainbow moments of the 2017 Emmys just for you:
Lena Whaithe made her-story
This year’s Emmy Awards were full of historical moments, including Lena Waithe’s incredible and well-deserved win.
At the award show, the Master of None actress became the first black woman to win an award for comedy writing for the show’s Thanksgiving episode, which she cowrote with Aziz Ansari.
Black Mirror’s San Junipero proved queer stories do work
San Junipero broke with Black Mirror’s usually-bleak depiction of technology and the future, with a notably upbeat and heart-warming love story between two women.
The acclaimed episode, which was near-universally acclaimed, picked up an Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
Charlie Brooker, who wrote the episode himself, also picked up the award for Outstanding Writing for a TV Movie.
The episode starred Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis as lovers Kelly and Yorkie.
Kate McKinnon showed the world she’s a comedy goddess
Kate McKinnon was one of the early winners of the evening Sunday, beating a field that included some of her Saturday Night Live colleagues to take home the award for supporting actress in a comedy series.
The first openly lesbian cast member of the sketch comedy show, McKinnon made her mark this season with portrayals of Hillary Clinton, Jeff Sessions, Kellyanne Conway, Betsy DeVos and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
‘Gender traitor’ Alexis Bledel is recognized
Picking up her award at last week’s pre-show Emmy’s, Alexis Bledel won the outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her haunting performance as Ofglen, in the dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale.
It was her first Emmy win.
RuPaul played a living Emmy statue
During the telecast, host Stephen Colbert sat down for an interview with the Emmy statue herself, a golden-winged woman played by RuPaul, TV’s most famous drag queen.
RuPaul was a winner this year too, nabbing the award for host of a reality or reality-competition series for the second consecutive year at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend.
Samira Wiley looked way to cute with her wife, Lauren Morelli
Wiley and her wife, Orange is the New Black writer, Lauren Morelli stole everyone’s hearts with how cute they were on the red carpet and during the ceremony.
this audience shot of samira wiley and lauren morelli at the emmys is all I've ever wanted in my whole life pic.twitter.com/Ju3f33Rosx
The Emmys are almost upon us, but before Sunday, Sept. 17 rolls around, we wanted to take a look at the female queer stars who we think deserves to win.
This years nominations include, Samira Wiley who is nominated for the first time for her riveting performance in the disturbingly brilliant Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Lily Tomlin, is up for best lead actress in a comedy series for Grace and Frankie.
Evan Rachel Wood scored a nod for her performance in the series Westworld, a role for which also saw her take home the Critics’ Choice Award.
Kate McKinnon is up for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for SNL, an award she also won the previous year, which should make her a frontrunner.
Ellen Page‘s Gaycation With Ellen Page is nominated for best unstructured reality series.
Laverne Cox and Shannon Purser (of Stranger Things) are both up for Best Guest Actress in a Drama.
Jamie Babbit is up for outstanding director in a comedy series for her episode of Silicon Valley.
Jane Lynch got a nod for best actress in a short form for Dropping the Soap.
Wanda Sykes is up for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for the show “Black-ish”.
And Lena Waithe scored a writing nomination for her “Thanksgiving” episode of Master of None.
There are also a number TV shows with queer characters were up for nomination too.
Master of None, Modern Family, Veep, The Handmaid’s Tale, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Portlandia, SNL, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, House of Cards, How to Get Away with Murder, Ray Donovan, Transparent, Orange Is the New Black.Brown Girls, One Day at a Time.
Even Black Mirror‘s ‘San Junipero’got a nomination for best TV movie.
I don’t know about you, but we’re thrilled that queer women are finally being recognised as actual talent by the mainstream media tycoons.
Stephen Colbert will host the Emmys on Sunday, Sept. 17 on CBS.
Sarah Paulson went home with the 2016 Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama on Saturday night thanks to her role in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
Paulson was supported by her partner Holland Taylor, who proudly cheered her on as she accepted the award.
The show, created by AHS mastermind Ryan Murphy, also landed three awards, including program of the year and outstanding achievement in movies, miniseries and specials.
Also to be awarded was Lily Tomlin – a Hollywood lifer who’s appeared on TV for decades on shows like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Murphy Brown, The West Wing and Desperate Housewives – was given the Career Achievement Award,
The presentation came on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that the Screen Actors Guild will award Tomlin with a lifetime achievement award in their ceremony in Los Angeles slated for January 29, 2017.
Other queer ladies to be acknowledge with awards, was the couple behind Making of a Murderer, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, who won Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming. Samantha Bee (Outstanding Achievement in News and Information), Rachel Bloom (Individual Achievement in Comedy), Black-ish (Outstanding Achievement in Comedy) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Heritage Award). I congratulated Sarah on behalf of us all.
Lily Tomlin will be the first openly gay person to receive the prestigious Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award next year.
The actress – who’s earned multiple Emmys, two Tonys, and a Grammy – has been named the 53rd recipient of the SAG Life Achievement Award for her onscreen achievements across a decades-spanning career.
Tomlin shot to fame as a comic but found her breakout role in the early 1970s’ variety show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, before later taking her comedic talents to the big screen and stage with a number of iconic characters.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris described Tomlin as “an extraordinary actress as equally adept at narrative drama as in comedy roles.
She has an ability to create diverse and distinct characters that are at once familiar, eccentric and oh so honest – in a way that illuminates life’s hidden corners.
From Edith Ann to Frankie, her characters are wholly unique, and by exposing every nuance of human behaviour they widen our scope of understanding.”
Tomlin already has an impressive list of honours, including multiple Emmys, numerous American Comedy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Grammy.
Most recently she has received acclaim for her role in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie alongside Jane Fonda.
Tomlin will be presented with the award at the 23rd annual SAG Awards on January 29, 2017.
This weeks Emmy nominations not only go to several out lesbian and bisexual actresses, but also to shows with lesbian/bi characters .
Bisexual actress Sarah Paulson is a two-time nominee earning nods for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie) and for American Horror Story: Hotel (Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie).
Lesbian comedy legend Lily Tomlin was nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for her role opposite Jane Fonda in Grace and Frankie.
Also nominated was Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon for for her various comic characters including Hillary Clinton in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series.
Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor, winner of the Emmy last year for his performance as transgender woman Maura Pfefferman, is once again nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series.
Also nominated in acting categories from the show are Bradley Whitford, Judith Light, Gaby Hoffman, and Melora Hardin.
Series creator Jill Soloway, who is bisexual and has a transgender father, earned nods for directing an episode of the show, which begins its third season later this summer.
Jane Lynch (Hollywood Game Night) is up for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program.
Out actress Ellen Page, a previous Oscar nominee, got her first Emmy nod as an executive producer of the Viceland series Gaycation With Ellen Page.
While lesbian comic Tig Nitaro was nominated for Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted in the category of Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special.
Here is a full list of nominees for the Emmys, which will be presented on 18 September.
Sarah Paulson (American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson) – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Hotel) – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder) – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Although we’ve seen many male-led movies such as The Martian, The Revenant and The Big Short garner a lot of attention, many critics say the past year was good for fans of films with female characters too.
They point to films like Carol, Room and Mad Max: Fury Road as prime examples of films where the women were the stars of the show, and of media where leading ladies kicked ass first, taking names later in their own way.
Some critics argue that it hasn’t just been a great year for female characters, numbers wise, but in how they were presented as well.
The characters in these films, including Inside Out and Grandma, don’t necessarily fit into the typical ‘strong female character’ mould either, as they’re flawed and messy and imperfect in the same way that actual, real-life women are.
But does that mean that we’re in a new era of movie-making, where women get to take the lead in more pictures, and are written in ways that won’t make us want to throw the nearest piece of pottery?
Not necessarily.
We may have made some real strides in terms of both numbers and the actual depictions of these female characters, but the work is far from over.
For example, although we are quick to praise the diversity of movies like Grandma, Freeheld and Carol for starring lesbian characters, it‘s also important to consider that these three movies, like many of the others being praised for positive representation of women, star white women. (All three films were also massively snubbed at the Oscars, with misogyny being blamed).
Also important to note is how the 2016 Oscars featured no nominees of colour in any of its acting categories, sparking a revival of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag.
While this is incredibly frustrating, it’s both an ugly symptom of the Academy’s massively lopsided voting pool and of Hollywood itself and it was massively disappointing to see films like Tangerine (a movie about two trans women of colour) get shut out.
It’s also worth noting that one film that has been praised for its black female ‘heroine’ character, Chi-Raq, has also been criticised for its own misogyny, as it involves ending gun violence via the means of women withholding sex.
Straight Outta Compton, another movie starring people of colour that many felt should have been nominated by the Academy, also overlooked the violent acts committed by Dr. Dre against women.
Whether we will see the trend of female-led films (hopefully with more diversity) continue into 2016 and beyond is unclear.
In just over a months’ time, the 88th Academy Awards (the 2016 Oscars) will take place. Hosted by comedian Chris Rock, the award show aims to heap praise on those who’ve done a brilliant job in filmmaking both in front of and behind the camera.
Earlier this week, the Oscars 2016 nominations were revealed and while there were some notable highlights (trans drama The Danish Girl landed multiple noms, as did Mad Max: Fury Road) there were also some notable snubs. Below is our list of the biggest snubs; feel free to leave yours in the comments!
1. Carol
Carol is quite possibly the best lesbian film ever made; most people who’ve seen it and critics, many of whom have featured Carol in their ‘best of the year’ lists, would agree.
So why, despite Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara getting nominations for their incredible performances in the film, was the film looked over elsewhere?
In a brilliant article on Autostraddle, Heather Hogan suggests that Carol was kept out of the Best Picture and Best Director categories because of misandry rather than lesbophobia. 76% of Oscar voters are men and as director Todd Haynes “refused to center on masculine experience” it stands to reason that the voters didn’t want to heap praise on the movie.
2. Tangerine
Tangerine is a film that stars two trans women (who are also sex workers) named Sin-Dee and Alexandra, telling the story of what happens when Sin-Dee finds out that her boyfriend (and pimp) has been cheating on her. Not only was it praised for casting two actual trans women to play trans characters (a rarity in films these days) but this indie flick was also shot on an iPhone.
With critics raving about the film, the team behind Tangerine decided to campaign for the Oscars, making it the first ever Oscars campaign for openly transgender actresses. A nomination was always a long shot but we’re still sad to see Tangerine and its cast miss out.
3. Clouds of Sils Maria (Kristen Stewart)
Less of a long shot was Clouds of Sils Maria. Released in the United States in April 2015, the drama starred Juliette Binoche as a middle-aged actress cast in a film with Chloe Moretz (who plays an up and coming actress in the film), while Kristen Stewart stars as the personal assistant Binoche’s character has some serious tension with.
Another film that everybody has been raving about is Grandma. Controversial for the fact that it centres on a grandmother and her granddaughter trying to find the funds for an abortion, critics loved the comedy-drama and said that Lily Tomlin was fantastic in it.
As a result, her Oscars 2016 snub was a shock though some have cited age (Tomlin is 76) and Hollywood’s bias against older women as a primary reason for the snub.
5. Any Actor of Colour
It is amazing (and not in a good way) just how staggeringly, blindingly and frankly uncomfortably white this year’s Oscars are. For the second year on the trot, every single acting nomination was given to white actors and actresses. Not even Will Smith (who offered a brilliant performance in Concussion) and Idris Elba (who delivered a dazzling performance in Beasts of No Nation) were nominated.
Michael B. Jordan was completely overlooked whereas his Creed costar Sylvester Stallone got a nomination and Straight Outta Compton was also ignored despite being a critical and box office smash.
The most recent figure (from 2012) suggests that Oscar voters are 94% white so again this isn’t surprising, but the fact that this has happened another year in a row, at a time when the Academy is reportedly trying to improve regarding diversity, makes this even worse.
Did you notice that this year you actually got to see lesbian films outside of the LGBT film festival circuit? And that several of them got nominated for (and even won) awards? And they even had big names attached to them?
That’s right, 2015 was a really interesting (and important) year for LGBT movie-goers as more LGBT-themed films got accepted and publicised by the mainstream.
