Is there romance ahead for Aaron?

[Source]

'Emmerdale' producer: 'Aaron will have ray of sunshine in 2012'
Published Monday, Dec 26 2011, 14:03 GMT | By Daniel Sperling

Emmerdale's Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) will have "a real chance [of] happiness" in 2012, series producer Stuart Blackburn has revealed.

Viewers have been waiting for an end to Aaron's suffering following his struggle with his sexuality, his decision to help paraplegic boyfriend Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock) commit suicide and a subsequent obsession with self-harming.

© ITV	© ITV

In a teaser video of the next year, Blackburn said that while there may still be hardship ahead for Jackson's mother Hazel (Pauline Quirke), Aaron will finally experience "a ray of sunshine" ahead of his departure from the village.

"Hazel and Aaron's [assisted suicide] story has been magnificent and what can I say about Danny Miller and Pauline Quirke? They are absolutely phenomenal," he said.

© ITV

"I think Hazel is going to make the ultimate sacrifice. What we're going to see with Aaron is perhaps finally, a real ray of sunshine, a real chance for him to find happiness. It's whether he's got the courage to actually go for it and take it."

However, Blackburn also forecast a bleak 2012 for Aaron's relatives in the Dingle family, hinting that they will face their "biggest challenge" yet in the coming months.

Adam looks happy!

Adam Lambert on WhoSay

[Source]

Memories of a 'Star Wars' Christmas

by Edward Moyer December 24, 2011 3:02 PM PST

(Credit: Darren Hayes. Screenshot by CNET)

It's easy to get a little jaded about the holidays.
If you're like me, you can't help but cringe when you hear that first strain of Christmas music wafting out of the speakers at your local drugstore in early November. ("Here we go again," you think.)
By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, you've battled crowds to grab your gifts and been bludgeoned with the latest Christmas cover tunes and advertising tie-ins. At this point, it's tempting to write it all off as nothing but an empty tradition or a moneymaking gimmick.
If you're lucky, though, you somehow manage to stumble on a Christmas story that hands you the holiday anew and makes the "spirit of giving" and "peace on Earth" more than mere platitudes.
Here's a simply produced video from Darren Hayes, half of the duo that made up the late '90s band Savage Garden (and a solo performer in his own right).
Maybe it's the unabashed and unpretentious presentation. Maybe it's because I remember "Star Wars" figurines and toy catalogs so well. I myself was a child in 1977 when the film first came out. Maybe, too, it has to do with the fact that I lost my mother not so very long ago and that Hayes' film reminds me of her sweetness and sacrifices.
Whatever it is, I was moved and unhumbugged by Hayes' modest offering. I thought some of you might be too. Sure, I could view this as yet another piece of Christmas-themed marketing, but I choose not to Scrooge around with that frame of mind.
In a statement to fans on his Web site, Hayes says the film "comes from the heart." It feels that way to me.
Here's his simple little tale. It's a sweet one. Enjoy.

(Via Laughing Squid)

DADT is no problem

[Source]

VIDEO: NBC News report finds no problems with open service since DADT's repeal
SDGLN Staff
December 22nd, 2011

In a piece titled “Gays in the Military,” NBC News reporter Jim Maceda took a look at how America’s military has adapted in the year since President Barack Obama signed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Maceda visited with Task Force Bulldog on patrol in eastern Afghanistan, noting that it is the kind of combat unit that critics had warned would implode if DADT was repealed. He found, instead, that nothing really has changed except that Staff Sgt. Chris Bostik, on his third combat tour, is a squad leader and is openly gay.

Bostik said that everyone in his squad knows he is gay. “They know who I am and what I stand for,” Bostik told NBC.

One of his straight buddies said Bostik’s sexual orientation was no big deal. “If you want to fight for our country, I don’t care what you do,” he said.

Maceda said that so far, there were no reports of incidents like hazing or gay bashing.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Adam in Helsinki....

