Arts & Entertainment
‘Moonlight’ heads Dorian Awards nominations
‘Moonlight’ earns seven nominations

(Screenshot via YouTube)
The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) have announced the nominees for the 2017 Dorian Awards with “Moonlight” leading the pack at seven nominations.
The Dorian Awards celebrates the best in mainstream and LGBT movies and television chosen by a select group of film and T.V. critics and entertainment journalists
GALECA will also honor Baltimore native John Waters with its career achievement honor, Timeless Star.
Winners will be announced on Jan. 26. GALECA will celebrate the winners with its annual Winners Toast on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles.
The complete list of nominees is below.
Film of the Year
“Jackie”- (Fox Searchlight)
“La La Land” – (Summit/Lionsgate)
“Manchester by the Sea”- (Roadside/Amazon Studios)
“Moonlight”- (A24)
“20th Century Women”- (A24)
Director of the Year
(Film or Television)
Barry Jenkins- “Moonlight” (A24)
Pablo Larraín- “Jackie” (Fox Searchlight)
Kenneth Lonergan- “Manchester By the Sea” (Roadside/Amazon Studios)
Park Chan-wook- “The Handmaiden” (Amazon Studios)
Damien Chazelle- “La La Land” (Summit/Lionsgate)
Film Performance of the Year — Actress
Annette Bening- “20th Century Women” (A24)
Viola Davis- “Fences” (Paramount)
Isabelle Huppert- “Elle” (Sony Classics)
Emma Stone- “La La Land” (Summit/Lionsgate)
Natalie Portman- “Jackie” (Fox Searchlight)
Film Performance of the Year — Actor
Casey Affleck- “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside/Amazon Studios)
Mahershala Ali- “Moonlight” (A24)
Ryan Gosling- “La La Land” (Summit/Lionsgate)
Trevante Rhodes- “Moonlight” (A24)
Denzel Washington- “Fences” (Paramount)
LGBTQ Film of the Year
“Being 17”- (Strand)
“Closet Monster”- (Strand)
“Moonlight”- (A24)
“Other People”- (Vertical)
“The Handmaiden”- (Amazon Studios)
Foreign Language Film of the Year
“Elle”- (Sony Classics)
“Neruda”- (The Orchard)
“The Handmaiden”- (Amazon Studios)
“Things to Come”- (Sundance Selects)
“Toni Erdmann”- (Sony Pictures Classics)
Screenplay of the Year
Barry Jenkins- “Moonlight” (A24)
Efthymis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos- “The Lobster” (A24)
Damien Chazelle- “La La Land” (Summit/Lionsgate)
Kenneth Lonergan- “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside/Amazon Studios)
Mike Mills- “20th Century Women” (A24)
Documentary of the Year
(theatrical release, T.V. airing or DVD release)
“I Am Not Your Negro”- (Magnolia)
“O.J. Made in America”- (ESPN Films)
“13th”- (Netflix)
“Tickled”- (Magnolia)
“Weiner”- (Netflix)
Visually Striking Film of the Year
“Arrival”- (Paramount)
“Jackie”- (Fox Searchlight)
“La La Land”- (Lionsgate)
“Moonlight”- (A24)
“The Handmaiden”- (Amazon Studios)
Unsung Film of the Year
“American Honey”- (A24)
“Captain Fantastic”- (Bleecker Street)
“Christine”- (The Orchard)
“Other People”- (Vertical)
“Sing Street”- (The Weinstein Company)
Campy Film of the Year
“Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”- (Fox Searchlight)
“King Cobra”- (IFC Midnight)
“Nocturnal Animals”- (Focus Features)
“The Dressmaker”- (Broadgreen/Amazon Studios)
“The Neon Demon”- (Broadgreen/Amazon Studios)
T.V. Drama of the Year
“Black Mirror”- (Netflix)
“Game of Thrones”- (HBO)
“Stranger Things”- (Netflix)
“The Crown”- (Netflix)
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”- (FX)
“Westworld”- (HBO)
T.V. Comedy of the Year
“Atlanta”- (FX)
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”- (CW)
“Insecure”- (HBO)
“Transparent”- (Amazon)
“Veep”- (FX)
T.V. Performance of the Year — Actor
Riz Ahmed- “The Night Of” (HBO)
Sterling K. Brown- “The People v. O.J. Simpson” (FX)
Donald Glover- “Atlanta” (FX)
Jeffrey Tambor- “Transparent” (Amazon)
Courtney B. Vance- “The People v. O.J. Simpson” (FX)
T.V. Performance of the Year — Actress
Claire Foy- “The Crown” (Netflix)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus- “Veep” (HBO)
Thandie Newton- “Westworld” (HBO)
Sarah Paulson- “American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson” (FX)
Winona Ryder- “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
T.V. Current Affairs Show of the Year
“Anderson Cooper 360”- (CNN)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”- (TBS)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”- (HBO)
“The Rachel Maddow Show”- (MSNBC)
“Real Time with Bill Maher”- (HBO)
T.V. Musical Performance of the Year
Beyonce- “Lemonade,” “MTV Video Music Awards” (MTV)
Kelly Clarkson- “Piece by Piece,” “American Idol” (Fox)
Lady Gaga – “Til It Happens to You,” “The 88th Academy Awards” (ABC)
Jennifer Hudson- “I Know Where I’ve Been,” “Hairspray Live!” (NBC)
Kate McKinnon-“Hallelujah,” “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
LGBTQ T.V. Show of the Year
“Looking: The Movie”- (HBO)
“Orange Is the New Black”- (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars”- (Logo)
“The Real O’Neals”- (ABC)
“Transparent”- (Amazon)
Unsung T.V. Show of the Year
“Fleabag” (Amazon)
“Lady Dynamite” (Netflix)
“London Spy” (BBC America)
