Tag Archives: entertainment

7 Romantic Lesbian Movies For Your Next Date Night

Is it just me, or do most romantic movies ignore the fact that lesbians are a real thing?

Lesbian movies definitely exist, but they tend to be particularly low-budget (come on Hollywood, why?!) and therefore not well marketed.

They do exist, though – and some of them are quite good.

Here are some of my personal favorites. Look for them the next time you go looking for a new film for you and your love.


1. Better than Chocolate (1999) – Available on Netflix

Better than Chocolate tells the story of Maggie and Kim, a pair of lesbians in Canada. Kim is an artistic stud who is very out, while Maggie is an adorable femme who still hasn’t come out to her family yet.

Mayhem ensues when Maggie’s mom finds herself in the middle of a divorce and must come live with Maggie in her “spacious apartment” (that actually doesn’t exist).

Better than Chocolate

This movie explores a variety of different LGBT+ groups, including pansexuals and transgendered individuals, without sugar-coating the hardships they face. Definitely a must-watch.


2. But I’m a Cheerleader! (1999) – Available on Netflix

But I’m a Cheerleader! explores what goes on at a “gay recovery camp” called True Directions. Featuring stereotypical pink and blue colors and such highly-recognizable actors as Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, and even (arguably the biggest) gay icon, RuPaul, this movie is sure to make it into your favorites.
But I'm a Cheerleader

What’s even better is that there’s actually a beautiful coming-out story hidden amongst the campy (pun intended) agenda and the cheesy humor. You’ll find yourself falling in love with the characters and caring deeply about how their individual stories turn out. (Plus, Natasha Lyonne… How can you not love it?)

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3. Imagine Me & You (2005) – Available on Netflix

Ok, this one might not exactly fall in the lesbian category, as it deals with a woman (played by Piper Perabo) who begins to question her sexuality at her wedding – to a man.

While this may be considered damaging as it hinges on the stereotype of bisexual women being unable to remain faithful in their relationships, it does explore the segment of the gay community who didn’t imagine that they even could be gay until that one person came along and changed their mind.

Imagine Me & You 02

Piper Perabo and Lena Headey give a stellar performance, and their on-screen chemistry is phenomenal. (As a side note, the first time I watched this movie, I was on an 8-hour plane ride with my father… Before I came out. Pretty awkward.)

Imagine Me & You


4. The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love (1995) – Available on Netflix

Those who watch(ed) The L Word may recognize one of the main characters in this movie as a much-younger Tina Canard – it’s our very own Laurel Holloman, who seems such a good fit to play this young woman.

The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love 03

After falling in love with someone who comes from an entirely different background, Randy (Holloman) finds herself rising above her circumstances in order to chase her true love.

It’s definitely a stereotypical lesbian love story, but that’s not a bad thing when you’re trying to cuddle with your lady, right?

The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love 02


5. Loving Annabelle (2006) – Available on Netflix

Loving Annabelle takes a different approach; this movie tells the scandalous story of a teacher who falls in love with a troublemaker student. Set in a Catholic girls school, there is definitely a huge possibility of things going wrong here – and they definitely do! This isn’t your typical love story, for sure.

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This deals with not only the chaos that is present in most homosexual relationships, but also the particular mayhem that occurs when a teacher falls in love with one of their students. Give it a watch if you’re looking for a different type of drama in your life.


6. 5ive Girls (aka “Five Girls”; 2006) – Available on Netflix

Let me start by saying that this movie is nothing like what I expected it to be. (When you hear about five girls stuck together in a Catholic reform school, as a teenage lesbian, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you imagine there’s going to be a lot of sex. There’s not.) However, if you are a fan of horror movies, this one’s sure to catch your interest.

5ive Girls

Basically, these five troublemakers discover – after being locked into the school – that they have the powers necessary to beat an evil demon that seeks to take their souls. Oh, and one of the girls is actually gay, so that’s a slight perk. Even though it’s not what it sounds like, if you’re a fan of survival/supernatural horror, this movie is definitely going to send you into the arms of your lady for some much-needed “baby-I’m-scared” cuddling.


7. Chasing Amy (1997) – Available on Netflix

“Chasing Amy” tells a different side of the story – what happens when a straight man falls in love with a lesbian, despite constantly being informed that she had no interest in men?

Well, a lot, apparently. Those who don’t feel that sexuality is fluid might be somewhat offended by this movie, as it operates in the principle that our sexuality is ultimately a conscious decision.

Chasing Amy

However, director Kevin Smith touches on these subjects gracefully, and actually explains quite well that there are certain criteria in place for these sexually-fluid points in our lives. If you approach it with an open mind, this movie is actually a bit romantic, although that’s definitely not its main intention.


Overall, these movies represent just a small portion of the movies out there that are made for lesbians (and technically the last two don’t even count as lesbian movies). However, they all warrant checking out, and all are available on Netflix (my search only turned up DVD rentals, but you may be able to find them online through other sources as well).

Is there a lesbian movie you think I’ve left out? Let me know in the comments and I will try to check it out!

Showtime Releases First-Look Teaser for THE L WORD: GENERATION Q

So showtime just dropped the new L Word trailer and we can’t cope.

Showtime just dropped the first teaser for “The L Word: Generation Q”, featuring original stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Katherine Moennig, and introducing a few new members (Arienne Mandi, Micah Lee, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas and Sepideh Moafi) to the party for the eagerly anticipated sequel.

According to the pay TV channel’s official description, “The L Word: Generation Q” continues to follow the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), along with new characters Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi), Micah Lee (Leo Sheng), Finley (Jacqueline Toboni), Sophie Suarez (Rosanny Zayas) and Gigi (Sepideh Moafi) as they experience love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in L.A.

Guest stars include Brian Michael, Stephanie Allyne, Olivia Thirlby, Fortune Feimster and Latarsha Rose.

“The L Word: Generation Q” is executive produced by showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan (“The Four-Faced Liar,” “6 Balloons)”, along with with series creator Ilene Chaiken, Kristen Campo, Steph Green (pilot), and original series stars Beals, Moennig and Hailey.

The new series THE L WORD: GENERATION Q premiering on Sunday, December 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. 

Halsey’s Responds To Accusations She’s Using The LGBTQ Community As Marketing Stunt

Halsey has hit back after someone accused her of using the LGBTQ community as a marketing strategy. 

The singer posted a photo from one of her shows in São Paolo, Brazil, to her Instagram on July 6, captioned “peak bi gurl evolution.”

The first photo showed her standing on stage, singing, the second showed her doing the same, except with a rainbow Pride flag.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzkL28BpWSm/

However, one Instagram user commented on Halsey’s “peak bi gurl evolution” post saying, “rainbow is the new marketing strategy.”