While that meant that we heard about some duds (such as Stonewall, which was rightfully ripped to shreds by critics), it also meant that some true cinematic diamonds got the spotlight they deserved.
Just about everyone has high praise for Carol and with its leading ladies having both picked up Golden Globes nominations for their brilliant performances in the movie, but it’s being tipped for Oscar nominations as well.
Carol, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, is one of the most talked about films of the year. Not only does it star Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a May-December relationship (that also has a class divide) but it’s also beautiful shot and the depiction of 1950s America is absolutely exquisite.
With the help of some friends, Moore and her domestic partner Stacie Andree fight to ensure that Laurel’s pension benefit get passed on to Stacie even after Laurel passes.
Prepare to shed some serious tears watching this one.
Grandma
Grandma is an unusual twist on the buddy movie genre. It stars out actress Lily Tomlin as the titular grandma, who, after the death of her long-time partner and having split up with her girlfriend after four months, has to help out her 18-year old granddaughter.
Her granddaughter is pregnant and needs money for an abortion, but, being broke and having had her credit card confiscated by her mother, the two women have to find the cash for the procedure, opening old relationship wounds and rehashing old arguments along the way.
Bessie
It’s a TV movie, but Bessie deserves its spot on this list. Out director Dee Rees’ film about blues singer Bessie Smith was nominated for a ton of Emmys and won several, including the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Great acting, amazing music and big names like Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique made for a splendid film. Any worries that Bessie Smith’s bisexuality would be underplayed are squashed after watching this film. And she’s not the only queer lady in this biopic either.
Bare
Dianna Agron’s queer drama about a young woman living in Nevada, who becomes romantically involved with a female drifter, played by Paz de La Huerta. It’s a small town girl – bored with life – story.
The film, is written, produced and developed by Purple Milk aka Natalia Leite and out producer Alexandra Roxo, two independent filmmaker from Brooklyn. Together they have worked on documentaries, like the upcoming Serrano Shoots Cuba, and the web series Be Here Nowish (which you can watch on KitschMix.tv), which they wrote and also starred in.
Liz In September
Despite autumn being the best season of the year, this one doesn’t offer much to smile about as the titular ‘Liz’ is a lesbian who has terminal cancer. Things aren’t going much better for her love interest either as she has lost her son to cancer.
Romance! Criminal hijinks! A queer woman of colour triumphing over a racist buffoon! All About E has got it all, as it stars the titular ‘E’ and her gay best friend as they get into trouble after accidentally steal money from the club where E works.
A gay Mission Impossible this is not, but it is a great deal of fun and you’ll really enjoy seeing E and her ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship.
7. Summertime
Blue Is The Warmest Colour take a seat; Summertime (La Belle Saison) is the best gay, French film on the block. Featuring farm girl Delphine as she leaves her parents place in the countryside to come to the city, the movie follows her as she meets a feminist named Carole who she promptly falls in love with.
The Girl King
There are (and this is a rough approximation) 1 billion and one films about heterosexual historical figures getting married, cheating and dabbling in royal politics. So why can’t queer characters get the same movie tropes? Lucky for us, The Girl King solves that problem, focusing on the (very real) Queen Christina of Sweden as she assumes the throne at a young age following her father’s death.
A true rebel, despite her title, Christina is pretty fond of peace (despite everyone around her wanting war), wearing men’s clothing and sword-fighting too, but you’ll mostly likely be interested in her romance with Countess Ebba Sparre who becomes one of her ladies in waiting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z65cdquVuMU
Skin Deep
Yes, this is another movie where a lesbian and straight girl become friends and there’s some sexual tension, but Skin Deep is a lot more than that. The film is about two women – with their own dysfunctions – meeting at what should be the worst time ever, yet somehow its not.
The Summer of Sangaile
Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, near her parents’ lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love the only person who truly encourages her to fly.
Girlhood
Oppressed by her family, dead-end school prospects, and the boys’ law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and dress, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping to find a way to freedom.
Tig
This documentary explores comedian Tig Notaro’s extraordinary journey as her life unfolds in grand and unexpected ways, all while she is battling a life-threatening illness and falling in love.
The Same Difference
When you’re part of a marginalised group, ‘there’s a high chance of discrimination’ is almost inked in small print at the bottom of the sign-up sheet, as is the nature of the thing.
The Same Difference by first-time director Nneka Onuorah, sheds light on an issue we rarely see discussed in this medium: hypocrisy in the black lesbian and bisexual community. A code of behavior and appearance exists and it’s strong, but as the movie shows us, there are women living outside of these boxes and they often aren’t received well. The film also looks at the judgment bisexual women, pregnant aggressive, and stud-on-stud couples face.
So what films should we being looking out for in 2016?
About Ray
About Ray tells explores the questions of identity and family ties. With Malificient actress, Elle Fanning, playing a New York City teen Ray, who is transition from female to male. Naomi Watts will play Ray’s single mother, Maggie, who must come to terms with raising her only daughter as a son. Long-time LGBT ally, Susan Sarandon will play Maggie’s mother Dolly – a music manager who lives with her lesbian partner and has a hard time understanding her grandchild’s decision.
The release date for About Ray has been pushed around, but it finally looks like Dec. 31 will be the day. Give me a break–most of you will be watching Susan Sarandon play gay in 2016.
First Girl I Loved
In short, First Girl I Loved is about a 17-year-old who falls in love with the most popular girl at school. The backstory about the lives of three young girls from Phillip Island and follows their trip to Hawaii — the first step on their journey to making a break as professional surfers.
Discover the trials and tribulations of training, competitions and injury whilst gaining an insight into life on the tour through the eyes of three girls. With magic footage and stellar photography, First Love will surprise, entertain and inspire a generation of female surfers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uCE6Guf-Ko
Almost Adults
Almost Adults, starring Carmilla favourites Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis, is also set to come our way in 2016. The film is about a platonic love story between two life long best friends struggling to keep their friendship together as their lives head in different directions.
Also, look out for out actress Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters, and hearing Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Dory.
We love these out celebrity couples. Not only are they absolutely adorable together, but they also provide still needed representation of loving LGBT women in relationships.
