Arts & Entertainment
GLAAD Media Awards 2018 releases nominees
Netflix raked in the highest number of nominations for TV shows
(‘Call Me By Your Name.’ Screenshot via YouTube.)
The 29th annual GLAAD Media Awards announced its 2018 nominees at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday via Trace Lysette (“Transparent”) and Wilson Cruz (“Star Trek: Discovery”).
Netflix raked in the most nominations for television with seven nominations. ABC, CBS and NBC came in at a close second with six nominations. This was also the first time the category Outstanding Kids & Family Programming was introduced which recognizes “Andi Mack,” and “Doc McStuffins,” among others, for their LGBT inclusion.
Critically-acclaimed films “Call Me By Your Name,” “Lady Bird” and “The Shape of Water” also scored nominations.
For music, Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, Halsey and Kesha all earned nominations for Outstanding Music Artist.
Special recognition was also given to the animated short film “In a Heartbeat,” written and directed by Esteban Bravo and Beth David, as well as Jay-Z’s track “Smile,” about his mother’s coming out, from his album “4:44.”
Check out the full list of nominees below.
OUTSTANDING FILM – WIDE RELEASE
“Battle of the Sexes” (Fox Searchlight)
“Call Me by Your Name” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Lady Bird” (A24)
“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” (Annapurna Pictures)
“The Shape of Water” (Fox Searchlight)
OUTSTANDING FILM – LIMITED RELEASE
“BPM” (The Orchard)
“A Fantastic Woman” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“God’s Own Country” (Samuel Goldwyn Films/Orion Pictures)
“Thelma” (The Orchard)
“The Wound” (Kino Lorber)
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
“The Bold Type” (Freeform)
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“One Day at a Time” (Netflix)
“One Mississippi” (Amazon)
“Superstore” (NBC)
“Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
“Transparent” (Amazon)
“Will & Grace” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
“Billions” (Showtime)
“Doubt” (CBS)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
“Nashville” (CMT)
“Sense8” (Netflix)
“Shadowhunters” (Freeform)
“Star” (FOX)
“Star Trek: Discovery” (CBS All Access)
“This Is Us” (NBC)
“Wynonna Earp” (Syfy)
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE (in a series without a regular LGBTQ character)
“Chapter 8”, “Legion” (FX)
“Grace”, “Pure Genius” (CBS)
“Lady Cha Cha”, “Easy” (Netflix)
“The Missionaries”, “Room 104” (HBO)
“Thanksgiving”, “Master of None” (Netflix)
OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
“American Horror Story: Cult” (FX)
“Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX)
“Godless” (Netflix)
“Queers” (BBC America)
“When We Rise” (ABC)
OUTSTANDING KIDS & FAMILY PROGRAMMING
“Andi Mack” (Disney Channel)
“Chosen Family”, “Danger & Eggs” (Amazon)
“The Emergency Plan”, “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Channel)
“The Loud House” (Nickelodeon)
“Steven Universe” (Cartoon Network)
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY
“Chavela” (Music Box Films)
“Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric” (National Geographic)
“Kiki” (Sundance Selects)
“Real Boy”- “Independent Lens” (PBS)
“This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous” (YouTube Red)
OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
“Gaycation with Ellen Page” (Viceland)
“I Am Jazz” (TLC)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Survivor: Game Changers” (CBS)
“The Voice” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST
Miley Cyrus, “Younger Now” (RCA Records)
Halsey, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” (Astralwerks Records)
Honey Dijon, “The Best of Both Worlds” (Classic Music Company)
Kehlani, “SweetSexySavage” (TSNMI/Atlantic Records)
Kelela, “Take Me Apart” (Warp Records)
Kesha, “Rainbow” (Kemosabe/RCA Records)
Perfume Genius, “No Shape” (Matador Records)
Sam Smith, “The Thrill of It All” (Capitol Records)
St. Vincent, “MASSEDUCTION” (Loma Vista Recordings)
Wrabel, “We Could Be Beautiful” (Epic/Sony Records)
OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK
“America,” written by Gabby Rivera (Marvel Comics)
“The Backstagers,” written by James Tynion IV (BOOM! Studios)
“Batwoman,” written by Marguerite Bennett, James Tynion IV (DC Comics)