Halsey – who is bisexual, has been out as bisexual, and everyone who pays even a smidge of attention would know she’s bisexual – was having none of it, commented back,

“There’s been a flag in my show for 5 years. You’re just not paying attention you whiny little baby.” Oof, tell ’em, Hal! The singer’s fans couldn’t get enough of this clapback.

Halsey, who came out in 2015, has repeatedly spoken out about the stigma bisexuals face both from the heteros and from within their own LGBTQ community.

“So if I’m dating a guy I’m straight, and if I date a woman, I’m a lesbian. The only way to be a #True bisexual is to date 2 people at once.”

She also has continuously portrayed same-sex relationships in her music, videos, and choreographed live performances.

Sarah Shahi Will Be in New ‘The L Word’ Sequel

Sarah Shahi is set to return for Showtime’s upcoming The L Word sequel series!

Carmen de la Pica Morales for two seasons and was a fan favourite on the series.

“It was discussed [that] my involvement [would be] very heavily [that] I would be in it. I intend to keep it that way, and so does Showtime,”

Shahi played fan-favorite Carmen — a DJ and love interest for Moennig’s Shane — for two seasons.

“[The L Word] was my first big gig. And to be a part of that, I don’t think I ever really knew what I was stepping into until after and I started speaking with women and getting letters. Just the amount of information that was sent my way about how impactful it was, it put me on this thing where it’s like, everything I want to do from now on, I want it to have meaning and I want it to touch people. That was something I tried to do in Reverie and in Person of Interest and it’s something I’m going to do in City on a Hill. To be a part of that sisterhood was so momentous for me. I’m more than honored that I can go back and re-create it.”

Shahi also opened up about what she thinks Carmen is up to now.

“Whatever she’s doing, I feel like she’s definitely still pining away for Shane. For Shane, Carmen would be the one that got away. But I think that was a big game-changer for her. I’m not sure if she’s still DJing or not but definitely something in the music-art world.”

One thing that’s still to be determined is just how big of a role Shahi will have in the eight-episode revival. Showtime declined comment on Shahi’s involvement.

Playwright and screenwriter Marja-Lewis Ryan will serve as showrunner and executive produce alongside original series creator Ilene Chaiken.

Stars Jennifer Beals (Bette), Katherine Moennig (Shane) and Leisha Hailey (Alice) are also on board to exec produce and will reprise their roles from the original series while also introducing a new ensemble of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success on the east side of Los Angeles.

The reboot, first announced in July 2017, arrives nearly 10 years after the original wrapped its six-season run. It is considered a sequel to the original. Lewis-Ryan was selected following an extensive search for a writer with ties to the LGBTQIA community to document how relationships, lives and experiences have evolved — as well as what has and hasn’t changed since the show launched in 2004. Other characters from the original series — which included fan-favorite Erin Daniels (Dana), Laurel Holloman (Tina), Mia Kirshner (Jenny), and Pam Grier (Kit) — may also appear in a potential new version.

A new season of ‘The L Word’ will arrive on Showtime by the end of the year

Now, after a year of rumours, cable network Showtime has announced the rumoured The L Word revival will be back by the end of the year. 

After much speculation and hints over the past few years, The L Word is finally returning to the air.

When you scream… Showtime says the end of this year! 

While this new series will expand beyond the central group of existing characters, Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, and Leisha Hailey will all reprise their roles.

Showtime says those fan favourites will appear “alongside a new generation of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, and success in L.A.”

The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken is also returning as an executive producer, while Marja-Lewis Ryan will take over showrunning duties.

The L Word originally ran for six seasons from 2004 until 2009, and followed the relationships, careers, sex lives and journeys into parenthood of group of friends in L.A.

The revival will act as a sequel, following on from the sixth season which ended in jail time and death for some of our most loved/hated characters.

And, according to Hollywood Reporter, some of the other stars from the original series could potentially return.

Either way, we’ll be watching.

Multi-Fandom Convention For LGBT+ Women To Be Held In London For The First Time

ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women & allies, took place in London this past weekend and it was awesome.

Building from the massive success of ClexaCon in the states – which has taken place in Las Vegas for the past two years – the event brought a host of actors, directors, journalists and fans to discuss female representation in the film and TV world.

Focusing on a more curated experience for its European attendees ClexaCon London was committed to raising awareness about the differences in creative spaces and support for LGBTQ women in the UK.

Ashley Arnold, Danielle Jablonski & Holly Winebarger the masterminds behind ClexaCon, are actively working to shift conventional thinking by continuing to advance the conversation about female representation in the film & TV world.

In attendance were Kat Barrell aka Officer Haught, Olivia Hallinan (Sugar Rush), Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis (Camilla, Almost Adults), Jamie Clayton (Sense8), Kat Mandahla Rose (Forever Not Maybe, All About E), producer Hanan Kattan, and novelist-filmmaker Shamim Sarif.

The event also featured panels, meet and greets, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ game changers, industry tastemakers, media and influencers.

‘Freelancers Anonymous’ is being released soon! Be sure to watch the trailer here

Freelancers Anonymous is a refreshing change to the typical narrative.

Freelancers Anonymous is a quick-paced comedy, which rallies an all-female team, and has lesbian lead.

The film is about a woman named Billie (yes, Billie is her real name) who quits her job just months before her wedding and starts a tech company with the group of unemployed freelancers at her local church. The film is directed by award winning Spanish filmmaker, Sonia Sebastian (De Chica en Chica / Girl Gets Girl), and is written by Amy Dellagiarino and Lisa Cordileone.

It stars Lisa Cordileone, Natasha Negovanlis, Alexandra Billings, Jennifer Bartels, Mouzam Makkar, Megan Cavanagh, Amy Shiels, Cassandra Blair, Jamison Scala, Grace Rex, Jennie McNulty, Haviland Stillwell.

The gap in the market for the LGBTQ community and women in STEM industries pales in comparison to our male counterparts. Gender parity has become a hot button issue over the past several years in Hollywood and we are passionate about creating content that fills this gap! Our team’s unique vision is to integrate a narrative across several platforms and create a transmedia company that can engage audiences in new and exciting way. We are eager to create strong and positive representation for the LGBTQ community, as well as women in comedy, women in STEM industries, and female-driven stories.

 

New Picture of Ruby Rose in Batwoman Costume Gets Us Hyped About ‘Elseworlds’ Crossover

Ruby Rose is set to make her Batwoman debut in this December’s Arrowverse crossover, and this week we received another sneak behind-the-scenes at her in action.

Director James Bamford has shared a new image on Instagram featuring the red-haired heroine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcBJ9oH-uO/?utm_source=ig_embed

He captioned it:

“@rubyrose and myself kickin’ it crossover style….Episode 709….ARROW….#Elseworlds………watch out for this woman…..she’s a force! What an absolute pleasure to work with this human!”

