THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

LGBTQ+ rapper Megan Thee Stallion is taking a break, she revealed in an interview with InStyle. "Fans can expect new music when I'm in a better place," the three-time Grammy winner said. "Right now, I'm focused on healing." Megan (who's also turning her focus to other endeavors, such as her partnership with beauty-brand Revlon) added, "The music and entertainment industry can be a grind, so it's important to take time off and avoid burning out. Life is all about balance."

The book Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody (Delmonico Books/The Broad) will be out on July 25, per a press release. Featuring contributions by George Condo, Julia Gruen, Bill T. Jones, Ann Magnuson, Tony Shafrazi and Gil Vazquez, the book surveys Haring's art practice from 1978 to 1990, shining a light on the iconic and beloved artist known for his fluid, uniform lines, intricate compositions and repeating imagery. Titled after a quote from Haring's journals, Art Is for Everybody centers on the artist's activism, the emphasis he placed on community and his egalitarian approach to art and life.

Cher's classic album It's A Man's World is being reimagined as a special deluxe limited-edition vinyl box set that features a remastered version of the original 14-track UK album on two LPs, as well as a newly compiled double LP containing 11 rare remixes, per a press release. The 4 LPs in the limited-edition box are each pressed on a different colored vinyl (red, blue, green and yellow). The box includes an exclusive, numbered lithograph of an iconic photograph of Cher. First released in 1995, It's a Man's World featured the singles "Walking In Memphis," "One By One," "Not Enough Love In the World," "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "Paradise Is Here."

George Maharis—who starred on the show Route 66 (alongside Martin Milner) before he quit the acclaimed 1960s CBS drama after contracting hepatitis—has died at age 94, per The Hollywood Reporter. In July 1973, he posed nude for Playgirl magazine, becoming the second actor (after Lyle Waggoner) to do so. Maharis was arrested in 1967 on charges of "lewd conduct" and in 1974 on charges of "sex perversion" for cruising in men's bathrooms, according to The New York Times; he didn't discuss his sexuality in interviews.

In a recent edition of Daily Blast Live, Grammy and Emmy-nominated actress/singer Vanessa Williams—a judge on season two of Paramount+ Queens of the Universe—spoke about how the United States compares to other countries in its response to drag, according to a press release. In part, she said, "In terms of where we are as a country, yeah, we've got some issues right now letting our drag be an art form. It is an art form. It is not predatory. These are queens that have made a life and career out of transformation and bringing joy." The clip is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmpSSj8VWJU.

Dekkoo.com—a subscription streaming service dedicated to gay men—celebrates Pride month with Historical Homos, an original series executive-produced by Zachary Quinto, per a press release. Historical Homos, hosted by Bash and Donal Brophy, is described as "a provocative and often hysterically funny guide to queer history." The show premieres June 9.

The long-awaited sixth season of Black Mirror has an official trailer, a launch date of June 15 and detailed episode info, Deadline revealed. There will be five stories and a cast including Aaron Paul, Michael Cera, Salma Hayek Pinault, Myha'la Herrold and Kate Mara. A teaser came out several weeks ago, at which point the show was confirmed.

In a wide-open discussion at Cannes, Jane Fonda stated uncensored opinions on Robert Redford, director Jean-Luc Godard, Michael Douglas and Katharine Hepburn, among other people/topics, according to Deadline. For example, the two-time Oscar winner said she "was in love with" Redford, adding, "He did not like to kiss. I never said anything [to him about it]. And he's always in a bad mood, and I always thought it was my fault. He's a very good person; he just has an issue with women." Fonda also said Lily Tomlin as her favorite co-star.

Music icon Celine Dion canceled all planned dates on her Courage world tour through 2024 as she continues to struggle with the rare neurological disorder she disclosed last year, Deadline noted. The cancellations are the second batch since the singer disclosed in December that she had been diagnosed with the rare Stiff Person Syndrome. The condition causes stiffness and spasms in several muscles in the body, and is incurable. In December, Dion announced that she was canceling a planned resumption of her European tour in February 2023.

Actor/Broadway star Ben Platt showed fans his diamond ring after revealing that his fiancé Noah Galvin popped the question to him following their initial engagement in November, Page Six noted. On Instagram Stories, Platt said his beau proposed with a sapphire ring that is similar to the ring he gave Galvin last year. The pair then celebrated the exciting occasion with pals, and even had a special cake made that read, "Gay marriage is cool."

During a recent Howie Mandel Does Stuff YouTube show interview, queer actress Raven-Symone, now married to Miranda Maday, revealed several personal items—including that she required everyone she dated to sign a non-disclosure agreement, per Essence. However, it took a while for the actress to feel confident enough to ask potential romantic partners to sign the legal document, as she felt the act was impersonal; however, she ultimately decided to present NDAs to protect herself.

Actress/singer Paloma Faith recently slammed the new The Little Mermaid film that stars Halle Bailey, according to Deadline. "As a mother of girls I don't want my kids to think it's ok to give up your entire voice and your powers to love a man," Faith shared in a now-deleted Instagram post that Metro caught. "Wtf is this sh*t. Not what I want to be teaching next gen women at all." However, Faith praised Bailey, saying, "I think Halle gives a good performance and it's great casting."