1. Cara Delevingne and Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
When these two became official, our hearts rejoiced. Model/actress Cara Delevigne and musician Annie Clark (best known by her stage name St. Vincent) are absolutely adorable together.
The pair is still going strong going strong, with Cara telling Vogue…
Being in love with my girlfriend is a big part of why I’m feeling so happy with who I am these days.”
2. Ellen Page and Samantha Thomas
Ellen Page made her red carpet debut with her artist girlfriend, Samantha Thomas, in September 2015 at the Toronto International Film Festival for the Freeheld premier. This pair couldn’t be any more adorable, even with five inches of height difference between them.
3. Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli
Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli aren’t just a cute couple — they’ve also played a huge role creating one of Netflix’s best original shows – Morelli as writer, and Wiley as actress. This Orange is the New Black power couple got together in 2014, and are still going strong.
4. Maria Bello and Clare Munn
Maria Bello has gushed all year along about her girlfriend, activist Clare Munn saying recently,
She’s one of the most beautiful, charming, brilliant and funny people I have ever met. We laugh a lot together.”
The couple have now been together since 2013, and are raising Bello’s teenage son together.
5. Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison
Everyone knows Jodie Foster, a multi-hyphenate A-lister (actress/writer/director/producer/etc./ad infinitum) who is virtually guaranteed to have been involved with one of your favorite movies, in some way or another. Her wife, Alexandra, is best known for playing the devious Dylan on The L Word, but she’s also an established photographer and filmmaker.
The two were married in 2014, and ever since have looked blissfully happy.
6. Beth Ditto and Kristen Ogata
This adorable couple has been dating since Ditto was 18, and were married in Maui in 2014, and again on December 31st when they were legally married in their home state of Oregon.
7. Wanda Sykes and Alex Sykes
Comedian Wanda Sykes recently celebrated seven years with her wife, Alex Sykes (née Niedbalksi.)
The couple is raising fraternal twins, daughter Olivia Lou and son Lucas Claude.
8. Jenny Shimizu and Michelle Harper
When it comes to the most fashionable couple of the year, street style fashionista Michelle Harper and wife Jenny Shimizu have it in the bag.
The Shimizu and Harper celebrated their first year of marriage this year. Bless.
… I met someone who was a a great fit for the real me…She’s also a YouTuber. We’ve actually been friends for a couple of years and then…circumstances kind of aligned. Her name is Ingrid and she is a big YouTuber. But she’s also one of the most brilliant, soulful people I’ve ever met. It’s so good.”
10. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Although rumors of divorce seem to always trouble Ellen and Portia, they still are the queen and queen of lesbian couples. They have been together since 2004 and tied the knot in 2008 – the equivalent of a 30-year marriage in celebrity years. They have both kept their successful careers going, and always seem to be incredibly psyched on each other.
11. Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner
Actress Lily Tomlin and writer Jane Wagner may have gotten legally married in 2013, but the pair met 44 years ago, in 1971.
In the 2012 book We Killed, legendary comic Tomlin told the story of how she’d wanted to come out about her relationship with writer Wagner at the height of the career in ’70s, but was told she couldn’t because it would ruin her career.
And then, after that, we had to go outside to the car, which was in front of the theatre. There was a huge audience, and when we got in the car, her fans were rocking the car back and forth. And the idea that somebody’s career could actually be ruined and that their lives could get ruined was astonishing. To go from that to ‘You can’t let out that you’re gay or they’ll hate you’ struck me.”
Forty years later, they are out and people still love Lily.
12. Lauren Blitzer and Chely Wright
Another awesome married couple. Chely and Lauren met only two weeks after Chely came out of the closet in 2010, and they were married soon after. The now have twin sons and post loads of pictures of them on Twitter. Chely has been a great advocate for LGBT rights and did a documentary about her coming out story.
13. Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey
The band mates went public about their relationship in 2011 after they were discriminated against on a Southwest flight. They don’t talk much about their romantic relationship, but they did say in their statement, “We were simply being affectionate like any normal couple.” Just any normal hot couple.
14. Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem
The musician and TV writer were best friends for years before they took it to the next level and Melissa couldn’t be happier.
Finally through relationships and through my own growth process and understanding of my life and my own choices, here I am in a situation where I’m in a relationship with someone who I’ve been friends with for 10 years. We’ve got a track record of friendship-love to begin with. Then to bring that closer was just really natural and a beautiful thing. It’s the most supportive, healthy relationship I’ve ever been in, so I’m not surprised that my music is reflecting that.”
15. Lena Waithe and Alana Mayo
Producer, writer, and actress Lena Waithe may be on her way to being a household name, but the other half of this power couple is equally impressive. 31-year-old Alana Mayo is the VP of Production at Paramount and was named one of Hollywood’s Up-and-Coming Execs 35 and Under by The Hollywood Reporter. These two could take over the world together.
16. Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne
Comedian Tig Notaro and wife Stephanie Allynne quietly tied the knot in October. Notaro joked on Twitter: “I’m getting married today. My only fear is that instead of ‘I do’ I’ll say ‘I do do’.”
Netflix’s documentary, Tig, showcases their relationship, including Allynne supporting Notaro through her battle with breast cancer.
17. Rachel Maddow & Susan Mikula
MSNBC Superstar Rachel Maddow and artist Susan Mikula have been together since 1999, when Maddow was hired to do yard work on Mikula’s Berkshires property. They now live together in a pre-Civil War farmhouse in western Massachusetts. Livin’ the dream much?
18. Amber Laign and Robin Roberts
Amber Laign and Robin Roberts met while on a blind date. Robin Roberts came out publicly in 2013 over Facebook, and announced that she had been in a relationship with Laign since 2005.
19. Jenna Wolfe & Stephanie Gosk
Wolfe and Gosk (both NBC News correspondents) are some kind of NBC super couple. We’re not sure how they first met, but we’re guessing it was at some kind of super posh Olympics coverage party. We do know that they have two daughters, and are both pretty much rocking this power couple game.
20. Cynthia Nixon & Christine Marinoni
Since finishing her run on Sex and the City, Cynthia Nixon has stuck to acting in short form pieces of fried gold like Alpha House and Hannibal, while her wife, Christine Marinoni, has been working as a special adviser for community partnerships in the Department of Education in New York. If a politician marrying a hot actress isn’t the definition of a power couple, then what is?
21. Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry
The Talk co-host Sara Gilbert and award-winning songwriter Linda Perry married in 2014 and still seem to be in their honeymoon phase – we dare you to find one photo in which they aren’t both smiling. However, 2015 was a big year for the couple. Gilbert gave birth to the couple’s son, Rhodes Emilio Gilbert Perry, back in February, and the duo released the children’s album Deer Sounds that features Rhodes.
Once upon a time, the discussion surrounding LGBT representation in the media was a numbers game and all we wanted to know was how many LGBT identified characters were depicted on the big and small screens.
But now, as more and more networks and studios have begun to feature LGBT stories in their works, the question is all about how those LGBT character were represented, rather than how many we could count.
With this said, Hollywood movies did well on both fronts in 2015. LGBT characters weren’t just main characters in a fair handful of movies but there was nothing particularly eye-rolling or offensive about any of them either (we’ve come a long way from 2010’s The Kids Are All Right and 2013’s Blue Is The Warmest Colour).
Admittedly this is a small handful of films out of the hundreds released this year (we’ll have to wait until next year for GLAAD’s full breakdown on LGBT characters in films from major studios) but as mentioned, it’s a long way away from a few years ago.
TV also made some strides particularly in terms of queer women of colour and establishing queerness with younger audiences. On Orange is the New Black, Poussey and Soso seemed to be on the verge of a romance, as did Suzanne and Maureen.
Meanwhile, How To Get Away With Murder’s lead character, Annalise Keating, rekindled her romance with her college girlfriend, and notable mentions go to Person Of Interest‘s Sameen Shaw who kissed Samantha “Root” Groves after episodes upon episodes of subtext and two of FOX’s new shows Grandfathered and Rosewood both featured black lesbians.
Also on SU there are Pearl’s (seemingly non-platonic feelings) for Rose, Amethyst and Peridot’s crushes on each other and the fact that Steven and his best friend Connie joined together (fused) to become ‘Stevonnie’, a character of colour who uses ‘they’ pronouns.
And not to forget The Legend of Korra, with the show ending with two bi women of colour (one of whom being the show’s main character) holding hands, signifying their canon relationship.
That said, overall, TV was a mixed bag (though this is perhaps due to TV having LGBT women leading to a higher probability of TV writers mucking it up).
Although Faking It‘s writing team have said that Amy is a lesbian, they still decided to use Amy’s portrayed bisexuality as a chance for her girlfriend to be biphobic. And less offensive but still unsettling is the fact that of the characters on shows being portrayed as bisexual (such as Annalise Keating, Sarah Pfefferman on Transparent) you’d be unlikely to hear them actually say the word ‘bisexual’ .
And while there’s a case to be made about TV showing that labels don’t matter,there are too many examples of this happening to suggest that that is always the case.
Moreover, Empire completely got it wrong as not only did lesbian billionaire Mimi Whiteman (Marisa Tomei) kiss Lucious Lyon (after showrunner and The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken hyped up the character’s arrival and her sexuality, no less) but it didn’t do (butch lesbian character) Freda Gatz justice either, seeing her get beaten in a rap battle just to further another character’s manpain.
Also showing how TV got it wrong was Pretty Little Liars which, in addition to being a total story-writing trainwreck during season five, it was incredibly transphobic as well as the show’s main characters managed to misgender a newly out trans women and use her dead-name too.
So, if we had to rate the year in LGBT media (with LGBT female characters at least), then 2015 would get a solid 7: it’s pushing the boundaries and getting better, but clearly work needs to be done.
My mother would have died. Literally. If she’d lived to see me come out. Bless her heart, she was Southern, basically fundamentalist, but she was very witty and sweet and kind and she adored Jane. She died 10 years ago. She was 91. So that was always kind of a dilemma for me.”
The Grace and Frankie star, who shot to fame as a comic in 1969 before later finding success with cult hit films like Nashville and 9 to 5, never had a grand ‘coming out’.
However, she has quietly spoken about her sexuality for a number of years – and married her long-term partner Jane Wagner on New Year’s Eve 2013.
The actress also said earlier in her career she turned down films that said “thoughtless things about women”.
They sent me two or three Neil Simon scripts over the years. When you’re first in the business you’re so innocent and free, the script would literally leap out of my hands into the trash can. Then afterward you get to know more and more people and you make more compromises.”
Tomlin is currently promoting her new film, Grandma, in which the 76-year-old plays a pot-smoking lesbian feminist poet – hurrah!
Ever year Out Magazine profiles the year’s most entertaining, heroic, and compelling LGBT people, from all walks of life. This year’s the list is filled with women making a difference.
Here is a selection of our favourite ladies.
Pictured: Aisha Moodie Mills
Carrie Brownstein – Artist of the Year
Cynthia Nixon – Actress / Out100 Pioneer
Lily Tomlin – Legend
Jess Glynne – Musician
Raven-Symoné – Actor, Musician, Talk-Show Host.
Jana Hunter – Musician
Hannah Hart – Comedian & YouTube Star
Andrea Bernstein & Nancy Solomon – Radio Journalists
However, the actually results showed a true turning point in viewing habits and awarding winning roles out there.
No-longer do white, straight, male-heavy shows dominate our air ways – hurrah.
The highlights were many, starting with Actress Uzo Aduba taking home the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series, her second consecutive Emmy for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black.
Because the show was categorised as a comedy in 2014 and a drama in 2015, Aduba’s win makes her the first actress to win both a drama and comedy award for the same role — an honour previously held only by the actor Ed Asner.
As she thanked a long list of people, Aduba broke down in tears.
I love you mostly because you let me be me.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCX1MqVg6Vk
Viola Davis also made history by becoming the first black woman to win the best lead actress prize for her role in How To Get Away With Murder.
Accepting her award, she said:
The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrkGmYbvISo
Amazon’s comedy-drama Transparent won awards for best director in a comedy and for its lead actor, Jeffrey Tambor, who plays a transgender college professor.
In Jill Soloway acceptance speech, she noted that 32 states can legally discriminate against her Moppa, and urged viewers to visit transequality.org to show their support for the Equality Act.
