Ellen Ochoa to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ellen Ochoa has earned a special presidential honor…

The 65-year-old Mexican American engineer, former NASA astronaut and former director of the Johnson Space Center is among the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The White House last held a ceremony in July 2022.

In 1993, Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Ochoa became director of the center upon the retirement of the previous director, Michael Coats, on December 31, 2012. She was the first Hispanic director and the second female director of Johnson Space Center.

But Ochoa isn’t the only Hispanic person recognized this year.

Teresa Romero is also being honored.

The Mexican immigrant and activist is the president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the United States.

She has secured key victories to improve the lives of the workers who feed and fuel our nation.

Other honorees include Phil Donahue, Michelle Yeoh, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), former Vice President Al Gore, former Secretary of State John Kerry and former senator Elizabeth Dole. Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, also will be honored.

Others on the list include Clarence B. Jones, the civil rights activist and lawyer who helped draft Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech; swimmer Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky; educator and activist Opal Lee; astronomer Jane Rigby; and LGBT activist Judy Shepard.

Being honored posthumously will be Medgar Evers, former senator Frank Lautenberg and multi-sports legend Jim Thorpe.

Christina Aguilera to Headline This Year’s LadyLand 2021 Festival

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera is showing support for the LGBTQIA community…

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadoran American Grammy-winning singer has been announced as the headlining performer at LadyLand 2021, LadyFag‘s now-annual queer music festival held in Brooklyn.

Chairlift co-founder Caroline Polachek will also perform at the Brooklyn Mirage on September 11, with other LGBTS artists and allies set to take the stage, including Drag Race season 10 winner Aquaria, Skin, Nina Sky (Nicole and Natalie Albino), La Goony Chonga and more.

LadyLand 2021 will be Aguilera’s first performance in New York City since her headlining shows at Radio City Music Hall in 2018 for her Liberation World Tour.

The star recently made her return to performing live following the pandemic with two shows at the Hollywood Bowl, wherein she reinvented many of her biggest hits with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“It was a performance of a lifetime,” she told Billboard of the shows. “It was the performance I waited my whole life to do for so many creative purposes.”

The annual festival, curated by New York nightlife icon Ladyfag, returns for the first time since 2019, where Russian feminist collective Pussy Riot offered up a rare headlining set, accompanied by performances from stars like DJ Honey Dijon, Drag Race season 11 winner Yvie Oddly and more.

This year’s festival will require all attendees to provide proof of full vaccination completed at least two weeks before the event.

LadyLand 2021 will take place at the Brooklyn Mirage on September 11, from 7:30 pm to 4:00 am.

Tickets are on sale here.

Christina Aguilera Releases New Line of Pride-Themed Merchandise

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera is showing her support for the LGBTQ community…

With Pride Month just a few weeks away, the 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer is helping her fans gear up for the season with some brand-new merchandise.

Xtina recently shared a line of merch to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, with portions of the proceeds being donated to LGBTQ organizations.

The new line includes four new items, including a sweatshirt, a mesh tank top, a pair of briefs and a face mask, all emblazoned with different, rainbow-themed variations of the singer’s nickname “Xtina,” her face with dripping, rainbow-colored makeup, and a pair of lips.

Along with providing new attire for her fans, Aguilera is also making sure to give back to the transgender community with her new merch. Thirty percent of all proceeds from the line will go toward two organizations: TransLash, a nonprofit organization using personal storytelling to “shift the cultural understanding of what it means to be transgender in order to foster social inclusion and reduce anti-trans hostility,” and TransTech, an organization founded by actress and activist Angelica Ross to “economically empower” transgender people through employment opportunities, workshop programs and more.

“Fighters gonna be looking fly this pride,” Aguilera captioned an Instagram post showing off her new merch. “I’m so excited to announce my new PRIDE collection! I am also proud to support @transtechsocial & @translashmedia, two organizations doing such important work for the community.”

Shop the collection by clicking here.

Entertainment One to Develop Series Based on Adam Silvera’s YA Novel “They Both Die at the End”

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the beginning of the End for Adam Silvera.

Entertainment One has acquired the U.S. rights to the 40-year-old half Puerto Rican writer’s novel They Both Die at the End to develop for television.

Silvera’s novel currently ranks at No. 1 on the New York Times YA paperback bestsellers list three years after it was published.

Silvera is attached to pen the series adaptation. eOne will serve as the studio and distribute the project worldwide.

Published by HarperCollins in September 2017, They Both Die at the End was previously in development as a series at HBO with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and The Other Two co-creator Chris Kelly. eOne pursued the rights when they became available, landing in a competitive situation.

Creative Engine and eOne already have a relationship with Silvera, whose first novel, More Happy Than Not, is currently in the works as a series at HBO Max, also eOne. Andrew Haigh is attached to direct.