“Black Panther: World of Wakanda,” written by Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Yona Harvey, Rembert “Browne” (Marvel Comics)
“Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love,” written by Sarah Vaughn (DC Comics)
“Goldie Vance,” written by Hope Larson, Jackie Ball (BOOM! Studios)
“Iceman,” written by Sina Grace (Marvel Comics)
“Lumberjanes,” written by Kat Leyh, Shannon Watters (BOOM! Studios)
“Quantum Teens are Go,” written by Magdalene Visaggio (Black Mask Comics)
“The Woods,” written by James Tynion IV (BOOM! Studios)
OUTSTANDING DAILY DRAMA
“The Bold and The Beautiful” (CBS)
“Days of Our Lives” (NBC)
“The Young & the Restless” (CBS)
OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE
“Australia Marriage Equality”, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“Danica Roem”, “The Opposition with Jordan Klepper” (Comedy Central)
“Laila and Logan Ireland, Transgender Military Couple”, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated)
“Laverne Cox and Gavin Grimm”, “The View” (ABC)
“Trans Veterans React to Ban”, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM – NEWSMAGAZINE
“A Boy Named Lucas”, “20/20” (ABC)
“China Queer”, “The Naked Truth” (Fusion)
“Gay Purge?”, “Nightline” (ABC)
“The Pulse of Orlando: Terror at the Nightclub”, “Anderson Cooper 360” (CNN)
“Trans Youth”, “VICE on HBO” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT
“The Abolitionists Face the Love Army” KAPP-KVEW Local News (KAPP-35/KVEW-42 [Tri Cities/Yakima, Wash.])
“DJ Zeke Thomas Goes Public”, “Good Morning America” (ABC)
“Murders Raise Alarm for Transgender Community”, “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” (NBC)
“Transgender Murders in Louisiana Part of Disturbing Trend”, “CBS Evening News” (CBS)
“Transgender Rights under Fire in Trump Era”, “AM Joy” (MSNBC)
OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: The Journey of a Transgender Man” by Lauren McGaughy (The Dallas Morning News)
“Lesbian College Coaches Still Face Difficult Atmosphere to Come Out” by Shannon Ryan (Chicago Tribune)
“Pulse Victims’ Families in Puerto Rico: ‘We Have to Cry Alone'” by Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio (Orlando Sentinel)
“Revised Guidance on HIV Proves Life-Transforming” by Lenny Bernstein (The Washington Post)
“The Silent Epidemic: Black Gay Men and HIV” [series] (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ARTICLE
“America’s Hidden H.I.V. Epidemic” by Linda Villarosa (The New York Times Magazine)
“Beyond ‘He’ or ‘She’: The Changing Meaning of Gender and Sexuality” by Katy Steinmetz (Time)
“Forbidden Lives: The Gay Men Who Fled Chechnya’s Purge” by Masha Gessen (The New Yorker)
“Free Radical” by Nathan Heller (Vogue)
“Trans, Teen, and Homeless” by Laura Rena Murray (Rolling Stone)
OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE OVERALL COVERAGE
The Advocate
Billboard
People
Teen Vogue
Time
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM ARTICLE
“The Ballad of Bobby Brooks, the First Gay Student-Body President of Texas A&M” by Lauren Larson (GQ.com)
“For Those We Lost and Those Who Survived: The Pulse Massacre One Year Later” by James Michael Nichols (HuffPost Queer Voices)
“‘I Am a Girl Now,’ Sage Smith Wrote. Then She Went Missing.” by Emma Eisenberg (Splinter)
“Meet the Transgender Student Who Fought Discrimination at His Maryland High School (and Won)” by Nico Lang (INTO)
“Why Bisexual Men Are Still Fighting to Convince Us They Exist” by Samantha Allen (Splinter)
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM – MULTIMEDIA
“Former Patriots and Chiefs Tackle Ryan O’Callaghan Comes Out as Gay” by Cyd Zeigler (Outsports/SB Nation)
“Made to Model: Trans Beauty in Fashion” (LogoTV.com)
“‘This Is How We Win’: Inside Danica Roem’s Historic Victory” by Diana Tourjée (Broadly.Vice.com)
“Transgender Day of Remembrance” by Saeed Jones (AM to DM, BuzzFeed News)
“US Travel Ban Leaves LGBT Refugees in Limbo” by Nina dos Santos (CNN.com)
OUTSTANDING BLOG
Autostraddle
Gays With Kids
My Fabulous Disease
Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
Transgriot
OUTSTANDING SCRIPTED TELEVISION SERIES
“Las chicas del cable” (Netflix)
“La doble vida de Estela Carrillo” (Univision)
“Ingobernable” (Netflix)
OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM – NEWSMAGAZINE (Spanish Language)
“Así viven los estudiantes transgénero después de que Trump anulara la ley de baños de Obama para escuela públicas” , “Primer Impacto” (Univision)