“Please Like Me” (Pivot)
“The Real O’Neals” (ABC)
Campy T.V. Show of the Year
“Finding Prince Charming”- (Logo)
“Fuller House”- (Netflix)
“Hairspray Live!”- (NBC)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars”- (Logo)
“Scream Queens”- (Fox)
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – (Fox)
We’re Wilde About You! Rising Star of the Year
Millie Bobby Brown
Lucas Hedges
Connor Jessup
Ruth Negga
Trevante Rhodes
Wilde Wit of the Year
(honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse)
Samantha Bee
Carrie Fisher
Bill Maher
Kate McKinnon
John Oliver
Wilde Artist of the Year
(honoring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theater and/or television)
Beyonce
Viola Davis
Barry Jenkins
Kate McKinnon
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Friday, April 17
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7:00p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Saturday, April 18
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Sunday, April 19
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Lunch” at 11 a.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, April 20
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
Tuesday, April 21
Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.
Senior Self Defense Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Wednesday, April 22
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Asexual and Aromantic Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, April 23
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Out & About
Team DC’s annual gala set for this weekend
LGBTQ sports organization to hold annual ‘Night of Champions’
Team DC will host “Night of Champions Gala” on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Georgetown Marriott.
This will be an evening of celebration and inspiration as Team DC honors remarkable individuals and supports the next generation of LGBTQ student-athletes.
There will be opportunities to support Team DC through auctions. The Silent Auction items will offer an array of unique goods and experiences. Additionally, Team DC will feature an exclusive selection of live auction items for those looking to make a significant impact.
This year, Team DC will recognize six outstanding awardees who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ community and sports:
- Trailblazer Award – Adam Peck, District Wrestling
- Most Valuable Person Award – Sean Bartel (posthumously)
- Champion Award – Dan Martin
- Clark Ray Horizon Award – Manuel Montelongo, aka Mari Con Carne
- Bernard Jude Delia Award – Dr. Sara Varghai
- Platinum All Star Award – Centaur Motorcycle Club
To purchase tickets, visit Team DC’s website.
Television
‘The Pitt’ stars discuss what season two gets right about queer representation
Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden spoke with Blade in LA
As season two of “The Pitt” comes to a close this Thursday, stars Noah Wyle and Taylor Dearden are looking back on what this season got right about queer representation.
“There is some intentionality behind it, but it’s not necessarily for the representation to be anything other than human or ubiquitous to anyone that would come into an emergency room,” Noah Wyle, who plays Dr. Robby, told the Los Angeles Blade at PaleyFest event in Los Angeles on April 12. “I know that we’ve done some storylines with some gay couples, and we did a storyline in season 1 where a woman comes in who’s cut her arm, who’s trans. But in both of those storylines, that wasn’t the point.”
Wyle continues, “In doing it that way, and not making a point of orientation being part of the problem that brings you to the emergency room, we have been told in feedback that that has been extremely revolutionary, almost, and extremely appreciated. But that’s true whether we do storylines with any kind of minority or a person with a disability. We try to have a cosmology of cast and representation on the show that’s indicative of what you find in Pittsburgh.”
Dearden, who plays Dr. Mel King, echoed Wyle’s sentiment: “I think constantly battling tropes is always important. It’s not a show about romance; it’s a show about real life and a shift in the ER. The more we represent everyday people going through everyday life, they just happen to be queer, they just happen to be trans, and making it not the plot, is putting everyone on equal playing [field]. You don’t have to have a big coming out scene.”
Queer representation on “The Pitt” is also notable through the actual actors themselves, including openly queer actor Supriya Ganesh, who plays Dr. Samira Mohan (who didn’t attend PaleyFest after the news that she is not returning for season three), and Amielynn Abellera, who plays Perlah Alawi.
“Doctors don’t put value judgments on who they treat,” Wyle concludes. “That’s not a luxury extended to them, and so that’s not part of our storytelling.”
The season two finale will air Thursday, April 16, on HBO Max, while season three has already been confirmed and is currently being written.
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