They Both Die at the End is a devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day. According to the book synopsis: “On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.”

The book made history as the first YA novel with queer Latinx characters to hit No. 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list.

The novel experienced a resurgence in popularity during the pandemic and hit No. 1 again last month after it became a fixture under the TikTok hashtag #BookTok, where users recommend books and record their reactions to emotional story developments.

It now ranks as the bestselling YA novel of 2021, and there has been a 900% increase in printings to meet demand. The novel also is a No. 1 National Indie bestseller, the No. 1 YA bestseller in the UK and Australia, and the top-selling YA title on the USA Today bestseller list.

Silvera has expressed interest in writing more books in the They Both Die at the End universe.

Danny Trejo to Star in the LGBT-Themed Short Film “The Shift”

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo is reporting for his shift…

The 76-year-old Mexican American actor has been cast in The Shift, an LGBT-centric short film from Eyeris Entertainment.

Trejo will star opposite Jessica Tuck, Brittany Curran, and Toni Trucks in the short film, which will be directed by Jade Tailor.

The film is set at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and tells a deeply human story, through the intertwined vignettes of seven individuals, as they experience a paradigm shift in what was once their everyday lives.

Brooke Maroon, Skyler Davenport, Moses Muñoz and Aidan Bristow co-star in the short, which explores shifts in perspective, shifts in expectations, and shifts in society as a whole.

Curran and Sarah Wylie are producing with Tailor serving as an executive producer. The three are simultaneously fundraising for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis during COVID-19 and have partnered with the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

“Even the most unexpected elements of filmmaking have changed,” said Curran. “We took a group shot at the end of filming with the incredible Danny Trejo. With our masks on, we scattered ourselves all over the garden we were shooting in, and somehow managed to get the whole crew in one shot while staying totally compliant. Then Danny whips out his phone and says that he’s FaceTiming Mayor Garcetti because he wants him to see this. It was a singular moment.”

Netflix’s “The Boys in the Band,” Starring Robin de Jesus, Added to Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival Lineup with Special Cast Conversation

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Robin de Jesus is going Inside Out…

The 30th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival has announced its lineup for this year’s virtual edition, with the 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer’s highly anticipated The Boys in the Band part of the roster.

de Jesus and his The Boys in the Band cast members will take part in an exclusive conversation about the film.

Based on the Tony Award-winning play, the new film also stars Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons. It’s directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Ryan Murphy.

The Boys in the Band debuts on September 30 and will be available for audiences to stream ahead of the conversation.

Meanwhile, some of the Latinx directed and/or Latino-related films that form part of the lineup include Adam Golub’s documentary Your Mother’s Comfort (Brazil), Gil Baroni’s narrative film Alice Junior (Brazil), Daniel Nolasco’s narrative film Dry Wind (Brazil), Clarisa Navas’ narrative film One In a Thousand (Argentina/Germany), Omar Zúñiga Hidalgo’s narrative film The Strong Ones (Chile) and StormMiguel Florez’s documentary The Whistle (USA).

The lineup for the 10-day festival will include drive-in and special events, as it showcases 150 films and nine episodic series. The fest was originally set for May, but was pushed to October 1-11 due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

“The queer community is no stranger to extraordinary situations. Who could have predicted a global pandemic would become the entry point to mobilize around new ideas, new connections and collaborations, to ensure we could still deliver the best and safest possible 30th anniversary,” added the festival’s director Andrew Murphy. “Film is really now the safest way to travel, and this year’s lineup provides a unique opportunity to escape into the many complicated queer worlds via the brilliant minds of our filmmakers, icons, and peers.”

Films will be in competition for jury and audience awards and for the first time award winners will be revealed on opening weekend, giving audiences the opportunity to view the winning films throughout the entire festival.

Click here to see the entire lineup.

HBO Max Renews Leiomy Maldonado’s “Legendary” for Second Season

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more legendary moments in Leiomy Maldonado’s future…

HBO Max has ordered a second season of the reality voguing competition Legendary, featuring the 33-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model and ballroom dancer, aka “Wonder Woman of Vogue.”

In addition to Maldonado, the reality competition series that puts the spotlight on ballroom culture, the series’ judges also include fashion stylist Law Roach, actress Jameela Jamil and rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Dashaun Wesley will reprise his role as ballroom MC.

The final two episodes of season one were released this past week.

The current season takes place in New York but will make its way across the country to Los Angeles for its sophomore run.

Legendary celebrates ballroom culture which started in New York as a subculture that served as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community — primarily for Black and Latinx people. The series brings the culture to the masses as we see families or “Houses” fashion and dance challenges including voguing for the chance to snatch the trophy and win a cash prize.