The Little Mermaid was also criticized by media-diversity advocate Marcus Ryder for failing to acknowledge the horrors of slavery in the Caribbean, per Deadline. Ryder, an influential British campaigner who also chairs the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, lauded the casting of Halle Bailey but took issue with the film's glossy depiction of racial harmony. "I do not think we do our children any favors by pretending that slavery didn't exist," he wrote in a blog titled "Disney's The Little Mermaid, Caribbean Slavery, and Telling the Truth to Children."

Rihanna recently praised LGBTQ+ sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, according to Yahoo! News. "Clean," the singer/mogul commented under an Instagram post from one of Richardson's most recent races. Richardson has said the last two years have been filled with anger at her situation (being barred from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for cannabis) and that she is now focused on her goals.

Queer Eye co-star Tan France and husband Rob just welcomed their second child, Extra noted. On social media, Tan wrote, "Welcome baby boy #2, Isaac France, born this past weekend. He completes our little family perfectly," adding, "And a huge thank you to our incredible warrior of a surrogate, for giving us the greatest gift one could ever give."

The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg was discussing the new Netflix documentary Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me during the show's daily "Hot Topics" segment when she went after the show American Idol, according to Deadline. "I think that we, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks. I've always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with, what's the name of that show?" Goldberg continued, before an off-camera producer suggested, "American Idol?" She then acknowledged the suggestion before adding, "Once we gave people the ability to judge other people, I think we ran amok with it, and it's gone out of control."

In a move some have called shocking, Kim Cattrall will briefly reprise her role as Samantha Jones in the Max sequel And Just Like That…'s second season, per The Hollywood Reporter. Cattrall will appear as Samantha in the season two finale, having filmed the top-secret cameo in March with limited crew and no interaction with former co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon or Kristin Davis. The second season will debut on June 22.

Tyler Posey released his first full-length album, Unravel, per a press release. Produced by Matt Malpass and John Feldmann, the album features 16 new tracks, including previous singles "Lemon"—which premiered originally in Teen Wolf: The Movie on Paramount+—"Gravity," "Don't Mind Me" and "Runnin'." Fans can stream Unravel at ffm.to/tylerposey-unravel.

Also regarding Posey (who came out as queer and sexually fluid in 2021), he announced his engagement to singer Phem, according to Extra. The Teen Wolf actor told People it was a beach proposal in Cambria, California. Posey surprised her with a ring he designed himself that included her favorite color, green. They plan on marrying in October. Phem also identifies as queer, per Hollywood Life.

Prolific Broadway set designer Robin Wagner has passed away at 89, Deadline noted. He won three Tonys and counted Angels in America, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, The Producers and Jelly's Last Jam among his achievements. His major Broadway breakthrough came with the original and acclaimed production of Hair, in 1968.

Tyne Daly and Liev Schreiber will star in a new Broadway production of John Patrick Shanley's Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt: A Parable, with direction by Scott Ellis, Deadline noted. The Roundabout Theatre Company production will begin performances in February 2024 at the American Airlines Theatre. In 2008, a feature-film adaptation entitled Doubt starred Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

A special variant cover for July's X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 will give fans a sneak peek at Marvel Studios' X-Men '97—the upcoming Disney+ series and sequel to the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series, a press release noted. The piece spotlights the main cast of the show including Magneto, who will join the X-Men in the series.

Gorillaz announced The Getaway, a series of four U.S. shows slated for this fall, with support from gay DJ KAYTRANADA, Lil Yachty and Remi Wolf, per a press release. The Getaway will be the final run of U.S. dates in support of the band's recently released smash album Cracker Island, and will kick off on Sept. 10, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with stops at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Sept. 13; Chicago's Credit 1 Union Amphitheatre in Chicago on Sept. 16; and Boston's Fenway Park on Sept. 19. See gorillaz.com .

Season one of Match Me in Miami will be available on the Roku Channel on June 9, per a press release. According to the release, "Match Me in Miami spotlights an elite matchmaking agency challenged with coupling up singles in the city where the party never ends: Miami. The reality series follows the high stakes world of matchmaking as matchmakers clash and sparks fly." The coaches/matchmakers are Nelly Sudri, Elsa Moreck, Tiff Baira and Taty Cokley. People can stream The Roku Channel for free on Roku devices, the Web, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung TVs; no subscription is required.

While speaking with The Evening Standard's ES Magazine, now-former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Lisa Rinna said her decision to leave was sparked by the backlash she received from fans following the show's most recent season, where she was hell-bent on taking down Kathy Hilton after an Aspen trip gone wrong, per Decider. In part, she said, "We were getting death threats. Some of the most horrible things I've ever seen in print in my life, and it's a reality show! It's a stupid show!"

Kylie Jenner was caught breaking safety protocols at her makeup-manufacturing facility despite stating otherwise last August, per Page Six. During an episode of Hulu's show The Kardashians, the makeup mogul was visiting the facility in Milan. While in the lab, she was gloveless and her long hair was loose as she hand-mixed a Kylie Cosmetics concealer. At one point she even placed a beaker up to her lips and said, "I kind of want to drink it."

The jury in Danny Masterson's rape retrial found the actor guilty on the majority of the three counts against him, Deadline reported. After the verdicts were read out and the jury dismissed, Masterson was cuffed and taken into custody despite the pleas of his lawyers. The actor (That 70's Show) faces up to 30 years behind bars on the two guilty counts.

On the flip side, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office will not file sexual-assault charges against actor Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name) following a lengthy investigation by the LAPD, Variety noted. The office said it could not prove rape allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, in part due to the "complexity of the relationship" between Hammer and the accuser. Hammer had denied the claims.