Arts & Entertainment
Celebrities react to Orlando shooting
the stars give condolences in person and on social media
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Celebrities expressed their sorrow and condolences over the Orlando shooting this week.
Lady Gaga gave an emotional tribute at a vigil for the victims outside Los Angeles’ City Hall on Monday.
“As we have now witnessed the largest mass shooting in American history, I can’t help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, this is an attack on humanity itself. This is an attack on everyone. Tonight, I gather humbly with you as a human being in peace, in sincerity, in commitment, in solidarity, to take a real moment and mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people,” Lady Gaga said at the vigil before reading the list of names of the lives lost.
Janet Jackson posted a tribute video for her song “Shoulda Known Better” featuring pictures of the victims combined with news footage.
Shoulda Known Better – Unofficial Lyric Video – Janet Jackson (A Tribute To The Victims of the Orlando Shooting) from ithl23 on Vimeo.
Actor Tituss Burgess performed at the Stonewall Inn rally and vigil for Orlando, singing “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.” Nick Jonas also spoke at the vigil.
Other celebrities took to Twitter and Instagram to share their thoughts.
Deeply moved that in the face of tragedy Orlando & Americans everywhere are coming together to give blood, love & support.This is who we are
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) June 12, 2016
my love for the LGBTQ+ community goes on and on and on, i will grieve today and i will fight tomorrow — Olly Alexander (@alexander_olly) June 12, 2016
My heart is broken. Let people be people, let’s love together. The world is with you Orlando ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pH5tBYn60o
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) June 13, 2016
Heartbroken about the shooting in Orlando. My prayers and thoughts are with you all in America. I pray for this world to change! — Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 12, 2016
The tragedy in Orlando is just beyond sad. My deepest regrets to all those suffering. There are no words that suffice. I’m…stunned. — Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) June 12, 2016
Stop Hate. Stop Violence. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️#revolutionoflove A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on
My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss. We must stand together more than ever. — Ellen Page (@EllenPage) June 12, 2016
NO WORDS GOOD ENOUGH?‼️WHEN UR HURT, WOUNDED, MURDERED WE ALL CRY‼️WE ALL MOURN ‼️WE R ALL LESS WITHOUT U MY EXTENDED FAMILY??‼️#URNOTALONE — Cher (@cher) June 12, 2016
There is something profoundly wrong with a nation that allows its citizens to be slaughtered the way we have. We are ill. Maybe terminally. — Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) June 13, 2016
My heart is heavy today, but I still believe in love. There’s more love than hate in this world. #OrlandoUnited — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) June 13, 2016
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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