[Source]

Adam Lambert arrested over fight with boyfriend

American Idol runner up, Adam Lambert, has reportedly been arrested following a fight outside a gay bar in Helsinki.

Stacey Cosens

---

Thursday, 22 December 2011

American Idol runner up, Adam Lambert, has reportedly been arrested following a fight outside a gay bar in Helsinki.

Lambert and his Finnish reality star boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen, were in a bar called Don’t Tell Momma before becoming involved in a huge fight, local media reports.

Finnish media also reports that outsiders tried to break up the fight, but then Lambert allegedly began to attack them as well.

Police were then called to the scene, and Lambert and Koskinen were taken to different jail cells and are still in custody after the incident at around 4am today.

Lambert is on holiday in Finland, and his management are yet to comment on the incident.

Lambert featured on the eight season of American Idol in 2009, and recently released his second album “Better Than I Know Myself”.

---------------------- PinkPaper.com ----------------------

After that he tweeted.

 

And on the 23rd, he tweeted

It's always.(added on the 24th)

Happy Christmas from Darren Hayes

The whole song of "Better Than I Know Myself"

Better Than I Know Myself by adamofficial

The GAYS Of DAYTIME- The Blog.: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT DAVID...

The GAYS Of DAYTIME- The Blog.: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT DAVID...



This commercial currently airs in Ireland. We love the cute message.

New single: Adam Lambert

[Source]

Adam Lambert Reveals Single Artwork, Song Snippet; Internet Explodes

By Lyndsey Parker | Reality Rocks

Anticipation for Adam Lambert's new single, "Better Than I Know Myself," continues to build at a heart-palpitating pace. After months of semi-hibernating in the studio working on his second album, Trespassing, he's raised his perfectly coiffed profile as of late, previewing his album in Rolling Stone and appearing on "Project Runway," "Majors & Minors," "On The Line With Joe Zee," the American Music Awards, and, most thrillingly, on the MTV EMAs, closing out the show with a magnificent performance fronting Queen. He's also been quite the Twitter-tease, tempting fans with repeated tweets about "Better Than I Know Myself," and last night he tweeted about some sort of countdown to a big "unveiling" that had Glamberts chewing their black-painted fingernails down to the nubs in excitement.



Better Than I Know Myself by adamofficial

Well, it turns out fans will have to wait a little longer to have their earholes filled with all that glam goodness, as today's unveiling did not involve full audio of the new single. (The single comes out next Tuesday;  the 30-seconds-in-heaven heard above is just a little tease.) But visually, Adam's announcement was worthy of much flailing and squeeing. Behold, Adamaniacs and Glamberts, the just-tweeted artwork for "Better Than I Know Myself":

Daym. The man's looking good. I'm guessing if the finished version of "Better Than I Know Myself" sounds even half as good as this artwork looks, Adam's got a big hit on his hands.

Adam Lambert: artwork of new single

[Source]
Adam Lambert reveals cover art and tweets about new single ‘Better Than I Know Myself’

By Greg Hernandez on Dec 14, 2011 4:04 pm

adamlambert Adam Lambert

Better Than I Know Myself drops on December 20th! avail on all digital music providers. Happy Holidays!!

visit www.straightnotnarrow.ca

HSSE (www.straightnotnarrow.ca)

James Mason 'doesn't mind playing gay character'

[Source]

'Neighbours' star James Mason 'doesn't mind playing gay character'

Published Wednesday, Dec 7 2011, 05:15 GMT | By Rebecca Davies

Neighbours star James Mason has revealed that he is happy playing a gay character.

The Australian actor, who portrays Chris Pappas in the soap, said that he saw "potential" in the character from the moment he got the part.

Mason told The Daily Telegraph: "I really liked the character from the beginning and could see there was huge potential for him. I have a friend who went through what Chris did when he came out, so it's really important to me that there is realism to the stories.

"The good thing about Chris is that he is an ordinary person who is a mechanic and happens to be gay."