We don’t have a trans tipping point. We have a trans civil rights problem.”
The show also picked up best guest actor in a comedy for former West Wing star Bradley Whitford, for his trans character, Marcie
Out writer/director/producer Jane Anderson (who you probably remember from If These Walls Could Talk 2) won Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Dramatic Special for Olive Kitteridge.
Another out women to win was director Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right, High Art, Laurel Canyon) who worked with Jane on Olive Kitteridge, which also won star Frances McDormond Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, meaning that two out of three Directing trophies awarded to individual people were won by women.
Queen Latifah’s bisexual epic Bessie won Best Television Movie.
Jane Lynch won Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program for Hollywood Game Night. And Inside Amy Schumer was named best variety sketch series.
Political comedy Veep was the winner in the best comedy series category.
There are tons of LGBT women, characters, and shows with queer themes nominated at this years Emmy’s.
Here are the highlights:
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Tatiana Maslany (finally!) for Orphan Black. Stiff competition: Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Claire Danes (Homeland), Robin Wright (House of Cards), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men).
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie
Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith in Bessie. She’s up against Felicity Huffman (American Crime),Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Freak Show), Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Honourable Woman), Frances McDormand (Olive Kitteridge) and Emma Thompson (Sweeney Todd).
Outstanding Television Movie
Bessie has fierce competition in Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain, Poirot’s Last Case, Grace Of Monaco, Hello Ladies: The Movie, Killing Jesus and Nightingale.
Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Dee Rees for Bessie and Jane Anderson for Olive Kitteridge. Against: American Crime, Hello Ladies: The Movie, The Honorable Woman and Wolf Hall.
Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Dee Rees for Bessie and Lisa Cholodenko for Olive Kitteridge. Taking on: Ryan Murphyfor American Horror Story: Freak Show, The Honorable Woman, The Missing and Wolf Hall.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lily Tomlin in Grace and Frankie. Other nominees include Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback), Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep).
Outstanding Comedy Series
Transparent. Other shows in the category include Louie, Modern Family, Parks And Recreation,Silicon Valley, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Veep.
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Jill Soloway for the pilot of Transparent. Taking on: Jeffrey Klarik (Episodes), Will Forte (The Last Man On Earth) Louis C.K. (Louis), Alec Berg (Silicon Valley) and Tony Roche (Veep).
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Jill Soloway for “Best New Girl” episode of Transparent. Up against: Phil Lord (The Last Man On Earth) Louis C.K. (Louie), Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) and Armando Iannucci (Veep).
Outstanding Drama Series
Orange is the New Black. Taking on Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Game Of Thrones, Homeland, House Of Cards, Mad Men.
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Portlandia and Saturday Night Live face contenders Drunk History, Inside Amy Schumer and Key & Peele.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Uzo Aduba faces Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt, Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke on Game Of Thrones, Christine Baranski (The Good Wife) and Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris on Mad Men.
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Rachel Brosnahan as Rachel Posner in House of Cards. Other nominees: Margo Martindale as Claudia in The Americans, Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell (Game of Thrones), How To Get Away With Murder‘s Cicely Tyson, Masters Of Sex‘s Allison Janney as Margaret Scully, and Scandal‘s Khandi Alexander.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Kate McKinnon in SNL and Gaby Hoffmann as the queer Ali Pfefferman in Transparent. Other nominees: Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Niecy Nash (Getting On), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Allison Janney (Mom), Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and Anna Chlumsky(Veep).
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie
Sarah Paulson as Dot and Bette Tattler in American Horror Story: Freak Show and Mo’nique asMa Rainey in Bessie. Competitors: Regina King (American Crime) Kathy Bates (American Horror Story: Freak Show) and Denise Thibodeau (Olive Kitteridge).
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Jane Lynch for Hollywood Game Night. Taking on: Tom Bergeron for Dancing With The Stars,Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn for Project Runway, Cat Deely for So You Think You Can Danceand Anthony Bourdain for The Taste.
The 67th Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 20 (8:00 PM ET /5:00 PM PT) on FOX. Start planning your viewing parties, because this is going to be a good one.
Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, an out lesbian and co-founder / editor of Uganda’s first LGBT publication, Bombastic, is on the cover of Time Magazine‘s European edition.
She told Advocate Magazine she hopes the cover will not only bring awareness to the plight of LGBT Ugandans, but also help people around the world realise that LGBT people are their friends, neighbours, and family members.
It’s a great honour for me to be on the cover because it brings attention to the global LGBT struggle. Now many people will know about the struggles LGBT people go through in Africa and the world over. They will realize that the people they hate most are actually the people they love most when they get to read the article. They could be hating on their beloved family and friend without knowing they are LGBT.”
The move to feature what’s being celebrated as a monumental moment of visibility for Uganda’s harassed LGBT community.
More than ever, the world shouldn’t neglect the human rights of LGBT people, because we are here to stay — and part and parcel of the development of this world. All we need is respect, and protection from violence, and our basic inalienable human rights. Speaking out and bringing attention to the plight of LGBT people is life. I will not be silenced by anyone.”
Nabagesera became engaged in the very “controversial” issue of gay rights in Uganda when she was just 21, and has since played a leading role in the Ugandan LGBT rights movement. After being expelled from several schools, Kasha decided to study the law in Uganda.
Time magazine has history of featuring LGBT heros; here are some of the best covers
Indiewire have updated their 2016 Oscar predictions, and they predict a very real possibility that over half of this year’s female acting nominations could go to portrayals of gay women.
Lesbians have represented at the Oscars before. Charlize Theron won for playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Nicole Kidman played Virginia Woolf, and Annette Bening almost won for her rule in the The Kids Are All Right.
There is a possibility that openly gay actress Lily Tomlin could get a nomination for playing someone openly gay in Grandma. Which is actually a first – a lesbian actress being nominated for playing a lesbian character – shock horror!
Tomlin would also become the only second gay person to be nominated for playing a gay person. Ian McKellen is currently the only other example.
In Paul Weitz’s Grandma, Tomlin plays a lesbian poet who goes on a road trip with her granddaughter after she breaks up with her long-term partner.
