Michaela Jaé Rodriguez to Receive Stephen F. Kolzak Award at GLAAD Media Awards

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez has something special to be GLAAD about…

The 31-year-old half-Afro-Puerto Rican actress, singer and activist, also known as Mj Rodriguez, will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award from GLAAD, the queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, at the 33rd annual GLAAD Media Awards.

MJ RodriguezThe Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBTQ acceptance.

The award is named after a legendary casting director, who devoted his life to raising awareness in the entertainment industry about the discrimination faced by LGBTQ people as well as people living with HIV. Previous Stephen F. Kolzak honorees include Laverne Cox, Jim Parsons, Wanda Sykes, Troye Sivan, Ruby Rose, Chaz Bono, Stephen Warren, Melissa Etheridge, and Sir Ian McKellen.

“Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is an undeniable talent who is changing the way audiences understand trans people while breaking down barriers for the trans community and LGBTQ people of color within the entertainment industry,” said GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Her performance as Blanca on Pose was one of the most important and impactful roles in the history of LGBTQ representation on television, and she continues to spearhead the future of trans visibility and inclusion in entertainment through her talent on screen, in music, and as a passionate activist.”

The GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. Since its inception in 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally.

The ceremony is set for Saturday, April 2 at the Beverly Hilton.

A New York ceremony will be held at the Hilton Midtown on Friday, May 6, 2022.

Zoey Luna Signs with A3 Artists Agency for Representation

Zoey Luna has new representation…

The pioneering Latina transgender youth activist turned actress, who stars in The Craft: Legacy star Zoey Luna has signed with A3 Artists Agency.

Zoey Luna

Luna portrayed Lourdes in The Craft: Legacy and currently can be seen in Universal’s Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Luna was the subject of the groundbreaking documentary film Raising Zoey, chronicling her journey of how she was determined to live her authentic life, and fought school officials in the Los Angeles school system with the ACLU for her right to self-identify in school between ages 12-15.

She was also part of Laverne Cox’s documentary film Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word for MTV and the documentary 15: A Quinceañera Story for HBO.

She began her acting career with a lead role in the Rosario Dawson-directed short film Boundless and she most recently appeared in the season finale of FX’s award-winning series Pose.

Luna served as the grand marshal at the 2015 LA Pride parade, is the recipient of the San Diego Equality Award and the recipient of the ALMA AwardsYoung Trailblazer Award.

She also is a frequent featured speaker at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to Thrive conferences.

Guillermo Díaz to Take Part in Virtual Benefit Reading of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart”

It’s a new normal for Guillermo Díaz.

The 46-year-old Cuban-American actor is among the all-star cast for a virtual benefit reading of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, which will be directed by Paris Barclay.

Guillermo Diaz

The May 8 reading, which aims to raise funds for ONE Archives Foundation and Invisible Histories Project, will include a special introduction by Martin Sheen.

Sterling K. Brown, Laverne Cox, Jeremy Pope and Jake Borelli are among the cast; Ryan O’Connell; Daniel Newman; Jay Hayden and Danielle Savr.

The reading, according to producers, will mark the first performance of Kramer’s Tony Award-winning play to be performed by a predominately BIPOC and LGBTQ cast.

“When I was approached by ONE Archives Foundation to direct a virtual reading of The Normal Heart, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Barclay. “I lived in New York through the 1980s, saw the original production with Brad Davis, and have never forgotten the experience. And through today’s lens, the story of a marginalized people pushed to activism by the onslaught of an epidemic clearly was worth telling again.”

Funds raised from this event will support ONE Archives Foundation’s LGBTQ education initiatives, including K-12 lesson plans on HIV/AIDS, teacher trainings, youth engagement, and ONE Archives Foundation’s exhibitions.

The benefit also supports Invisible Histories Project’s efforts to preserve the legacy of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ activists through archiving, inclusion training, exhibitions, and programs about Southern LGBTQ history.

The Normal Heart chronicles the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City, based on Kramer’s cofounding the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in 1982.

The play premiered Off Broadway at New York’s Public Theater in 1985, and was staged on Broadway by director Joel Grey and starring Joe Mantello in 2011, winning a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Ryan Murphy directed a 2014 film adaptation for HBO.

Tickets go on sale on April 8 here. The reading is scheduled for Saturday, May 8 at 5:00 pm ET.

Ricky Martin to Take Part in “Can’t Cancel Pride: A COVID-19 Relief Benefit for the LGBTQ+ Community”

Ricky Martin is expressing his Pride

While Pride Month parades have been put on hold throughout the world, the 48-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is helping the LGTBQ+ community celebrate in a special way. 

Ricky Martin

P&G and iHeartMedia have joined forces for “Can’t Cancel Pride: A COVID-19 Relief Benefit for the LGBTQ+ Community.” 