In a recent storyline, Chris was threatened by homophobic Warren Burrell and then beaten up. Mason said of the incident: "Chris is embarrassed that he thinks he was gay bashed and he doesn't want to tell anyone. He is trying to build a relationship [with his father] but this incident happening, if it revolves around him being gay, just causes more chaos around the fact that he is gay.

"He wants to forget about it. He tells everyone he's fine and that it's not a big deal. Once Chris is in hospital [however, dad] George shows his support and his love. It makes Chris realise that no matter who he is, the people that love him will be there no matter what."

Neighbours boss Susan Bower previously said that she expected the show's first regular male gay character to cause controversy among viewers, saying: "I do believe homophobia is alive and well, and I have no doubt that we will get complaints about it."

However, there have been few complaints since Mason started on the show last year.

Belgium's Prime Minister Is An Out And Proud Gay Man (En)

[Original ource] Through Google translation (French -> English).

A gay prime minister takes control of Belgium

Christophe Cordier Monday, December 5, 2011 at 5:32 p.m. |

PORTRAIT. For the first time in its history, Belgium will be led by an assumed gay. Elio Di Rupo will lead a diverse coalition involving socialists, liberals and centrists. The newly formed government will be sworn in Tuesday.

It became a Belgian joke. Today, 540 days after a visit to the polls in June 2010, the Belgians finally have a government. At its head, a man who has earned a stature of a statesman and a reputation as a strategist over these long months of negotiation: Elio Di Rupo. .

Italian immigrants
It was far from being won. For the current mayor of Mons is not only the first openly gay Prime Minister of the country's history. It is also the first time a man from an immigrant access this feature. And it is still the first time in more than 30 years that a French took control of Belgium. It has the defect of being more socialist while Flanders voting right.

60 years old, Elio Di Rupo born in an Italian family immigrated to Belgium to work in the mines. The father died when the little old Elio is barely a year. It will be raised by his mother and older sister. After a PhD in chemistry, he entered politics and exercise various senior positions from the 80's. Since 1999, he chaired the French PS.
Coming out in 2001
In a country where the press respects the privacy of the elect, his homosexuality was unknown to the public until 1996. A young pathological liar accused of child molestation when he was Minister. Belgium at the time was shaken by the Dutroux affair, and a climate of witch hunt. The scandal has failed to push for the resignation (it was also hoped that some members of government). Finally cleared, it will hurt. In a recently published biography, he tells the magistrate who treated his file had told his lawyer "it is perhaps not a pedophile, but it's still gay."

In 2001, Di Rupo officially out of the closet in the magazine of the Federation of Flemish associations of homosexuals. "I think it is good that I speak now, even if it is difficult, since this might promote greater equality between people," he said. In his biography, he tells a reporter questioned him and asked him if he was gay. He answered "yes, so what?".
Prim
Since then, Elio Di Rupo saw his homosexuality in a discreet manner. Brussels revelers sometimes the opportunity to see it in bars or clubs downtown. But he never appeared in public as a couple is officially married. The man is very concerned about his image. Her hair is always uniformly black and everyone knows he has used plastic surgery to remove some wrinkles. Always dressed to the nines, he has made his trademark bow tie. When he leaves this uniform, it makes the sport in a room trendy and gay-friendly in the capital. Last year, he had a sensation to the press by opening the pool of Mons only wearing his bathing suit, then doing a few laps, an exercise that few ministers of his age could do without being ridiculous.

There are two and a half years before the next election. An eternity in a country where coalitions are always fragile and where each file can become explosive. Conflict between community and fiscal austerity, the life of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo will not be plain sailing.
Photo: AFP

Belgium's Prime Minister Is An Out And Proud Gay Man

[Source]

Un Premier ministre homo prend les commandes de la Belgique

Par Christophe Cordier lundi 05 décembre 2011, à 17h32 |

PORTRAIT. Pour la première fois de son histoire, la Belgique sera dirigée par un gay assumé. Elio Di Rupo mènera une coalition hétéroclite associant socialistes, libéraux et centristes. Le gouvernement nouvellement formé prêtera serment mardi.