The new crossover rapidly approaching – bringing together the likes of The Flash, Superman, Green Arrow, Supergirl and Batwoman – this new glimpse of Ruby’s character has predictably thrilled legions of fans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot3iS6n1zh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBTY8RHpYN/

Rose and Rosie have reveal the first time they met, had sex and their first fight

In an original PinkNews series, First Times, Lesbian and bisexual YouTube couple Rose and Rosie reveal their first times–including when they met, first time they kissed and experienced homophobia and biphobia.

The pair have been filming their relationship since its early stages, and fans have seen them get married.

Rosie explained

“It’s weird because we can’t really separate our relationship and YouTube because the moment we started dating, Rose started turning on the camera and broadcasting it online. So people do ask how’s it affected our relationship, but I don’t know because we haven’t not YouTubed our relationship.”

The couple shared the first time they met, their first kiss and first time experiencing biphobia and homophobia.

First look at Ruby Rose as Batwoman Revealed

The star has begun filming her first episodes as the character

The first image of Ruby Rose as Batwoman has been revealed as filming begins on her first appearance as the hero.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot3iS6n1zh/

The actress will be seen this December in crossover episodes of existing series The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl ahead of having her own TV series. She will then star in her own TV show focusing on the character’s adventures.

Speaking about her casting earlier this year, Rose told Jimmy Fallon:

“It’s a game-changer. I found out an hour before I did the premiere for The Meg and I was so nervous doing the red carpet so I basically skipped everybody because I kept spontaneously crying. I feel like the reason I got so emotional is that growing up, watching TV, I never saw someone on TV that I could identify with, let alone a superhero, you know?”

However, fans weren’t as impressed with her casting, criticising the decision to cast a non-Jewish actor to play a Jewish character. Some also suggested Rose shouldn’t portray the first openly gay lead character in a live-action superhero series because she “isn’t gay enough”.

Responding to the backlash, Rose said:

“Where on earth did ‘Ruby is not a lesbian therefore she can’t be batwoman’ come from? Has to be the funniest most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. I came out at 12? And have for the past 5 years had to deal with ‘she’s too gay’ how do y’all flip it like that? I didn’t change.”

 

Keira Knightley Defies Sexual Boundaries in New Queer Movie ‘Colette’

After winning the rights for Colette in January at Sundance, Bleecker Street has released the first look trailer.

Colette tells the real-life story of a woman whose creative genius was siphoned by a man who was given all the credit for her work — light and fun!

In the period piece, Keira Knightley plays the titular character who marries a successful Parisian writer who convinces her to ghostwrite for him. Colette pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a character named Claudine, and the novel skyrockets, becoming a cultural sensation.

The movie seems to focus on two major aspects of her life: her marriage and subsequent published novels, as well as her relationships with women.

In the trailer, we see the nominal character struggle with gender roles, creative control, and her own blossoming sexuality as she becomes “interested” in another man’s wife.

The sexual tension bubbles over in the three-minute trailer — and we can’t wait to see the whole movie.

Directed by Wash Westmoreland, the film also stars Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ray Panthaki and Aiysha Hart alongside Knightley.

Watch the trailer here.

Ruby Rose reveals her queer icons

After deleting her Twitter account following backlash over her casting as BatwomanRuby Rose has shared a video in which she opens up about her queer icons, including Angelina Jolie and Ellen DeGeneres.

In the clip, Rose says:

“So, growing up, there wasn’t as many gay, queer, lesbian icons are there are today. And I’m so glad there are so many more.”

She goes on to discuss the actress Angelina Jolie:

“When Angelina Jolie came out as bisexual. That was a great one, I was so stoked.”

Rose went on to discuss an incident where Jolie reportedly said she was “most likely to sleep with my female fans,” after she questioned by reporters when she won an award for being the “most beautiful” person alive.

“I just loved the way she said it, like it was nothing. And, of course it was something to me, and it was something to a lot of people. But for her it was just a throwaway comment.”

On Lennox she explain how her the singer was the “showed me what androgyny was and how to be unapologetic about the way you look, the way you act, and the way you’re just yourself.”

“The other thing I love about Annie Lennox is that she has not stopped fighting for LGBT rights and trying to find cures for AIDS, and different foundations and she’s very involved in the community.”

Of DeGeneres she gushed,

“Ellen is amazing. Watching her over the many years that I’ve been a huge fan and then getting to be on her show was one of the highlights of my life.”

Speaking of LGBTQ rights, Rose said,

“I wouldn’t want to stand here and say that [LGBT+] kids being born now or being born five, 10 years ago, are not going to encounter a struggle. I don’t think that [discrimination] is going to be erased entirely in the next five years, 10 years or 20 years. I think we’re on the right path and I think it’s amazing and I feel blessed because I haven’t been through what the people before me went through, and I know the people after me will say the same thing. It’s just going to keep being a work in progress.”

Rose also mentioned other queer icons that have inspired her including David Bowie, Boy George, and Madonna.

Watch the full video below:

After news broke that she had been cast as Batwoman, the announcement was met with criticism with some social media users complaining about the choice.

Of her critics and her decision to quit Twitter, Rose said

“I wish we would all support each other and our journeys. When women and when minorities join forces we are unstoppable.. when we tear each other down it’s much more hurtful than from any group. But hey I love a challenge x.”

She continued:

“I just wish women and the LGBT community supported each other more. (…) My wish was we were all a little kinder and more supportive of each other. Sending everyone my love and gratitude, it’s been a rollercoaster of a year, this month especially.

I am looking forward to getting more than 4 hours of sleep and to break from Twitter to focus all my energy on my next 2 projects.

If you need me, I’ll be on my Bat Phone.”

Queer Women Fandom ClexaCon Is Heading To London

ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom convention for queer women, is heading to London this fall.

ClexaCon, the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women & allies, is going across the pond this Fall for the first time ever kicking off ClexaCon London. 

Building from the massive success of ClexaCon, which has taken place in Las Vegas, NV for the past two years, the European edition will bring together in London the best in queer television, movies, books, blogs and more.

The highly anticipated pop-up event will take place at the Novotel London West (Hammersmith International Ctre,1 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR) November 3-4, 2018.

The London chapter, while a smaller, more intimate version of the main event held annually in Las Vegas that hosts 4,000+ LGBTQ women and allies, represents a key geographical expansion for the iconic Con.  

Focusing on a more curated experience for its European attendees, ClexaCon London is committed to raising awareness about the differences in creative spaces and support for LGBTQ women in the UK in comparison to the US to inspire more LGBTQ women to create more content.

LGBTQ+ representation matters now more than ever. While there seems to be an overwhelming move towards diversity with LGBTQ-centric narratives and characters popping up in movies these past few years, still major studios are remaining behind when it comes to fully embracing a culture of inclusion. 

