Arts & Entertainment
Joel Grey says ‘horror of homosexuality’ kept his identity secret
Broadway legend goes in depth about his life story
(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)
Joel Grey opened up about his sexuality, family and career during an in depth interview with the New York Times.
Grey, 83, publicly came out in an interview with People Magazine last year. Speaking with the New York Times, he discusses his memoir “Master of Ceremonies,” which was released this month, saying that the time had come to evaluate his life and career.
“I think it was a kind of coming-of-age — a late coming-of-age,” Grey says. “Finally feeling on top of it; ready to accept all the good stuff; I wake up joyous looking out at the water, feeling so lucky.”
He says that homosexuality was taboo when he was growing up and it affected his decision to hide his identity.
“There was so much early input about the horror of homosexuality,” Grey says. “I remember hearing the sound of my family talking about ‘fagelehs’ — Yiddish for little birds — and hearing all the other words, like ‘faggot.’ I remember I heard very early in my life about men being entrapped. I thought, this is bad. And we didn’t know any gay people, except a pianist that my father hired. They loved him — but he was marked.”
The actor, who is the father to “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey, says that one of his goals had always been to have children.
“I always wanted children, to be a dad,” Grey says. “That was as important to me as being an actor.”
Grey has had an extensive Broadway career in productions such as “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and “Anything Goes” among others.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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Comings & Goings
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
