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‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ will be openly gay in series reboot

producer promises different show than ‘The 100’

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(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

Xena in “Xena: Warrior Princess” will be openly gay in the series reboot, according to executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach.

The show, which ran from 1995 through 2001 on NBC, had many fans questioning the relationship between Xena, played by Lucy Lawless and her friend Gabrielle, played by Renee O’Connor. In a Tumblr Q&A, Grillo-Marxauch says that this time around there will be no beating around the bush about their relationship.

“There is no reason to bring back Xena if it is not there for the purpose of fully exploring a relationship that could only be shown subtextually in first-run syndication in the 1990s,” Grillo-Marxuach writes. “It will also express my view of the world – which is only further informed by what is happening right now – and is not too difficult to know what that is if you do some digging.”

Speaking with Lesbian News in 2003, Lawless says it should be obvious Xena and Gabrielle were in a romantic relationship.

“There was always a ‘Well, she might be or she might not be’ but when there was that drip of water passing between their lips in the very final scene, that cemented it for me,” Lawless told Lesbian News. “Now it wasn’t just that Xena was bisexual and kinda liked her gal pal and they kind of fooled around sometimes, it was ‘Nope, they’re married, man.’”

Grillo-Marxuach is also co-executive producer of “The 100” which recently faced backlash for killing off popular lesbian character Lexa, who was involved in a same-sex relationship. A fan asked if the reaction to Lexa’s death would influence the way he approaches “Xena.” Grillo-Marxuach says he will not be returning to work on “The 100” with its creator Jason Rothenberg and he plans for “Xena” to be a different type of show.

“I am a very different person with a very different world view than my employer on the 100 – and my work on the 100 was to use my skills to bring that vision to life,” Grillo-Marxuach says.

 

 

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Madonna announces release date for new album

‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor

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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.”

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PHOTOS: Denali at Pitchers

‘Drag Race’ alum performs at Thirst Trap

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Denali performs at the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show at Pitchers DC on April 9. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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)

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In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI

‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’

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Last year, Baltimore Center Stage refused to give up its DEI focus in the face of losing federal funding. They've tripled down. (Photo by Ulysses Muñoz of the Baltimore Banner)

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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