In fact, GLAADS’s annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI) recently noted a drop in the representation of LGBTQ people in films in the past year.

By allowing the LGBTQ+ community to tell their stories on the small and big screen, we not only allow viewers to have a more accurate view of society, but as well give LGBTQ+ individuals the chance to see themselves as integrated members of said society and showcase the universality of our lived experiences.

Sure, many Cons claim to be different, innovative and disruptive in some ways, but ClexaCon not only talks the talk but walks the walk, genuinely pushing the envelope forward for female LGBTQ+ representation in front of and behind the camera.

Ashley Arnold, Danielle Jablonski, and Holly Winebarger, the masterminds behind ClexaCon, are actively working to shift conventional thinking by continuing to advance the conversation about female representation in the film & TV world.

The events organisers said in a statement

“We hope attendees leave ClexaCon London feeling empowered. We want them to know this industry, like all industries, is in desperate need of more diverse voices. Their voice matters. Pick up a camera, grab a pen, start writing, start creating because there are other people who care about what you have to say.”

High on the agenda at the UK Con is the urgent need to listen to LGBTQ+ voices to create more diverse content and to put queer female stories front and center.

To that end, ClexaCon London will feature a packed agenda of panels, meet and greets, photographs, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ gamechangers, industry tastemakers, media influencers and actors.

Aside from fan panels (including UK Wynonna Earp Fan panel), the event will also offer content creation panels, acting panels as well as academic panels.

Discussing the future of diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in entertainment the panels will be covering a wide range of timely and trending topics from women’s voices to non-binary & gender conforming people representation, among others.

In addition, the organizers have added a London Tour on Friday, renting a bus and filling it with as many LGBTQ woman as possible.

Much like its US counterpart, ClexaCon London will gather under one roof the stars behind a slew of unique and original queer-centric narratives and LGBTQ-themed programs.

Ruby Rose As Batwoman Will Be First Openly Gay Superhero

Ruby Rose will play the first openly lesbian lead superhero in a new TV production of Batwoman.

The Australian actress will play the title lead in a new series on The CW Network in America.

The series will see Batwoman’s alter ego Kate Kane portrayed as a lesbian, and is expected to air in late 2019/early 2020.

Kane has been openly gay in the comics since 2006, in an effort by DC Comics to make its publications more diverse.

One of the show’s writers posted on Twitter that the show had “struck gold” with Ruby.

Celebrating the casting news, Rose responded to fans congratulating her.

https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/1026886262085496832

The series is part of a collection on The CW focusing on characters from the DC Comics universe.

They include Supergirl, Arrow and The Flash.

It’s believed Rose will make her debut as Batwoman in an upcoming season crossover of all three.

And it’s fair to say fans are excited to see what she can bring to the table.

Jennifer Beals Explains The Decision To Bring Back ‘The L Word’

Last month, Entertainment Weekly reunited The L Word cast for a stunning cover and catch-up interview. At the time all all expressed an interest in returning for another season.

Now, that sequel is look to be a reality.

The L Word’s co-creator, Ilene Chaiken will be an executive producer of the series with a new writer/EP with ties to the lesbian community  brought in to run the production and once again chronicle the friendships and love lives of modern gay women.

L Word

Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moenig, and Leisha Hailey are set to executive-produce as well as appear on the series. Other characters from the original series may also pop up and will be paired with a whole new cast of women.

Talking to EW, Beals explained why the moment is right for The L Word to return to television.

She also explained

Years ago, Kate and Leisha and I approached Ilene because we were shocked that nothing had taken its place. There was this renaissance, in a way, going on with marriage equality coming to the forefront. It was a different terrain and we thought you can start telling stories in a different way and there’s a whole new generation coming up that views sexuality in a different way. Ilene was in the middle of doing Empire and she was very excited about the idea but there are only so many hours in the day.

Then, the election happened. I remember I was in South Dakota watching the returns come in and I texted Ilene and I said, “We need to do something.” She said, “Let’s get together and talk about it.” So we were spitballing about what to do and I said our skillset is storytelling and I think we need to tell stories and certainly in an atmosphere of increasing hatred towards the LGBT community and frankly anyone who’s categorized as “other,” stories exploring the complexities of friendship and love are all that more crucial. Representation of everything. You can’t go backward. I would love to see the show continue to mine its original themes of friendship and love and community and additionally I’d like it to go a little further and challenge heteronormalcy.

At the reunion, Kate Moenig was adamant that season 6 be forgotten — which means Jenny Schecter lives – but Beals is not to sure.

You really got to hear the pitches of what they want to do. That person is taking on a huge load. They have the history of the show, the legacy of the show, and yet they have to make it better and they have to make it theirs. So to dictate too much at this point in time I think would be problematic. I want to hear what’s coming from them and what excites them and what stories they want to tell because that’s when it’s going to be good when you let somebody fully have their voice.

And on Bette and Tina’s future, well Beals was a little cagey

I don’t want to even say what I would like to see at this point because I think it’s more important for me to be open and listen to people’s ideas and not get stuck in my own desires. If somebody says I think she should be a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys. I’m gonna say, “Well I don’t think that’s such a great idea.” Can you imagine? That would be funny [Laughs].

New PlayStation Game Trailer Features Lesbian Kiss in Rare Moment of LGBTQ Representation

Sony’s choice of opening trailer has the whole internet talking

E3 is a massive annual videogames conference where companies show off trailers for their upcoming games.

This year Sony – Playstation parents – decided to open their conference with a trailer for the hotly anticipated game The Last Of Us 2.

The trailer opens with protagonist Ellie, who is openly gay, sharing a kiss with another woman.

The showing of a gay kiss naturally stirred a lot of interest online, not just because it’s a video game – but its a big budget video game, with mainstream major backing.

The gaming world as poor history of including LGBTQ+ characters, let alone protagonists, so this another step in the right direction for inclsion.

Fans are, of course, hyped about it taking to twitter with there thoughts.

‘Orange Is The New Black’ season 6: release date, trailer, cast, and everything we know so far

What’s next after THAT cliffhanger?

Summertime is meant for beaches, pool parties, tanning, vacations, flings, friends, and most importantly, taking a mental break.

However, for us, it means the return of Netflix’s hit show Orange is the New Black .

If you need your memory jogged, the final episode of season five – which played out over three days during a riot – saw 10 of Litchfield’s finest, including Alex, Piper and Nicky, in Frieda’s bunker that had just been broken into by the CERT officers, while the rest of Litchfield’s inmates were loaded into buses and heading to new prisons.

Unlike season five, details of the sixth season have been kept closely guarded by Netflix, until this teaser trailer dropped. Dramatic stuff.

