Celebrity News
John Waters released from hospital after car accident
Crash took place in Baltimore County
BY TAJI BURRIS | Baltimore filmmaker John Waters was released from the hospital Tuesday morning following a car accident.
The 78-year-old released a statement saying that although he was hurt in the Baltimore County crash, he did not sustain major injuries.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Celebrity News
More than 1 million people attend Madonna concert in Rio
Free event took place on Copacabana Beach on Saturday
An estimated 1.6 million people on Saturday attended Madonna’s free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach.
The concert, which was the last one as part of Madonna’s Celebration Tour, included a tribute to people lost to AIDS.
Bob the Drag Queen introduced Madonna before the concert began. Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian drag queen and singer, and Anitta, a bisexual pop star who was born in Rio’s HonĆ³rio Gurgel neighborhood, also joined Madonna on stage.
Congresswoman Erika Hilton, a Black travesti and former sex worker, and Rio Municipal Councilwoman MĆ“nica BenĆcio, the widow of Marielle Franco, a bisexual Rio Municipal Councilwoman who was assassinated in 2018, are among those who attended the concert.
“Madonna showed that we fight important fights for the human rights of Black (people), young (people), women and LGBTQIA+ people, and against all injustice, discrimination, and violence,” saidĀ AssociaƧao Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais (National Association ofĀ TravestisĀ and Transsexuals), a Brazilian trans rights group known by the acronym ANTRA, on itsĀ X account.Ā “What they call identitarianism’ is our subversion to the retrograde and conservative tackiness that plagues the country.”
The Associated Press reported the concert was Madonna’s biggest ever.
Celebrity News
HRC releases āQueer Renaissance Syllabusā
BeyoncĆ©ās hit album inspired curriculum
In a move aimed at celebrating the beauty, brilliance and resilience of the LGBTQ community, the Human Rights Campaign unveiled the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” that BeyoncĆ©ās āRenaissanceā album inspired.
Curated by Justin Calhoun, Leslie Hall and Chauna Lawson of the HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, the syllabus includes a variety of academic articles, essays, films and other media rooted in Black queer and feminist studies. Each piece is directly inspired by the tracks on BeyoncĆ©’s Billboard 200-topping dance album, “Renaissance.”
BeyoncĆ©’s album “Renaissance” stands as a cultural milestone, celebrating the Black queer roots of dance music while shedding light on overlooked Black queer artists. Inspired by her late-Uncle Johnny, the album not only garnered critical acclaim but also shed light on the often marginalized contributions of Black queer artists. Winning four Grammys and yielding chart-topping hits like āBreak My Soulā and āCuff It,ā the album sparked discussions about economic impact and cultural representation.
Amid its success, legislative challenges arose, with Florida and Texas enacting bans on DEI initiatives in public colleges. Recognizing the album’s transformative potential, HRC developed the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” to leverage its impact for education and activism.
Tailored for educators, youth-serving professionals, DEI practitioners, higher education leaders and admirers of BeyoncĆ©’s artistry, the syllabus aims to encourage meaningful discussions, enrich lesson plans, and explore innovative ways to honor the vibrancy and significance of LGBTQ individuals and their culture.
With six themes anchoring the syllabus, ranging from “intersectionality and inclusivity” to “social justice and activism,” it provides a comprehensive exploration of various facets of LGBTQ experiences and expressions. Fan-favorite tracks from the album are paired with scholarly readings, offering insights into empowerment, self-acceptance and the transformative power of artistic expression. The syllabus also reinforces HRCās efforts to highlight, amplify and re-center Black and queer voices.
By providing links to articles, books, podcasts and interviews, each associated with a song from the album, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Black queer community.
The concluding section of the syllabus includes BeyoncĆ©’s tribute to OāShea Sibley, a young Black queer person who was murdered in Brooklyn, N.Y., last July while voguing to āRenaissanceā songs at a gas station. HRC also includes a statement that condemns hate crimes.
Celebrity News
GLAAD to honor Oprah Winfrey with Lifetime Achievement Award
Ceremony to take place in Los Angeles on Thursday
To the pantheon of LGBTQ allies honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation with the Lifetime Achievement Award, luminaries such as Barbra Streisand, Cher and Liza Minnelli enter Oprah Winfrey.
The global media icon, philanthropist and longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 14, 2024. The award honors Winfreyās unwavering commitment to promoting equality, acceptance and understanding for the LGBTQ community throughout her remarkable career, cementing her place among the most influential and dedicated allies in the fight for equality.