“Pulse, huellas de la masacre”, “Docufilms” (CNN en Español)
“Ser transgénero en Latinoamérica: sus experiencias y crecimiento”, “Vive la Salud” (CNN en Español)
OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT (Spanish Language)
“Comunidad LGBTQ vulnerable bajo nuevo gobierno”, “Perspectiva Nacional” (Entravision)
“Entrevista con Daniela Vega”, “Showbiz” (CNN en Español)
“Joven transgénero tiene un mensaje para las familias: ‘Acepten a sus hijos'”, “Al Punto” (Univision)
“El triunfo de una diseñadora mexicana transgénero en Nueva York”, “Noticias Telemundo” (Telemundo)
“Unidos contra la discriminación y el acoso contra la comunidad LGBT”, “Despierta América” (Univision)
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM (Spanish Language)
“La compleja realidad de ser gay en América Latina” (cnnespanol.cnn.com)
“‘No aprobar el Dream Act significaría una sentencia de muerte’, jóvenes LGBT y DACA” (laopinion.com)
“Padres de familia de Dallas luchan por los derechos de su hija transgénero” (aldiadallas.com)
“Primera senadora trans aspira a impulsar medidas para sectores discriminados” (efe.com)
“Tres hermanitos para dos papás” (laopinion.com)
The new monthly 90’s Flashback Drag Brunch premiered at Red Bear Brewing Co. on Sunday, April 26. Performers included Logan Stone, Tiffany D. Carter and Charlemagne Chateau.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Celebrity News
Madonna makes rare club appearance in West Hollywood
Gay icon brought ‘Confessions II’ to The Abbey
A line of celebrities, “Drag Race” queens, influencers, media, and West Hollywood socialites lined the block around West Hollywood’s The Abbey, all clamoring to get into the invite-only celebration of owner Tristan Schukraft’s birthday. The rumor, which became verified gossip, was that Madonna, the Queen of Pop herself, would be taking the stage. Of course, the Blade had to be there.
With disco balls and Abbey statues covered in pink chiffon, it was clear. This party was a direct tie-in to Madonna’s much-anticipated “Confessions on A Dance Floor” album sequel, “Confessions II.” That night, the Abbey also unveiled its remodeled dance floor, a fitting collaboration.
The club was filled to capacity with a completely open bar, keeping the crowd liquored up. Go-go dancers in black leather collars and thongs lined the room, and celebrities that included Lilly Allen, Bebe Rexha, Tori Spelling, Julia Fox, Sam Asghari, Daniel Frenzese, Cynthia Bailey, Meredith Marks, Tom Daley, and more filled the VIP booths alongside World of Wonder personalities. It was a veritable who’s who of queer folk and allies.
The lights began to dim, the dance floor began to rumble, and Madonna graphics hit the screens. At around 1 am, it was time. Introduced by Addison Rae, Madonna grabbed the mic and started chanting, welcoming her “gays.” The venue resounded in thunderous chants of “freedom,” “mother,” and “bitch.”
Madonna was not there to perform. She was there to dance. She took the stage for about 15 minutes, keeping the crowd going with her naughty and fun commentary. There is no list that needs to be provided on how Madonna’s career has become part of queer culture. Going back to her dance music roots and going back to her gay fans is smart.
Released in 2005 (yes, it has been that long), “Confessions on a Dance Floor” was an instant hit, with four singles from the album being released. The album’s lead single, “Hung Up,” topped the charts in 41 countries with Billboard calling it the most successful dance song of the decade. The album had hints of 60s and 70s flair, mixed in with dance music prevalent at that time. The music still dominates at queer clubs across the globe.
Madonna knows we need a little queer joy; she also knows that fans miss the Madonna we all knew and loved. With the nation in such turbulence, we all need some comfort, and going back to a time when we felt safer and had more to celebrate just feels good. For the new album release, she has even partnered with Grindr for a limited edition vinyl release and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Her night at The Abbey presented snippets of her new music mixed in with some of her classics. The new material sounded good, sounded familiar in an exciting way, and shows that this diva has still got it.
“Confessions II” releases on July 3.