In the sixth season of Orange is the New Black, the ladies of Litchfield are say goodbye to their home for the last five seasons after a riot left the detention centre in shambles.

Now Netflix’s leading ladies are headed to a maximum security jail, where the stakes will undoubtedly be much higher.

Orange Is the New Black season 6 spoilers: What can we expect?

Season five may not have had a major inmate death like Poussey in season four, but there were still the notable deaths of Piscatella (Brad William Henke) in the season finale, while fellow officer Humphrey (Michael Torpey) was also killed off, not from Daya (Dascha Polanco) shooting him in the leg, but from Kukudio (Emily Althaus) blowing oxygen bubbles into his IV.

We certainly know of 10 inmates that have to be back and they are the ones left in the converted bunker in Litchfield at the end of season five.

They are: Frieda (Dale Soules), Suzanne (Uzo Aduba), Cindy (Adrienne C Moore), Taystee (Danielle Brooks), Red (Kate Mulgrew), Piper (Taylor Schilling), Alex (Laura Prepon), Nicky, Gloria (Selenis Leyva) and Blanca (Laura Gomez).

The last we saw of Daya, she had turned herself in for shooting Humphreys, and Polanco is being coy about if she’s in season six. “Daya’s on her own; she just committed a crime [and] obviously that will be punished. You might not see her ever again,” she told USA Today.

Other returns likely include Flaca (Jackie Cruz) and Maritza (Diane Guerrero) who were split up on different buses, Maria (Jessica Pimentel) who helped to release the guards captured during the riot (after betraying Gloria) and Lorna (Yael Stone) who surrendered herself to the guards as she is pregnant.

Away from the inmates, we’ll see the likes of Caputo (Nick Sandow) and Linda (Beth Dover) return, the latter who is still a prisoner after failing to convince the guards of her true identity, while Hunter Emery has also confirmed his return as CO Rick Hopper.

In terms of new faces, Bull star Rebecca Knox has joined as new inmate Tina Swope described as a “tough little thing” by the star. “She knows what she wants and she will do whatever it takes to get it,” Knox told Seat42F.

If you weren’t impressed with season five, don’t worry, the show’s creator Jenji Kohan agrees as she described some of the season’s plots as “fan fiction”.

“We had lost a bunch of the original writers,” added co-producer Tara Herrmann. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was just a new dynamic – people were attached to the characters as viewers, not as creators.”

Danielle Brooks, who plays Taystee, has also been hyping up that season six is “different” following the events of season five’s finale. “There’s no up from there. There’s nowhere you can go that’s a positive,” she told Variety.

“So you’re definitely going to see all of the girls trying to figure out how to get out of this rabbit hole they’ve created. Who is loyal to whom? Who is standing alone? Who is motivated by their own personal will to get out of prison? Who lies and who tells the truth? All of that stuff will come out this season.”

But don’t expect a dramatic shake-up in season six as Kohan also confirmed it’ll still be an ensemble show. “It’s gluttony – I like a little piece of this, a little piece of that,” she explained.

New episodes will officially land on Netflix on July 27, 2018.

Samira Wiley Touts Ellen as the ‘Lord of the Lesbians’

Samira Wiley was on The Ellen Degeneres Show for the first time.

However, Wiley revealed that she’d had a previous encounter with the host.

“I met you, like, really briefly one time. I know you don’t remember it because you’re Ellen, but it meant a lot to me because you’re lord of the lesbians.”

When DeGeneres pressed her as to where they’d crossed paths, Wiley ― who recently celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with wife Lauren Morelli at Disneyland ― quipped,

“Probably at a lesbian event. I go to those sometimes. I see you at those.”

Later in the interview, Wiley touched on the cultural relevance of The Handmaid’s Tale, which returns for its second season this April.

Noting that the show’s iconic red costumes have been used in women’s rights demonstrations across the country, Wiley said,

“You see how much it permeates the culture that we’re living in right now. It’s everywhere.”

Watch the interview below:

Cynthia Nixon’s ‘Unqualified Lesbian’ Campaign Merch Is Iconic

Last month, actress Cynthia Nixon AKA Sex and the City’s Miranda gave the people of New York what they deserve, announcing that she would be running for governor.

A cause of celebration for all, with the exception of council speaker Christine Quinn, who said Nixon’s interest was a “flight of fancy” and branded her an “unqualified lesbian”.

Quinn told the New York Post last month, referencing her own unsuccessful mayoral bid.

“Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City. Now she wants an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. You have to be qualified and have experience. She isn’t qualified to be the governor.”

Nixon addressed the comments at her campaign launch by saying:

“I don’t have my certificate from the Department of Lesbian Affairs, but in my defence, there is a lot of paperwork involved.”

To support the campaign, pins and T-Shirts with the message ‘unqualified lesbian’ are now for sale on her site.

The former Sex and the City star is challenging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

Nixon has previously said her lack of political experience is actually a strength because “sometimes a little naiveté is exactly what is needed.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOo4C2CiRQ

Qualified and unqualified lesbians alike (and all others), if you want to show your support for Nixon – our rightful governor – you can buy pins (and hopefully more merch soon) here.

Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson comes out as bisexual

Broad City star Abbi Jacobson has opened up about her sexuality in a new interview with Vanity Fairtelling the magazine, “I kind of go both ways.”

“I date men and women. They have to be funny, doing something they love. I don’t know — I’ve never really been interviewed about this before.”

Jacobson confirmed that she is single, and joked about potential suitors approaching her now that she’s out. “Yeah, who knows?” she said. “The world is my oyster.”

While promoting her role in upcoming drama 6 Balloons, Jacobson also spilled some details about RuPaul’s Drag Race and the next season of Broad City.

Jacobson said that Broad‘s fifth season was almost finished — the fourth season finished airing in December last year — and that they would be altering their approach to Donald Trump. During the fourth season, any mention of his name was bleeped like an expletive. Now?

“I think we are actually trying to avoid even mentioning him. It’s not even funny anymore.”

As for Drag Race, she and Broad City co-star Ilana Glazer will be appearing in season ten as part of a challenge, with Glazer and Jacobson judging the remaining queens’ performances. No spoilers on who could walk on their episode, however, as “it’s pretty much under lock and key over there,” she said.

“I know roughly when it airs because, as a judge, I know how many contestants are left. But I can’t say.”

Netflix’s lesbian comedy ‘Everything Sucks!’ has been cancelled

Netflix has announced that it will not be commissioning coming-of-age lesbian drama Everything Sucks! for a second series.

The series was set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon during the 90s. It starred Jahi Di’Allo Winston as Luke O’Neil and Peyton Kennedy as Kate Messner.

Luke develops feelings for Kate, but Kate ends developing a crush on Emaline Addario, played by Sydney Sweeney. However, Kate struggles to come to terms with her sexuality, as her father is the principal of the school that they all attend.