C'était devenu une mauvaise blague belge. Aujourd'hui, 540 jours après s'être rendu aux urnes en juin 2010, les Belges ont enfin un gouvernement. A sa tête, un homme qui s'est forgé une stature d'homme d'Etat et une réputation de fin stratège au fil de ces longs mois de négociation: Elio Di Rupo. .

Italiens immigrés
C'était pourtant loin d'être gagné. Car l'actuel maire de Mons n'est pas seulement le premier Premier ministre ouvertement gay de l'histoire du pays. C'est aussi la première fois qu'un homme issu de l'immigration accède à cette fonction. Et c'est encore la première fois depuis plus de 30 ans qu'un francophone prend les commandes de la Belgique. Il a en plus le défaut d'être socialiste alors que la Flandre vote à droite.

Agé de 60 ans, Elio Di Rupo naît dans une famille italienne immigrée en Belgique pour travailler dans les mines. Le père décède alors que le petit Elio est âgé d'un an à peine. Il sera élevé par sa mère et sa sœur aînée. Après un doctorat en chimie, il se lance en politique et exercera diverses hautes fonctions à partir des années 80. Depuis 1999, il préside le PS francophone.

Coming out en 2001
Dans un pays où la presse respecte la vie privée des élus, son homosexualité était inconnue du grand public jusqu'en 1996. Un jeune mythomane l'accuse de pédophilie alors qu'il est ministre fédéral. La Belgique est à l'époque secouée par l'affaire Dutroux, et il règne un climat de chasse aux sorcières. Le scandale a failli le pousser à la démission (c'était d'ailleurs ce que souhaitait certains membres du gouvernement). Finalement blanchi, il en restera meurtri. Dans une biographie qui vient de paraître, il raconte que la magistrate qui traitait son dossier avait confié à son avocat «il n'est peut-être pas pédophile, mais il est quand même homosexuel».

En 2001, Di Rupo sort officiellement du placard dans le magazine de la Fédération flamande des associations d'homosexuels. «Je crois qu'il est bien que je m'exprime maintenant, même si c'est difficile, dans la mesure où cela pourrait favoriser une plus grande égalité entre les gens», dit-il. Dans sa biographie, il raconte qu'une journaliste l'avait interpellé en lui demandant s'il était homosexuel. Il avait répondu «oui, et alors?».

Tiré à quatre épingles
Depuis lors, Elio Di Rupo vit son homosexualité de manière discrète. Les fêtards bruxellois ont parfois l'occasion de l'apercevoir dans les bars ou les boîtes du centre-ville. Mais il n'est jamais apparu en couple en public et est officiellement célibataire. L'homme est très soucieux de son image. Ses cheveux sont toujours uniformément noirs et personne n'ignore qu'il a eu recours à la chirurgie esthétique pour effacer quelques rides. Toujours tiré à quatre épingles, il a fait du nœud papillon son signe distinctif. Quand il quitte cet uniforme, il fait du sport dans une salle branchée et gay-friendly de la capitale. L'an dernier, il avait fait sensation devant la presse en inaugurant la piscine de Mons uniquement vêtu de son maillot de bain, faisant ensuite quelques longueurs, un exercice que peu de ministres de son âge pourraient accomplir sans être ridicules.

Il reste deux ans et demi avant les prochaines élections. Une éternité dans ce pays où les coalitions sont toujours fragiles et où chaque dossier peut devenir explosif. Entre conflits communautaires et austérité budgétaire, la vie du Premier ministre Elio Di Rupo ne sera pas un long fleuve tranquille.

Photo: AFP

 -------------------------------------------------------------------
[Source]
Elio Di Rupo, vu de l'étranger: le conte de fée, le noeud pap', le mauvais bilingue

MEDIAS | lundi 5 decembre 2011 a 17h32

En Belgique, Elio Di Rupo est bien connu: président du PS, bourgmestre de Mons... Mais comment est-il vu depuis l'étranger, alors qu'il est sous les feux des projecteurs pour avoir sorti la Belgique d'une crise politique sans précédent ? Petit tour de la Toile et des réseaux sociaux. 