Born in rural Mississippi and raised in Milwaukee and Nashville, Winfreyās journey to becoming a media mogul and cultural influencer began when she was just a teenager. At the age of 19, she landed her first job in media as a young intern at WLAC-TV (now WTVF-TV), the CBS affiliate in Nashville. Her natural talent and charisma quickly earned her a position as the first African American female news anchor at the station, setting the stage for a groundbreaking career that would span decades.
In 1984, Winfrey relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TVās morning talk show, āAM Chicago.ā Little did she know that this move would be the catalyst for her meteoric rise to fame. The show, later renamed āThe Oprah Winfrey Show,ā became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of viewers across the U.S. and in more than 100 countries worldwide. Winfreyās unique blend of empathy, wisdom and storytelling resonated with audiences, making her one of the most beloved and influential figures in media history.
A pivotal moment in Winfreyās career came in 1986 when she negotiated a groundbreaking contract with King World Productions, the company founded by legendary boxing promoter Don King. The contract gave Winfrey full ownership of āThe Oprah Winfrey Showā and allowed her to produce the show through her own production company, Harpo Productions. This unprecedented deal demonstrated Winfreyās business acumen and laid the foundation for her future success, paving the way for her to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in the world.
Throughout her career, Winfrey has consistently used her platform to shine a light on important social issues, including LGBTQ rights, racial equality and womenās empowerment. Her compassionate and empathetic approach to storytelling has helped to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and promote understanding and acceptance of marginalized communities.
In 1997, Winfrey featured Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show, providing a platform for the comedian to publicly come out as gay. This groundbreaking episode helped to normalize LGBTQ visibility in mainstream media and paved the way for greater acceptance and understanding of the community.
Winfreyās dedication to LGBTQ equality is further evident in her portrayal of strong, complex characters like Sofia in the acclaimed 1985 film āThe Color Purple,ā which featured one of the first same-sex kisses in a mainstream Hollywood production.
In addition to her work in television and film, Winfrey has built a vast media empire that includes the creation of the Oprah Winfrey Network, a partnership with Discovery Communications, and the publication of O, the Oprah Magazine. Her business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit have made her one of the most successful and influential figures in the entertainment industry, with a net worth estimated at $2.6 billion as of 2023.
But Winfreyās impact extends far beyond her financial success. She has also been a tireless advocate for education and philanthropy, donating millions of dollars to charitable causes and establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, which provides education and support for underprivileged girls. Winfreyās commitment to giving back to the communities that have supported her throughout her journey is a testament to her character and her belief in the power of education to transform lives.
In her personal life, Winfrey is known for her love of reading, her commitment to personal growth and self-improvement and her close friendships with celebrities like Gayle King and Tyler Perry. Despite years of speculation and rumors surrounding the nature of her relationship with King, Winfrey has always maintained a dignified silence, emphasizing the importance of love, acceptance and the right to privacy. Her unwavering support for the LGBTQ community, both in her professional and personal life, has made her a role model and a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world.
Winfreyās fierce determination to fight discrimination and promote equality has been a constant throughout her career. In 1987, she confronted racism head-on by taking her show to the predominantly white community of Forsyth County, Ga. During a heated town hall meeting, one audience member expressed his fear of racial integration, stating, āIām afraid of [Black people] coming to Forsyth County.ā Winfrey responded with her signature grace and wisdom, saying, āI hear your fear. When I look at your face, I see the fear. But how are you going to get past it if you donāt allow yourself the opportunity to get to know other people?ā This powerful exchange demonstrated Winfreyās unique ability to facilitate difficult conversations and promote understanding across racial divides.
From her willingness to confront white segregationists in Georgia to her ongoing efforts to elevate diverse voices and stories through her work in television, film and theater, Winfrey has always been a champion for social justice. Her legacy as a trailblazer and an advocate for the marginalized will continue to inspire generations to come.
In the words of GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis, āOprah Winfrey has been a beacon of hope and inspiration for the LGBTQ community for decades. Her groundbreaking work in media has not only entertained and informed millions of people around the world, but it has also helped to change hearts and minds and promote greater understanding and acceptance for our community.ā
Maya Angelou, one of Winfreyās most important influences, put it best;Ā āIāve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.ā As Winfrey accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award, her legacy of compassion, empathy and unwavering commitment to equality serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of a life well-lived.
The GLAAD Media Awards, which have been held annually since 1990, recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community. As As Winfrey prepares to accept this prestigious award on March 14, 2024, her extraordinary journey and unwavering commitment to LGBTQ equality serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have on the world.
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