During its run, the show earned praise for its lesbian representation. However, some critics said that the show relied too much on tropes, and didn’t develop its supporting characters enough.

The series holds a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its critical consensus read: “A flawed series that ticks off all the nostalgia boxes, Everything Sucks! still manages to tug at the heartstrings.” The site reported that audience approval of the series was 89%.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, one of the executive producers of the show, Jeff Pinkner said: “We’re super proud of the show we made — and very proud that it found an audience of very passionate fans, for many of whom it became an important personal touchstone: either reflecting their current life, or an echo of their own teenage years. We are grateful to Netflix for the opportunity, but are very disheartened we won’t be continuing to tell these stories.”

Many fans were disappointed with the announcement, and took to Twitter to voice their annoyances.

In a promotional interview for the series, Petyon Kennedy said that there’s “barely any representation” of queer teens in high school.

“There’s barely any representation for girlfriends in high school,” said Peyton Kennedy, who plays Kate in the series, to Buzzfeed.

“There’s a bit of representation in older generations, but I think for the teens who are watching it who identify with these characters, they will be able to feel comfort and hopefully acceptance at the end of the show.”

Kate’s love interest Emeline (played by Sydney Sweeney), also voiced how the programme “embraces” love in its many forms.

“Kate knows what she wants and Emaline doesn’t,” Sweeney said. “For Emaline, love is just love. It doesn’t matter if it’s between a girl and a girl or a guy and a girl, so she just embraces that.”

However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of renewals, as Netflix recently announced that Queer Eye has been renewed for a second season.

On its renewal, vice president of content at Netflix, Bela Bajaria said: “These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television.”

Jay-Z opens up to David Letterman about his mother’s sexuality

To kick off his interview with rap mogul Jay-Z, David Letterman held up his hand and asked the audience, “We have here married people with families?”

He added, “Families, I think it’s safe to say, are pretty much trouble-free.”

That intro – on the fourth episode of Letterman’s free-ranging interview show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman,” which dropped Friday on Netflix – foreshadowed the 50-minute conversation during which Jay-Z was strikingly candid about his own family. The rapper opened up about infidelity in his marriage to Beyoncé, his mother coming out as a lesbian and his absentee father.

On his mother, Gloria Carter, coming out as a lesbian

One touching song on Jay-Z’s 2017 album “4:44″ is “Smile,” which reveals that his mother Gloria Carter is gay, with the lines “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian.” Carter herself appears at the end of the song with a spoken word poem, saying: “Life is short, and it’s time to be free/Love who you love, because life isn’t guaranteed.”

The rapper told Letterman that he has long known that his mother is a lesbian, but it wasn’t until he was recording that album that the two spoke about it. That conversation was the first time he heard his mother say she loved a romantic partner.

“The only thing about that experience for me is her,” he said. “Imagine having to live your life as someone else, and you think you’re protecting your kids.”

He said the conversation was so emotional that he began crying. The next day, he sat down and wrote “Smile.”

“For her to sit in front of me and tell me, ‘I think I love someone.’ I mean, I really cried,” he said. “I cried because I was so happy for her, that she was free.”

10 Queer Female-Led Films To Look Out For In 2018

2018 is set to showcase some incredible films about queer women.

Here are a few of our top picks:

1. Disobedience

The first trailer has been released for Disobedience, a film about a lesbian affair in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Rachel Weisz, who is herself Jewish, plays Ronit Krushka, who returns to her North London community after the death of her father. In Golders Green, she is reunited with Rachel McAdams’ Esti, with whom she had an emotionally-charged relationship which led to her exile.

Now Esti is married to an Orthodox rabbi Dovid (American Hustle’s Alessandro Nivola). When Ronit questions their union, Esti replies: “I think he felt that marriage would cure me.”

Now the lovers are forced back into proximity, their forbidden affair quickly rekindles within the claustrophobic confines of the marital home and the conventions of their devout community.

The film is scheduled to be released in April 2018.

2. The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Directed by Desiree Akhavan and starring Chloë Grace Moretz, he Miseducation of Cameron Post is an adaptation of Emily M Danforth’s 2012 novel.

The movie is compassionate study of Christian teenagers struggling with religious disapproval and the injunction to “pray away the gay”.

It is Akhavan’s second feature as director, following her 2015 indie hit Appropriate Behaviour.

3. Lizzie

What’s more exciting than hearing Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny made a movie together? Hearing that their playing lesbian lovers.

The two star in the biopic Lizzie, which takes a closer look at Lizzie Borden, a teenage girl who was accused of murdering her father and her stepmother in 1892 only to be found not guilty in a trial that was basically the O.J. Simpson trial of its day.

The psychological thriller attempts to show a more complex side of Lizzie, played by Sevigny, that could explain why she may have committed such a heinous crime. To do this, the film delves into Lizzie’s relationship with Stewart’s character, Bridget Sullivan, who was the family’s housemaid and Lizzie’s alleged romantic partner. Bridget was also the person who claimed to have witnessed Lizzie murder Andrew Borden and his wife Abby with an ax.

Roadside attractions will release Lizzie sometime this summer.

4. Vita and Virginia

Vita & Virginia, directed and co-written by Chanya Button (Burn Burn Burn), centres on the true story of the love affair between the acclaimed author Virginia Woolf (played by Elizabeth Debicki) and socialite/writer Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton), and how the relationship inspired Woolf’s novel Orlando. Isabella Rossellini and Rupert Penry-Jones also star.

“Her relationship with Vita is the story of her connecting with her body, and her sexuality. and it’s a kind of alternative look at an artist-and-muse relationship. It’s the story of the creation of Orlando, but it’s also the story of Virginia using her profound genius to overcome an experience that we might presume, on the face of it, would overwhelm her. That’s what interests me, the opportunity to look at this really iconic writer in a very different way.”

5. My Days of Mercy

From Princess director Shaolm-Ezer and starring Ellen Page (JunoInceptionFreeheld) and Kate Mara (House Of CardsThe Martian), My Days Of Mercy is a love story between two women who differ in both their backgrounds and political perspectives.

My Days of Mercy premiered at TIFF in 2017 to mostly positive if incredibly confused reviews. It’s unclear when it’ll be in wider release.

6. Tell it to The Bees

Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger, both fresh off excellent period dramas (Alias Grace and My Cousin Rachel respectively), are set to co-star in queer period film Tell It to the Bees which director Annabel Jankel calls “an unholy mash-up of 1950s social and magical realism.”