C'est sûr, le fait que la Belgique soit restée plus de 500 jours sans gouvernement a attiré toutes les attentions étrangères sur Elio Di Rupo et ses négociateurs. Enfin, le plat pays a un gouvernement et un "vrai" Premier ministre.

Mais quel Premier ministre ! La presse étrangère et les internautes ne manquent pas de remarquer son histoire atypique. Ce qui ressort ? Son néerlandais plus qu'approximatif - certains ne donnent pas cher de sa peau s'il ne s'améliore pas vite -, son homosexualité assumée, son style vestimentaire original et son parcours digne d'un "conte de fées"

Découvrez ci-dessous quelques articles et réactions d'internautes...
Elio Di Rupo, vu de l'etranger

Storified by RTBF info

Elio Di Rupo, vu de l'étranger

En Belgique, Elio Di Rupo est bien connu: président du PS, bourgmestre de Mons... Mais comment est-il vu depuis l'étranger, alors qu'il est sous les feux des projecteurs pour avoir sorti la Belgique d'une crise politique sans précédent ? Petit tour de la Toile et des réseaux sociaux.

Elio Di Rupo, francophone bafouillant un peu de néerlandais

Le plus grand défi du prochain Premier ministre belge ? Apprendre à parler la langue de la majorité des Belges, titre le Washington Post...

Next Belgian preimer Di Rupo eyes challenge: learning to speak Dutch, the majority language

BRUSSELS - Finally, after a world record 530-plus days of negotiations, Elio Di Rupo is on the cusp of leading his first Belgian governme...

The Washington Post

Mais Elio Di Rupo a déjà promis qu'il s'y mettrait, rapporte le New York Times.

“"Elio Di Rupo, the prime minister-to-be, has promised to brush up on his Dutch." Belgium Forms Government...: nyti.ms/u8tnsT

Charlotte Lemahieu

C'est sûr qu'un Premier ministre francophone qui ne parle pas bien le Flamand, ça peut poser problème, constate BFM TV


Le style du futur Premier ministre belge Elio di Rupo divise
BFMTV


Certains internautes ne donnent d'ailleurs pas cher de sa peau...

“Belgium has a government! nyti.ms/tG4ghH To be led by a rather flamboyant Italian who doesn't speak Dutch, this will last...

Timothy Howard

Et pendant ce temps, certains journalistes ont toujours quelques difficultés à comprendre la Belgique...

“Vraag van een Franse journaliste van Reuters: 'Est-ce un probleme que monsieur Di Rupo ne parle pas bien hollandais?'.

Dave Sinardet

Elio Di Rupo, Premier homosexuel

Pas tellement mis en avant en Belgique, le fait qu'Elio Di Rupo soit homosexuel attire l'attention des médias et internautes étrangers...

“Elio Di Rupo, Belgium's new Prime Minister, becomes the world's second gay head of government nytimes.com/2011/12/02/wor...

Ben Farress

“RT @Gonzolized: Not to mention Mr. Di Rupo would be the first GAY Prime Minister of the country, (cont) tl.gd/efns2k

Silly Sinner

Elio Di Rupo, un style vestimentaire inimitable

Elio DI Rupo, c'est tout un style... vestimentaire, qui n'interpelle plus aucun Belge. Mais qui inspire visiblement au-delà de nos frontières...



Politicien belge à l’éternel papillon, Elio Di Rupo sait démêler les nœuds

copy AFP | Politicien atypique, Elio Di Rupo va, selon toute vraisemblance, devenir le nouveau Premier ministre belge. Le roi Albert II d...

Tdg



Ainsi, dans Le Petit journal de Canal Plus, le noeud pap' d'Elio a fait un certain effet...