This is her first lead role in a film in over 27 years, and she’s incredible in it. Sony Pictures Classics is surely going to rev up a campaign for her come fall, in hopes of giving 75 year old Tomlin her first Oscar nomination since 1975, when she was nominated for Nashville. Our fingers are firmly crossed.
If Tomlin does get nominated, she would almost certainly be competing against Cate Blanchett, who got insanely good reviews out of Cannes for Todd Haynes’ Carol. Blanchett plays half of a 1950s lesbian romance in the film, the other half being played by Rooney Mara, who beat out Blanchett for Cannes’ Best Actress award.
Mara is a very likely nominee too, though The Weinstein Company could very well campaign her in supporting.
Either way, this is three possible lesbian nominees.
And then there’s Freeheld, which we’ll likely be released at the Toronto Film Festival.
The movie stars last year’s best actress winner Julianne Moore, who is paired with Ellen Page. The film is a classic Oscar bait story of real life lesbian Laurel Hester (Moore), a police officer in Ocean County, New Jersey. Following her diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2005, Hester repeatedly appealed to the county’s board of chosen freeholders in an attempt to ensure her pension benefits could be passed on to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Page).
The film is actually based on a documentary short that won an Oscar, and is written by the same man who got a nomination for his screenplay for Philadelphia.
We obviously won’t know until we see it, but both Moore and Page sure seem like contenders for best actress and best support. That would also make Moore the only person to receive two nominations for playing queer characters.
Lily Tomlin has often quietly spoken about her sexuality – and married her long-term partner Jane Wagner on New Year’s Eve 2013, but its only now she is starting openly discuss her sexuality in interviews.
Speaking to HuffPo Live, she opened up her life in the transparent closet – joking that “everyone” already knew she was a lesbian.
I was on Carson one night [in 1971], and he [asked if I wanted kids], and I said no… the audience was deathly still. That was a hot subject to bring up to a straight audience. I wasn’t totally forthcoming. Everybody in the business knew I was gay, and certainly everybody I worked with and everything like that.
I just never had a press conference to announce it. In 1975, [TIME magazine] wanted to put me on the cover just for being gay! I was making my third album at the time.”
However, Tomlin did not agree to do the cover – and kept her sexuality off-the-record until years later.
I wonder if I had come out on that ’75 cover on TIME, if I would have had as long a career as I’ve had. It would have been an inopportune time to make such a grand statement. I mean, Ellen [DeGeneres] didn’t really come out until 20 years later. It’s been a long life… I’ve been really lucky.”
Tomlin is currently working with Jane Fonda on the comedy series Grace and Frankie, which is a comedy drama called Grace and Frankie, which follows long-time rivals Grace and Frankie, who are brought together after their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married. The 13-part Netflix series, is set to air from May 8.
In her first leading role since 1988’s Big Business with Bette Midler, comedy legend, Lily Tomlin, plays Elle Reid – a bisexual feminist poet – whose work is like catnip to women’s-studies majors and the like.
She is breaking up with her far younger girlfriend and still dealing with the death of her longtime partner, when her granddaughter, Sage, unexpectedly shows up needing $600 before sundown to deal with an unwanted pregnancy. The duo spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets.
Like Tomlin herself, Elle is an out lesbian long before it was widely accepted, and her daughter, Judy, had Sage through an anonymous sperm donor. And now it is Sage’s turn to make a critical decision about her own body and the life of her unborn child — a decision, “Grandma” unambiguously argues, it is hers and only hers to make.
I know I’m putting myself on the line, kind of. But I trusted (writer-director by Paul Weitz) and I liked the material. First of all, he had written it with me in mind, and he wanted me. Then as we worked through the material, it just seemed like a good thing to do.”
Lily Tomlin
The film co-stars Julia Garner, Laverne Cox, Marcia Gay Harden and Judy Greer.
If you hadn’t heard, but the glorious Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have a new sitcom coming out on Netflix. It’s a comedy drama called Grace and Frankie, which follows long-time rivals Grace and Frankie, who are brought together after their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married.
It’ll be relationship hijinks with a twist, starring some of Hollywood’s most respected elder leading lights. The West Wing’s Martin Sheen and The Newsroom’s Sam Waterson play the husbands, who come out to their wives at dinner and reveal they plan to get married themselves.
Viewers will see Tomlin and Fonda’s characters form a tumultuous but entertaining new bond over the 13-episode series, which will be available to view all at once in May.
So, we’re now well-and-truly into the new year, heavily into award season, and the start of the film festival circuits around the world. This year’s festival had a lot to offer the LGBT moviegoer.
The star-studded week-long festival screened almost 120 films. Among the genres that were presented, the LGBT category seemed to grow in strength from the previous year. From documentaries on Larry Kramer and Tig Notaro, to an ex-gay drama starring James Franco and Zachary Quinto to a Lily Tomlin playing her first leading role in a film in 27 years.
Below are some titles that have queer appeal, so we suggest you keep a lookout for them throughout the year.
Grandma
2015 is the year of Lily Tomlin. With a new Netflix TV show with Jane Fonda and awarded by the Kennedy Centre, she is back. Grandma, is a great story. Self-described misanthrope Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) has her protective bubble burst when her 18-year-old granddaughter, Sage, shows up needing help. The two of them go on a daylong journey that causes Elle to come to terms with her past and Sage to confront her future.
Cast:Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox, Sam Elliott. Director and screenwriter: Paul Weitz
The Summer of Sangaile
Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, near her parents’ lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love the only person who truly encourages her to fly. Cast: Julija Steponaitytė, Aistė Diržiūtė.
Director and screenwriter: Alanté Kavaïté
Girlhood
Oppressed by her family, dead-end school prospects, and the boys’ law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and dress, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping to find a way to freedom.
Cast: Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Mariétou Touré, Idrissa Diabaté, Simina Soumaré. Director and screenwriter: Céline Sciamma
The Amina Profile
During the Arab revolution, a love story between two women — a Canadian and a Syrian-American — turns into an international sociopolitical thriller spotlighting media excesses and the thin line between truth and falsehood on the Internet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSMKXg0qSpU
Director: Sophie Deraspe
Beaver Trilogy Part IV
A chance meeting in a parking lot in 1979 between filmmaker Trent Harris and a young man from Beaver, Utah, inspired the creation of an underground film that is now known as Beaver Trilogy. But the film itself is only part of the story.