In the first season, Legendaryfeatured eight voguing houses: House of Balmain, House of Escada, House of Gucci, House of Lanvin, House of Ninja, House of Ebony, House of St. Laurent and House of West. Each house included five performers and a leader affectionately called the house mother. The teams compete in a competition that documents a themed ball every episode from start to finish. Throughout each episode, we learn more about each House and their performers as they tell us their moving and inspirational backstories.

“Legendary was an HBO Max, day one premiere,” said Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer at HBO Max, President, TNT, TBS and truTV. “We knew we had something special and are proud that critics and audiences alike have embraced the series. Bringing this incredible world back for a second season furthers our commitment to high quality, compelling storytelling.”

“Our goal is to continue showcasing the exuberant and dynamic world of ballroom through the omnicultural stories of its most talented houses,” said Rob Eric, Scout Productions’ Chief Creative Officer and executive producer.

Jesse & Joy Release New Track “Love (Es Nuestro Idioma)” to Commemorate Pride Month

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse & Joy are spreading some Love this Pride Month…

The Mexican brother & sister duo, comprised of Jesse Eduardo Huerta Uecke and Tirzah Joy Huerta Uecke, kicked off Pride Monthby releasing “Love (Es Nuestro Idioma),” a new track featured on their new album Aire.

“Our music will always be there to remind you that you are beautiful just as you are,” Jesse & Joy said in the homemade video released on their Instagram page. “It’s called ‘Love’ and talks about love being the universal language, the language that all of us should speak.”

On the post’s caption, they elaborated that the song and video are in celebration of Pride Month and was a previous presentation for, LGBTI organization Yaaj Mexico.

“Do not let anyone tell you that it is wrong to love,” they stated of the uptempo acoustic song.

Karamo Brown & His Queer Eye Co-Stars to Co-Host Elton John’s Oscar Viewing Party

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Karamo Brownwill have a busy Oscar night…

The 39-year-old part-Cuban American television personality and his Queer Eye co-stars will serve as co-hosts at Sir Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party on February 9.

The legendary performer, who inspired Taron Egerton‘s Golden Globe-nominated performance in Rocketman, has drafted Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan Franceand Bobby Berkto join honorary chairs John and husband David Furnishat the helm, though its unclear where the fifth Queer Eye star, Antoni Porowski, will be.

Also taking the stage will be the British actor, singer-songwriter and Brits Critic Choice Award winner Sam Fender, who has been tapped to perform.

The Oscars viewing party event will once again take place in West Hollywood Park, serving as a benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“Each year we are blessed to have incredible artists do what they do best at our party and this year will be another special night not to miss. Given we have some of the wonderful hosts of Queer Eye at our party, we all wanted to use the event to raise funds for our work with LGBT ommunities around the world, many of whom are 20 times more vulnerable to the disease than their straight peers. AIDS isn’t over until no one gets left behind,” John said Thursday in a statement.

Miss Spain Angela Ponce Makes History as the First Transgender Contestant to Compete for the Miss Universe Title

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

She didn’t take home the Miss Universe crown, but Angela Ponce has left in indelible mark on the international beauty pageant.

The 27-year-old Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder, who’d already made history in June as the first transgender woman to ever be crowned Miss Spain, made historyat Miss Universe 2018 as the first transgender contestant competing for the title.

Ponce received a standing ovation during the coronation night in Thailand, as well as a special tribute by the beauty pageant organization via a video recognition.

After the video was shown, Ponce walked on stage, removed her sash and held it up triumphantly in the air.

“I don’t need to win Miss Universe. I just need to be here,” Angela said.

“What I feel by being the first transgender contestant at Miss Universe is a big sense of responsibility, it gives me a lot of pride, and personally I’m very proud to have made it here,” Ponce said. “I’ve been in the press, on TV, and I’ve put the conservation on the table. It was a topic that was not spoken about, what does it mean being a transgender person.”

Ponce believes that mindsets about the LGBT community are changing.

“Today, there are positive references. People speak about the LGBT community, and the transgender community. Before it was always underground and never spoken about. I think that people are more and more informed. All these prejudices come from disinformation,” Ponce said.

Although Ponce is proud of being a transgender woman, she says the hardest obstacle she has had to overcome is being born into a world that “wasn’t prepared” for trans people.

“We don’t have the same rights, but we have the same obligations. At school, disinformation is what becomes prejudice, the bullying, the fact that you feel alone, excluded. I always say that it’s not that you feel like a woman. You already are a woman. A transgender is not a man or a boy who feels like a woman, she’s already a transgender person,” Ponce explained. “There are no wrong bodies.”

Ponce has advice for all transgender girls and women.

“We have to be happy, feel free, go with the flow, have less prejudices, have more love and be more tolerant of everything,” she said.

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