Au travail, le gouvernement Di Rupo 1er. En tout cas, sous les applaudissements de la France. pic.twitter.com/5lQXAUsA

julien collins

“@nelsinho92 @SuperMathild France loves our new Prime minister. Le Petit Journal avec Elio Di Rupo... ht.ly/7LFIz (via @jeromejos)

Francois F

L'ami-rale

Elio Di Rupo, chronique d'un vainqueur

Plus sérieusement, la BBC reconnait un certain mérité à Elio Di Rupo. Il a relevé des défis tout au long de sa vie, constate le site de la radio et télé publique anglais, qui fait le portrait de ce fils d'immigrés dont la vie est un "conte de fées".


Profile: Belgium's Elio Di Rupo

Elio Di Rupo, the man tipped to end Belgium's seemingly intractable government crisis, has been grappling with challenges all his life. O...

Bbc

The Cherry Orchard - Michael Urie

[Source]
Dianne Wiest, Josh Hamilton, John Turturro, Michael Urie Take a Swing at The Cherry Orchard, Opening Dec. 4
By Kenneth Jones
04 Dec 2011

John Turturro and Juliet Rylance
Photo by Carol Rosegg

Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic classic The Cherry Orchard, featuring John Turturro as Lopakhin, Dianne Wiest as Ranevskaya and Daniel Davis as Gaev, opens Dec. 4 following previews from Nov. 16 in a run to Dec. 30 at CSC's Off-Broadway home on East 13th Street.

The cast also includes Ken Cheeseman (Pischick), Alvin Epstein (Fiers), Josh Hamilton (Trofimov), Slate Holmgren (Yasha), Roberta Maxwell (Charlotta), Juliet Rylance (Varya), Michael Urie (Yepikhodov), Elisabeth Waterston (Dunyasha) and Katherine Waterston (Anya).

The Cherry Orchard — one of the pillars of Russian dramatic literature and modern western theatre — is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones. The Dec. 30 close represents a one-week extension.

Turturro and Oscar winner Wiest are veterans of CSC. The famous play concerns landowners who don't act quickly or passionately enough to save their beloved estate. The price of human indolence and procrastination (in the face of progress) is at the play's core. Wiest's Ranevskaya keeps looking to the past while Turturro's former serf Lopakhin has a plan for the property.

Here's how Classic Stage characterizes its revival: "First presented in 1904 at the Moscow Art Theatre, The Cherry Orchard was Chekhov's final play, and with this new production CSC completes its acclaimed Chekhov Cycle, which has included The Seagull (with Wiest and Alan Cumming), Uncle Vanya (with Denis O'Hare, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) and Three Sisters (with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Hecht, Juliet Rylance and Peter Sarsgaard). The latter two productions were directed by Austin Pendleton. With its Chekhov Cycle, CSC mounted these four masterpieces over the past five years, and gathered a dedicated constellation of actors, designers and directors, many of whom continued to return to work together on these remarkable plays." 

The Cherry Orchard includes scenic design by three-time Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto, costume design by Marco Piemontese, lighting design by James F. Ingalls, hair design by Paul Huntley and sound design and original music by Christian Frederickson and Ryan Rumery (MCC Theater's The Submission).

CSC is at 136 E. 13th Street. Performances play Tuesdays at 7 PM; Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM; Saturdays & Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are $70 for weekday performances and $75 for weekends. For tickets and information, visit www.classicstage.org or call (866) 811-4111 or (212) 352-3101.

Trevor Live Los Angeles

Trevor Live Los Angeles

Trevor Investor

THE TREVOR PROJECT BOARD OF DIRECTORS and

EVENT CO-CHAIRS BILL HARRISON & WARREN COHN THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

TO WATCH THE FULL RED CARPET COVERAGE CLICK HERE

The 8 Best Marriage Equality Videos From Around the World by QUEERITY

[Source]

With the release of the viral “It’s Time” marriage-equality PSA rending hearts across Australia and the world, we thought it might be time to collect some of the world’s best pro-gay-marriage videos. If these moving pieces doesn’t convince your friends to support marriage equality, we don’t know what to do for them.