Theater
World premiere of ‘Everything, Devoured’ oozes queer energy
Nonbinary playwright Katherine Gwynn delivers ferocious ghost story
‘Everything, Devoured’
Through May 10
Nu Sass Productions
Sitar Arts Center
1724 Kalorama Road, N.W.
$25 (general admission)
Nusass.com
As if the world weren’t already hideous enough, Kore, the trans woman protagonist in nonbinary playwright Katherine Gwynn’s “Everything, Devoured,” wants to summon a demon to her humble Chicago apartment. While her friends think it’s just a bit of afterwork fun akin to reading horoscopes or Tarot cards, Kansas born Kore is dead serious.
Nu Sass Productions’ world premiere of Gwynn’s play oozes queer energy. Messages come across as if delivered by blow horn. It’s not afraid of expository dialogue or padding a singular moment of queer joy.
In a truly intimate black box at Sitar Arts Centers in Adams Morgan just down the block from Harris Teeter, scenic designer Simone Schneeberg deftly creates the generic flat whose ordinariness is only overshadowed by some weak attempts at individuality, but that’s all about to change.
Plans have been made, and Kore (June Dickson-Burke) has invited her nearest and dearest to her place.
Her nonbinary lesbian partner Julian (Tristan Evans) has cheap red wine and weed on the ready. Dinner is in the oven. Soon, lively trans masc bestie Dante (Selena Gill) arrives bearing a hostess gift – it’s the specially requested bag of pig blood, integral to the evening’s fun. In little time, the twentysomething friends will have painted a pentagram circled with salt in the middle of the living room floor. Candles are lit. Sacred words are spoken.
Shifts in light and sound by designers Vida Huang and Di Carey, respectively, signal contact with the beyond. Much to the friends’ surprise, they’ve successfully summoned a demon and it’s a real doozy: Ronald Reagan as demon drag queen.
Costumed in a corseted pinstripe suit adorned with a few Gaultier cones, the pronoun-less guest star from the underworld makes quite an entrance – a full-on lip sync to Madonna’s “Vogue” replete with huge flashing eyes, an evil smile and darting tongue.
Spectacularly played by O’Malley Steuerman (“actor, DRAGster, playwright, and producer from Baltimore”) Ronald Reagan as demon drag queen is lewd, taunting, and reads with the kind of sharp wit that puts other queens in the shade.
The entertainment doesn’t stop there. Soon, the demon is juggling provocative props (fleshy dildo, a baby doll, and a copy of Marx) or performing sock puppetry to a 1982 recording of journalist Lester Kinsolving asking about the “gay plague” to which Reagan’s Press Secretary Larry Speakes charmingly replies, “I don’t have it … do you?” That proved a real knee slapper in the pressroom.
Throughout the play’s early scenes, a young man sits unnoticed at Kore’s kitchen counter. Now and then, he comments with a disapproving harrumph or a distinctly gay one-liner. He’s privy to all, but the lady of the house is unaware of him until he joins the party. His name is Michael (Christian Harris). He died in 1989 and has been hanging around ever since.
Wry and undeniably spectral, Michael is the play’s link to queer past. He remembers the hurts and horrors of the AIDS epidemic, but not so much about the emergence of ‘genderqueer’ as an identity label, reflecting a shift toward a broader gender spectrum. That came later.
Without doubt, the uniformly queer cast is committed. They play their queer characters with authenticity, lending a realness to queer people’s valid concerns and fears in the current atmosphere. (For instance, anarchist/barista Dante accuses Julian of hiding out in their safe role of social worker at a nice nonprofit; and Kore speaks about the fear surrounding the Kansas bill making it illegal for transgender people to display their gender on a driver’s license.)
Based in Chicago, Gwynn has written a queer play with a punch; and prior to ever being staged, this new work was prestigiously named both a 2025 O’Neill Semi-Finalist as well as 2025 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist.
Billed as a ferocious queer ghost story, “Everything, Devoured” doesn’t disappoint. In the hands of queer co-directors Tracey Erbacher and Ileana Blustein, Gwynn’s fevered yet thoughtful and quick paced but penetrating piece unfolds compellingly.
Intuitive staging and chemistry among players, especially two hander scenes involving Kore, display a quiet intensity that feels true to life. Other scenes bring out the anger, protectiveness and some divisiveness among the friends. Gwynn’s informed and powerful writing is brought to the fore.
Nu Sass Productions has been uplifting women and marginalized genders in all aspects of theater since 2009. The company’s two-part name stems from “Nu” (Chinese for woman) and “Sass” (sassy).
Its latest offering fits the bill and then some.
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