Arts & Entertainment

Kristen Stewart and Bonham Carter join James Franco in transgender hoax biopic

Published

10 years ago

February 10, 2016

(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

Kristen Stewart and Helena Bonham Carter are in talks to join James Franco in the cast of “JT Leroy”, the biopic about a cis woman who pretended to be a transgender author.

The movie will tell the true story of a woman, Laura Albert, who pretended to be a man who identified as transgender in her writing. The novel “Sarah” was about his supposed rough life on the streets and believed to be a memoir at the time. Another woman, Savanah Knoop, would physically impersonate Leroy during rare appearances fooling literary and celebrity circles.

The story was revealed to be a hoax in an investigative story for New York Magazine in 2005.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Franco is attached to the film while Stewart, who is up for the role of Knoop, and Bonham Carter, who is up for the role of Albert, are in negotiations. Justin Kelly, who previously directed “I Am Michael,” will direct.

Shooting is set for this summer.

Sundance Film Festival premiered “Author: The JT Leroy Story”, a documentary about JT Leroy, last month.

Up Next

Jack Falahee live tweets filming a gay sex scene

Don't Miss

This Week’s Arts Hot Hits & Hidden Jewels (Feb. 10)

FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Bars & Parties

Queer Magic dance party planned

Tarot, dancing, drag and more at Black Cat event

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Michael Key

Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.

There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.

Out & About

NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade

Local queer journalists celebrate Pride

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.

Out & About

DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday

Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

The 14th annual DC Front Runners' Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.

Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.

The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.