Canada

Canada has legalized gay marriage for over five years now, and this adorable love story between an Ontario mountie and a Quebecois officer celebrates that. Note the ad wasn’t actually sanctioned by the Canadian government. It’s something of a joke placed between shows on Canadian television chronicling notable bits of Canuck history.

Ireland

This touching piece shows the heart-wrenching effects of not allowing non-biological children to visit their LGBT mothers or fathers in the hospital.

England

While it’s not an ad, it certainly helped marriage equality in England when the Prime Minister David Cameron said, “I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a conservative, I support gay marriage because I am a conservative.”

New York City

The daughter of a notoriously anti-gay president supports marriage equality in New York State. Is it too much to wish that she had done this while her dad was in office?

Los Angeles

Hollywood assembled some of its brightest, funniest stars for this hilarious musical parody of California’s Prop 8 battle. And then Dustin Lance Black went and tried to top it with his own Prop 8 play. Oh Dustin, you scalliwag!

Iowa

Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old student, speaks to his state’s legislature about being raised by two moms. This nearly year-old video is making the viral rounds again, probably because Wahls speaks so eloquently or because he’s so dreamy.

The Golden Girls Nation

“Everyone wants someone to grow old with,” says Estelle Getty’s character Sophia. “And shouldn’t everyone have that chance?” Yes, Sophia. Yes they do. Even foul-mouthed, old ladies in nightgowns deserve some good, clean lesbian love.

Neil Patrick Harris Apologizes for Using Anti-Trans Slur

[Source]
Neil Patrick Harris Apologizes for Saying "Tranny" on Live!

Dec 2, 2011 07:49 PM ET
by Natalie Abrams

Neil Patrick Harris apologized Friday for using the word "tranny" during Thursday's Live With Kelly.

After Kelly Ripa and Harris, who is guest-hosting as Live searches for a permanent replacement for Regis Philbin, inhaled sulfer hexafluoride — "helium's evil twin" — during a science experiment, the How I Met Your Mother star joked, "I've never sounded more like a tranny in my life."

Dancing's Derek, Jerry O'Connell, Josh Groban to Guest-Host Live!

"Truly sorry for saying the word 'tranny' on Live this week. Twice! Should have been more thoughtful. Didn't at all mean to offend," he tweeted Friday.

GLAAD accepted Harris' apology, noting, "It's heartening to see a celebrity of Harris' stature recognize and apologize for using the slur in such a timely manner, and for greater media attention being paid to its use."

Check out a clip of Harris on Live:



[Source]
Actor Neil Patrick Harris Apologizes for Using Anti-Trans Slur on Live With Kelly
Friday, December 2, 2011 - 12:48pm by Matt Kane, GLAAD's Associate Director of Entertainment Media

Following his use of the word “tr*nny” and an impression of a transgender person on Live With Kelly!, actor Neil Patrick Harris has apologized for his comments on Twitter, saying, “Truly sorry for saying the word 'tranny' on Live this week. Twice! Should have been more thoughtful. Didn't at all mean to offend.”

It’s heartening to see a celebrity of Harris’ stature recognize and apologize for using the slur in such a timely manner, and for greater media attention being paid to its use.  Many people do not realize that the word "tr*nny" is one of the most hurtful and dehumanizing slurs that transgender people hear.  Most transgender people associate that word with personal experiences of violence, hatred and derision.

GLAAD is reaching out to Mr. Harris about the incident.

With this coming soon after the casting of Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars, Kelly Osborne's heartfelt apology, and the widespread coverage we saw for this year's Transgender Day of Rememberance, it really feels like we could be at a turning point in the way our nation and even our community (LGBT people and allies) understand the struggles and lives of our transgender friends, neighbors and family members.