The story, based on Fiona Shaw’s book of the same name, centers around Lydia Weekes (Grainger), a woman separated from her volatile husband raising her son Charlie (newcomer Gregor Selkirk) on her own. After Charlie gets in a school-yard scuffle, he becomes friends with Dr. Jean Markham (Paquin), who then grows close to his mother. The title refers to the hives in Weekes’ garden where she and Charlie tell their secrets, so yes, there will be bees.

The film reportedly blends social realism with magical realism to create the kind of queer melodrama we deserve. No word yet on its release date.

7. Porcupine Lake

Porcupine Lake is a unique coming-of-age story from one of Canada’s most resolutely independent filmmakers.

12-year old Bea (newcomer Charlotte Salisbury) is headed to Ontario’s cottage country with her mother (Delphine Roussel) to spend the summer with her snack shack owning father (Christopher Bolton). With her parents’ tenuous relationship on the verge of an outright divorce and only her dog Callum to call her friend, Bea pines for a less boring summer. She finds excitement in the form of Kate (Lucinda Armstrong Hall, who recently netted a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her performance), a girl of the same age who lives year-round in town with her chaotic family. The pair immediately hit it off despite Kate being a lot more worldly and aggressive and Bea remaining reserved and shy. The best friendship evolves into something a bit deeper and more experimental, but external influences could make Bea and Kate’s relationship into something more complicated than they could ever hope to understand at such a young age.

8. Becks

Inspired by the real life of singer/songwriter Alyssa Robbins, BECKS follows a musician (Hall) who moves back to her childhood home in St. Louis after a crushing breakup with her longtime girlfriend (Kiyoko). While performing for tips at a local tavern and struggling to reconnect with her ultra-Catholic mother (Lahti), she strikes up a unique friendship with the wife (Suvari) of an old nemesis. Becks begins to discover her musical voice as she performs deeply personal songs about her ex and the loss of their relationship.

Driven by an original score, the film’s musical numbers bring a unique new voice to the American musical movie.

Becks was released in February. It’s also available for rent or to buy on YouTube.

9. Saturday Church

Saturday Church tells the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a shy and effeminate boy, who finds himself coping with new responsibilities as “man of the house” after the death of his father. Living alongside his mother, younger brother, and conservative aunt, Ulysses is also struggling with questions about his gender identity. He finds an escape by creating a world of fantasy filled with dance and music. Ulysses’ journey takes a turn for the better when he encounters a vibrant transgender community, who take him to “Saturday Church,” a program for LGBTQ youth. Ulysses manages to keep his two worlds apart; appeasing his aunt and discovering his passion for the NYC ball scene, and voguing, until his double life is revealed. Ulysses must find the courage to be who he truly is, all while risking losing those he cares about most.

While Saturday Church may not have a queer cis woman as its main, it represents the full LGBTQ spectrum, including trans and queer kids of color, who are far less likely to find representation on screen. Awesome.

Saturday Church came out in early January and is now available for purchase on YouTube and Google play.

10. Colette

Colette casts Keira Knightley as the legendary French novelist Colette, whose literary gifts outshone those of all the male writers around her, including her celebrated husband, known commonly as ‘Willy’.

In the movie, Colette’s husband introduces her to the hedonistic world of artistic Paris where her creative appetite is sparked. He also permits Colette to write her novels only if she does so in his name. The phenomenal success of her novel “Claudine” series makes Willy a famous writer, and Colette and Willy the first modern celebrity couple. Although, the lack of recognition for her work begins to gnaw on Colette and their marriage starts to internally combust, resulting in Colette has an affair with gender nonconforming Marquise de Belbeuf.

Bleecker Street will release the film in September.

 

Gillian Anderson: ‘I Could Be Dating A Woman Next Year’

Gillian Anderson – who came out in 2012 – says she has no issue with her bisexuality

Anderson – who came out as bisexual in 2012 – is currently in a relationship with ‘The Crown’ creator Peter Morgan, but admitted she is only ”part long-term” in their romance.

Speaking to The Times magazine, she the actress said:

”I could be with a woman next year! Part of me looks long-term. As long as there’s always a back door.”

And speaking about her bisexuality, she insisted she doesn’t care what other people think.

”It’s just who I am. I have absolutely no issue with it whatsoever, and I don’t really care if other people have an issue with it. We’re all intersectional, and that is something that is only just beginning to become accepted or embraced. We’re all complicated beings. That is my truth and that is my experience.”

However, Anderson insisted she is currently very happy in her relationship with Peter and loves that they work in the same industry.

”I’m constantly grateful for the symbiosis because I haven’t had that experience before.”

Anderson recently confirmed she is quitting ‘The X-Files’.

The actress had previously hinted that the current 11th season of the sci-fi drama – in which she has starred as FBI agent Dana Scully since 1993 – would be her last in the role, and during a panel at the 2018 Winter TCA Tour last month, she confirmed her decision.

“It’s time for me to hang up Scully’s hat. It just is. I’m finished and that’s the end of that.”

Anderson also admitted she had originally only agreed to return for the six-episode revival of the show in 2017, but said she is ”hugely grateful” for the opportunity to have played the iconic character for over two decades.

“I arrived at the decision before we did the previous six, but I was really curious. I felt that the previous six was going to be it. It was dipping our toe back in again … and getting to play these wonderful characters again. I think as [series creator] Chris [Carter] has said himself that short stack of episodes felt like we were leaning how to walk again and that this season of 10 feels like the pace is up and we’re running. I wouldn’t necessarily have been happy if those six were how we said goodbye.

There’s lots of things that I want to do in my life and in my career and it’s been an extraordinary opportunity and extraordinary character and I am hugely grateful.”

The show’s 11th season began airing on January 3, and also stars David Duchovny as FBI agent Fox Mulder.

Watch: Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz Spark Forbidden Passion In ‘Disobedience’

Disobedience stars Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz as two women raised in an Orthodox Jewish community who share a forbidden romance.

The much-buzzed about Disobedience – which stunned the 2017 Toronto Film Festival with a six-minute sex scene between Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz – isn’t due out until April 27.

But today brings us the first look at the movie, courtesy of the debut trailer.

In the almost three-minute teaser, we get a snapshot of the orthodox Jewish lovers whose star-crossed romance is at the heart of the film.

The movie, follows an Orthodox Jewish woman, Ronit (Rachel Weisz), as she returns to her family home in the wake of a weighty transgression and her rabbi father’s unexpected death, Disobedience seemingly charts a complex path through the dark side of religion-backed prejudice — specifically when it comes to queer romance.

As she grieves alongside her relatives (many of them wary of her unexpected return) Ronit forms an immediate attraction to Esti (Rachel McAdams), the wife of her cousin Dovid (Alessandro Nivola). The pair’s magnetic draw to each other evolves from lustful glances to many a passionate rendezvous, which causes a rift in Esti’s marriage.

