Arts & Entertainment
‘Riverdale’ adds first bisexual character to cast
Vanessa Morgan will take on the role of Toni Topaz
“Riverdale” has added its first bisexual character to the cast, Toni Topaz.
Toni will be played by Canadian native Vanessa Morgan, according to ET Online. A character from the Archie Comics, Toni sports pink hair and is close with Jughead, frequently battling against him in food eating competitions.
In the comics, Toni is also hinted as being bisexual. Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa promises the series will explore Toni’s bisexuality.
In the second season, Jughead (Cole Sprouse) transfers to Southside High and joins a gang. Toni will be a fellow student at the school and also in the same gang. Jughead and Toni will become close friends and possibly cause trouble for Jughead’s relationship with Betty.
Unlike the comics where Jughead is asexual, Jughead identifies as straight in the series. During San Diego Comic Con, Madelaine Petsch, who plays Cheryl Blossom, hinted that her love interest this season wouldn’t be male giving a possible clue it could be Toni.
The show also has a gay male character, Kevin Keller (Casey Cott), who was upgraded from reoccurring role to main cast for the second season.
“Riverdale” season two premieres Oct. 11 on CW.
Out & About
Washington Improv Theatre hosts ‘The Queeries’
Event to celebrate queer DMV talent and pop culture camp
The Washington Improv Theatre, along with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, will team up to host “The Queeries!” on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre.
The event will celebrate Queer DMV talent and pop culture camp. With a mixture of audience-submitted nominations and blatantly undemocratically declared winners, “The Queeries!” mimics LGBTQ life itself: unfair, but far more fun than the alternative.
The event will be co-hosted by Birdie and Butchie, who have invited some of their favorite bent winos, D.C. “D-listers,” former Senate staffers, and other stars to sashay down the lavender carpet for the selfie-strewn party of the year.
Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased on WITV’s website.
Out & About
Drag Underground returns
Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee, Cake Pop! to perform
Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade have teamed up to host “Drag Underground” on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Dupont Underground.
Performers include Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee and Cake Pop.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is set for Saturday, April 27 at the Washington Hilton with Colin Jost serving as emcee.
President Biden is scheduled to speak and numerous celebrities are expected around D.C. all weekend for related parties and events.
The Washington Blade is the only LGBTQ outlet that is a member of the Association and is hosting a table of VIPs, including actor Billy Porter and Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).
“We look forward to the Dinner each year to celebrate our press freedoms and to thank a range of allies and supporters for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ movement,” said Blade Editor Kevin Naff.
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