Many people - even within the LGBT and allied community - don't have firsthand experience speaking with everyday transgender people about the challenges they face, the way they feel they are viewed by society, and the way they'd like to be treated.  Neil Patrick Harris is an incredible force for LGBT inclusion and equality. He stars on one of the most popular shows in the country, he's an immensely talented and charismatic individual, and he's an excellent family man to boot.
We hope that others who might not see this as a "big deal" will take the opportunity to rethink the way they approach the transgender community.

Michael Urie will join 'How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying'

[Source]
Michael Urie Will Join Nick Jonas in Broadway's How to Succeed in Business...
By Adam Hetrick
01 Dec 2011

Michael Urie

Michael Urie will step into the role of Bud Frump, the lazy office brown-noser at the World Wide Wicket Company, in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Urie made a name for himself as as slick office assistant Marc St. James on the ABC comedy series "Ugly Betty" and currently appears in the Off-Broadway production of The Cherry Orchard at Classic Stage Company.

He will succeed original revival cast member Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump on Jan. 24, 2012. Hanke (Cry-Baby, In My Life) will play his final performance Jan. 22, 2012.

Urie previously appeared Off-Broadway in the Signature Theatre Company revival of Tony Kusher's Angels in America. He also appeared Off-Broadway in The Temperamentals and earned a Lucille Lortel Award for his work.

Urie's first performance will also mark the Broadway return of Nick Jonas, who will take over the lead role of J. Pierrepont Finch Jan. 24, 2012. "Glee" star Darren Criss will play a limited engagement in the revival Jan. 3-22, 2012, prior to Jonas' arrival.

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe originated the role of Finch in the revival. He will exit the Broadway production Jan. 1, 2012, along with his Tony-winning co-star John Larroquette, who plays J. B. Biggley. Beau Bridges will take over the role of Biggley Jan. 3, 2012.

How to Succeed… opened on Broadway March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The musical has a score by Frank Loesser, with a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert. Tony Award winner Rob Ashford directed and choreographed the production.

The principal cast also features Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows") as office bombshell Hedy La Rue, Christopher J. Hanke (In My Life, Cry-Baby) as Bud Frump, Rose Hemingway (Parade at the Mark Taper Forum) in her Broadway debut as Rosemary Pilkington, Rob Bartlett (Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors) as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber (American Idiot, Avenue Q) as Smitty, Ellen Harvey (Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man) as Miss Jones and Michael Park (Middletown) as Bert Bratt.

For tickets, priced $52-$132, phone (212) 239-6200 or visit Telecharge. The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is located at 302 West 45th Street.

Ugly Betty's Michael Urie Tapped to Play Bud Frump in How to Succeed

[Source]

Ugly Betty's Michael Urie Tapped to Play Bud Frump in How to Succeed

News By Broadway.com Staff December 1, 2011 - 3:15PM

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Ugly Betty vet Michael Urie will make his Broadway debut as Bud Frump in the hit musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying beginning January 24, 2012. Urie is set for a six-month run (through July 1) alongside Nick Jonas as J.Pierrepont Finch and Beau Bridges as J.B. Biggley. Original star Christopher J. Hanke will remain with the production as Bud through January 22, the final performance in the three-week run of Glee’s Darren Criss as Finch.

Urie, who played Marc in TV’s Ugly Betty, is currently starring as Yepikhodov in Classic Stage Company’s revival of The Cherry Orchard. Other off-Broadway credits include a Lucille Lortel Award-winning performance as designer Rudi Gernreich in The Temperamentals, Prior Walter in Signature Theatre Company’s revival of Angels in America and a variety of famous folks in Celebrity Autobiography.

How to Succeed opened on Broadway on March 7 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. In addition to Hanke, the show currently stars Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch, 2011 Tony Award winner John Larroquette as J. B. Biggley, Rose Hemingway as Rosemary Pilkington, Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue, Rob Bartlett as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber as Smitty, Ellen Harvey as Miss Jones and Michael Park as Bert Bratt.

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