Lelio, whose transgender romance-thriller A Fantastic Woman is currently in the running for the best foreign language film Oscar, debuted Disobedience at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, where it earned glowing reviews from movie critics. The film is based on Naomi Alderman’s 2006 novel of the same name.

Disobedience enters limited release on April 27. Watch its first trailer above.

Ellen DeGeneres Moved To Tears By Wife Portia De Rossi’s Birthday Gift

Ellen DeGeneres has just celebrated her 60th birthday in a special episode of her hit television show and was moved to tears by a special gift from wife Portia de Rossi.

Talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, turned 60 last Friday, and received plenty of birthday wishes.

But it was a thoughtful present from wife Portia de Rossi that moved DeGeneres to tears.

In a surprise appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that aired Thursday, de Rossi presented her wife with the gift to end all gifts.

“It’s your 60th birthday, and this gift had to be really special and it had to represent who you are and what you really care about. So, I combined that with the fact that literally guys, for like the last two years, Ellen has said to me, ‘I feel like I’m not doing enough.’ Every day, almost. So, I put all that together and I got you this gift.”

De Rossi then played a recorded birthday message that highlighted DeGeneres’ hero, Dian Fossey, an American scientist who studied gorillas in Africa. Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda to observe and protect mountain gorillas.    

Though she was murdered in 1985, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund continues her work. And now, thanks to de Rossi, the fund will have an Ellen DeGeneres Campus.

“So, for your birthday, Ellen, I am bringing you and your hero Dian together by building the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Ellen, you will carry on Dian’s legacy by giving them a permanent home in Rwanda. Now, you will join Dian as a protector and champion of these amazing animals, the mountain gorillas,” de Rossi added. “Happy birthday.”

Is anyone else getting misty-eyed, or is that just us?

Coronation Street Actress Discusses Playing Soap’s First Lesbian Muslim Character

Coronation Street star Bhavna Limbachia has opened up about playing the soaps first queer Muslim character.

In recent months, viewers have seen Bhavna Limbachia’s Coronation Street character Rana Haweb marry chef Zeedan Nazir (played by Qasim Akhtar) despite secretly struggling with her sexuality and having an affair with lesbian Kate Connor, played by Faye Brookes.

In a recent interview, Limbachia said that her character needs to come-out as she “owes” it those in a similar position.

“There are so many people who don’t feel they are able to come out and hopefully this will encourage conversations in households within every community and let some people feel able to be honest about who they are.”

The actress also said that filming the emotional storyline had taken a toll on her, added:

“There were times when I was filming scenes, like 12 hours of sobbing. Then when the director said cut I literally had to run backstage and let out a really big cry, to the point where I was nearly sick because I couldn’t stop. You have to go there and it’s heartbreaking. Do you know what? I thought, ‘We’re two people in love, let’s just go for it’. And we did!”

Meanwhile, Brookes is hopeful that the characters will one day get married.

She DivaMagazine:

“I felt like what we were doing was groundbreaking. We broke that barrier, just for a split second. We did it for the sake of our characters and for anyone out there who is feeling the exact same way.

My chemistry with Bhavna is completely natural. It has to be that I’m OK to touch her and she doesn’t feel awkward if we have to hold a kiss or hold hands. We just bite the bullet. It’s a good job she’s so beautiful!”

We’re both very in touch with our feminine side. You don’t need to be gay or straight to feel that. It’s how you feel around that one person.

I want to represent, from a personal perspective, that love is love and everybody should be accepted for who they are, no matter what.”

The soap, which has been running since 1960, has featured a number of LGBT storylines over the years.

Megan Mullally Had No Idea Ellen DeGeneres’ Roommates Were Her Girlfriends

Apparently, Megan Mullally had no idea Ellen DeGeneres’ roommates were her girlfriends.

Will & Grace star Megan Mullally and Ellen DeGeneres have been friends for 30 long years.

While you might think three decades is enough time to learn everything there is to know about someone, these two proved that people are always filled with surprises.

Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Mullally revealed that she naively thought that DeGeneres just had “lots of lovely roommates”, and would often come to visit from her house the street over in Los Angeles.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, that’s nice, Ellen has this lovely roommate … they really seem like they get along great,’ And then, as the years went on, [she] had a lot of really lovely roommates, and I thought, ‘Ellen just gets along so well with people. People are just drawn to her like a magnet.’”

It appears that DeGeneres and her girlfriends would have a lot of laughs at the actor’s expense, who eventually cottoned on.

“I remember you’d be, like, cracking up,” she told DeGeneres, “and I’d be like, ‘Why are they laughing at me?’”

“Really, you didn’t realize I was gay?” DeGeneres asked Mullally.

“I did not, no,” the actress replied.

Watch the full segment below.  

Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams Opens Up About Getting A New Girlfriend On The Show

Black Lightning’s lesbian superhero just got a new girlfriend – and the actress playing her could not be more excited.

CW’s new show, Black Lightning – which is available on Netflix) – just gifted it’s awesome lesbian superhero a new girlfriend – and the actress playing her could not be more excited.

Played by Nafessa Williams, Anissa Pierce is an out and proud lesbian superhero known as Thunder, who is practically invincible.

In the first few episodes, Anissa came to terms with her newfound abilities – a process which Williams has compared to coming out as a lesbian.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress said her character, who is also a medical student and a teacher at her father’s school, was in a period of “discovery”.

“She begins to struggle with it because she’s learning these things about herself and she’s finding out about how these powers work and where they came from. But it’s one of those things [where she wonders:] am I a freak? Do I share it? Is anyone going to believe me? My parents are overprotective, how are they going to accept it?”

“It’s almost in the mental space you’re at if you’re coming out as a gay or a lesbian to your parents,” she continued. “It’s a parallel like that as well. It’s a secret that she holds onto for a while because she really doesn’t know who to talk to about it and how people are going to react to that.”

After revealing her powers in episode two with her destruction of a sink, the programme chose last week to casually reveal Anissa’s sexuality by showing her in bed with her girlfriend Chenoa.

They kissed, they talked, they argued and they generally acted like a normal couple.

But Anissa’s love life is about to get a whole lot more complicated, it seems.

Grace Choi, played by Pretty Little Liars actress Chantal Thuy, will be introduced as Anissa’s girlfriend at some point in the series.

In the comics, half-Amazonian, Asian-American Grace is bisexual, and there seems to be no reason to doubt she will be in the show as well.

Williams said Anissa and Grace “have a lot in common. If you’re familiar with the comics, they were a group called  The Outsiders.”

And the actress said that Grace would help her character.

“She’s a peace of mind for Anissa. It’s pretty cool to be able to tap into that.”

A black lesbian superhero is a groundbreaking role to play, but Williams dismissed suggestions that it was in any way a strain on her.

“I won’t say that I feel any pressure. I believe love is love.