Director: Brad Besser
I Am Michael
The controversial true story of a gay activist who rejects his homosexuality and becomes a Christian pastor.
Director: Justin Kelly Cast: James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts. Screenwriters: Justin Kelly, Stacey Miller
It’s Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise
This portrait of Hilary Knight, the artist behind the iconic Eloise books, sees him reflecting on his life as an illustrator and his relationship to his most successful work. The film also premieres March 23 on HBO.
Director: Matt Wolf
Larry Kramer in Love and Anger
Author, activist, and playwright Larry Kramer is one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary gay America, a political firebrand who gave voice to the outrage and grief that inspired gay men and lesbians to fight for their lives. At 78, this complicated man still commands our attention.
Director: Jean Carlomusto
The Mask You Live In
Is there a “boy crisis” in America? Is our male population suffering due to our emphasis on power, dominance, and aggression? The Mask You Live In explores how our narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men, and society at large and unveils what we can do about it.
Director: Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Dope
Malcolm is carefully surviving life in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles while juggling college applications, academic interviews, and the SAT. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into an adventure that could allow him to go from being a geek to being dope to ultimately being himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT3tHzqmkng
Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky. Director and screenwriter: Rick Famuyiwa
Nasty Baby
A gay couple try to have a baby with the help of their best friend, Polly. The trio navigate the idea of creating life while confronted by unexpected harassment from a neighborhood man called The Bishop. As their clashes grow increasingly aggressive, odds are someone is getting hurt.
Cast: Sebastian Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristin Wiig, Reg E. Cathey, Mark Margolis, Denis O’Hare. Director and screenwriter: Sebastian Silva
The Royal Road
This cinematic essay, a defense of remembering, offers up a primer on the Spanish colonization of California and the Mexican-American War alongside intimate reflections on nostalgia, butch identity and Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo — all against a contemplative backdrop of 16mm urban California landscapes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjTj4WN46dA
Cast: Jenni Olson, Tony Kushner. Director and screenwriter: Jenni Olson
Tig
This documentary explores comedian Tig Notaro’s extraordinary journey as her life unfolds in grand and unexpected ways, all while she is battling a life-threatening illness and falling in love.
Directors: Kristina Goolsby, Ashley York Screenwriter: Jennifer Arnold
On Tuesday night, out actress and comedian Lily Tomlin was honored at the Kennedy Center, alongside Tom Hanks, Al Green, ballerina Patricia McBride, Sting. However, it was the celebration of Tomlin’s career that was particularly moving.
After an introduction from Garrison Keeilor, who shared a video package highlighting Tomlin’s humble beginnings to her rise to fame; Jane Lynch, Reba McEntire, Kate McKinnon and Jane Fonda came out to perform their own versions of Tomlin performances.
“Two years ago, I joined the cast of Saturday Night Live and now here I am, honoring my comedy hero. Lily, thank you. You turned playing loveable oddballs into a viable career option. Yes!”
Kate McKinnon
http://youtu.be/wr_Oe-0xRww
“You know, I was used to watching male comedians on TV but Laugh-In was the first time for me that women got to be really really funny and I wasn’t sure it was actually legal,”
Jane Lynch
Jane Fonda had this to say about Tomlin’s addition to 9 to 5:
“Left to my own devices, it probably would have turned into They Shoot Bosses, Don’t They?”
Jane Fonda
And Reba was just plain sweet.
“We’re talking a lot about Lily the artist, but I want to tell you about Lily my friend. She’s just the best person to be around.”
So we here, its 2015 and the year is already looking promising for LGBT audiences and in particular lesbian viewers. Here are just a few of the exciting LGBT themed projects scheduled for release in 2015.
One Big Happy
This new show from NBC, has Ellen DeGeneres at the helm, as executive producer. The series stars Elisha Cuthbert as Lizzy, a lesbian who agrees to get pregnant and start a family with her straight male best friend Luke (Nick Zano), right before he falls in love with and marries a British girl named Prudence (Kelly Brook).
Empire
Empire is FOX’s new drama from out writer/director Lee Daniels and produced by Ilene Chaiken. The show premieres January 7, and follows Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), the CEO of a successful record label who is diagnosed with ALS. Lyon is looking for a successor in one of his three sons. His son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) is a talented musician and gay, which infuriates his father, though he has the support of his mom and Lucious’ ex-wife, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) who has just been released from prison. The show will also have cameos from Raven Symone, and her GF AzMarie Livingston and Courtney Love.
Grace and Frankie
The Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin-starring Netflix original comedy series Grace and Frankie will premiere in 2015. The 13-episode half hour series focuses on archenemies Frankie (Tomlin) and Grace (Fonda) who find their lives changed completely and permanently entangled after their husbands Sol and Robert (Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen) announce they are in love with each other and plan to marry.
My Transparent Life
ABC Family this month announced a new reality series ‘My Transparent Life’ from Ryan Seacrest Productions. The show centres on Ben, a teenager who learns that his parents are getting divorced at the same time he learns that his father will be transitioning. The show is described as “a generational story of a loving family and circle of friends supporting one another through this unfamiliar and unexpected situation.” Unfortunately, no premiere date has yet been set yet for this show.
Sense8
Another new Netflix original show from trans creator Lana Wachowski and her brother. The show is due to premiere in the new year, is about eight strangers around the world who find themselves suddenly mentally and emotionally connected following a violent death. Each of the season’s 10 episodes will focus on one character’s story as one entity tries to bring the eight together and another tries to kill them. The cast of characters will include Lito (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), a closeted Mexican telenovela leading man, his boyfriend Hernando (Alfonso Herrera), and a transgender American blogger, Nomi, played by trans actress Jamie Clayton.
Also…
There are several of our favourite LGBT-inclusive shows returning for new seasons in 2015. Some highlights include Glee’s final season, Transparent will return to Amazon for a second season and the Netflix hit Orange is the New Black will air a third season.
We and our partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology across the web. You can change your mind and change your consent choices at anytime by returning to this site. AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