The special will raise funds for LGTBQ+ communities most impacted by COVID-19

It will stream on Thursday, June 25 at 9:00 pm PT on iHeartRadio’s Facebook and InstagramPrideRadio.com and broadcast on iHeartMedia stations nationwide.

In addition to Martin, the event will feature appearances by Billy PorterBig Freedia,Adam LambertMelissa EtheridgeKaty PerryKim PetrasSia among others. The celebration will culminate with a one-hour special hosted by leading iHeartMedia on-air personality Elvis Duran and actress and LGBTQ+ advocate Laverne Cox.

“There’s no question COVID-19 has impacted the LGBTQ+ community in a variety of ways, and at this time in the U.S., the struggle for equality and inclusion has never been more important,” said Gayle Troberman, Chief Marketing Officer for iHeartMedia. “Now is a time we need to come together to support the organizations that help bring critical resources to LGBTQ people in need and Can’t Cancel Pride aims to do just that. Like always, Pride will continue to represent the resilience, beauty and strength of the LGBTQ+ community around the nation and the globe.”

Martin publicly came out as gay in March 2010, stating: “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.” He added that “these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.” He has since been a dynamic activist for the LGBTQ+ community.

In May, Marin released a six-track album  Pausa, the first of a two-part album. The follow-up, Play, is expected to be released in September 202

Diane Guerrero to Present at This Year’s Creative Arts Emmys

Diane Guerrero is getting Creative

The Television Academy has announced the first group of presenters for the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys, which will be doled out in dual ceremonies next month, with the 33-year-old Colombian American actress and Orange is the New Black star making the list.

Diane Guerrero

Guerrero will take the stage for Night 1 on Saturday, September 14. She joins a roster of presenters that includes Jon Favreau and Roy ChoiJeff GoldblumMarie KondoLisa Kudrow,Sig HansenDerek Hough and Wanda Sykes.

Highlighting the presenters at the second show on Sunday, September 15, is a reunion of In Living Color cast members including Keenen Ivory WayansShawn WayansDavid Alan Grierand Tommy Davidson. Also set are Alfie AllenCharlie BarnettRachel BloomRon Cephas JonesRob CorddryLaverne CoxLisa Edelstein,Anna Konkleand Maya ErskineChris O’Dowd,Ryan O’ConnellWendell PierceMarcus Scribnerand Michaela Watkins.

The 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will start at 5:00 pm both nights at the Microsoft Theaterin Los Angeles. FXXwill air the awards at 8:00 pm on Saturday, September 21.

Ricky Martin Among the Presenters for This Year’s SAG Awards

Life’s a SAGfor Ricky Martin… 

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer and actor has been added to the list of presenters for Sunday’s SAG Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

Ricky Martin

He’s part of a second group of presenters that includes AwkafinaAlex BaldwinMatt BomerLaverne Cox, Richard MaddenTracy MorganChris Pineand Keri Russell.

Previously announced presenters include the top stars from five of this awards season’s biggest movies, who will introduce clips from their films that are nominated for the marquee Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picturetrophy.

They are:

A Star is Born
Bradley Cooper
Sam Elliott
Lady Gaga

Black Panther
Angela Bassett
Chadwick Boseman

BlackKklansman
Adam Driver
John David Washington

Bohemian Rhapsody
Ben Hardy
Gwilym Lee
Rami Malek
Joe Mazzello

Crazy Rich Asians
Henry Golding
Ken Jeong
Constance Wu
Michelle Yeoh

Megan Mullally will host the silver anniversary SAG Awards ceremony, which will air live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditoriumon TNT and TBSstarting at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday. 

Justice Strips Down to Her Skivvies for Her “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Song

Victoria Justice is stripping down and camping it up for the cameras…

The 23-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer gets down to her underwear in a new sneak peek at her interpretation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show tune “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me” from Fox‘s reboot of the gender-bending musical.

Victoria Justice in The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Wearing only a bra and slip, Justice belts out the campy tune while Dr. Frank-N-Furter‘s dopey monster, Rocky (Staz Nair), paws at her.

Justice takes on the role of the virginal Janet opposite vanilla fiancé Brad (Ryan McCartan) in the prime-time musical that will also star Orange is the New Black‘s Laverne Cox as Frank, as well as Adam Lambert, Christina Milian, Reeve Carney, Annaleigh Ashford and original Frank, Tim Curry, in a cameo.

Fox’s remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be broadcast on October 20.

Ferrera to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Primetime Emmy Awards

America Ferrera has a date with Emmy

The Television Academy has announced the second group of presenters for the 68th Emmy Awards, with the 32-year-old Honduran American actress making the list.

America Ferrera

In addition to Ferrera, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007 for her starring role in Ugly Betty, the list includes Laverne Cox, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kit Harington, Matt LeBlanc, Joel McHale, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Tambor, Kerry Washington and Damon Wayans.

The 68th Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on Sunday, September 18 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Ferrera currently stars on NBC’s comedy series Superstore.

Fox to Broadcast Justice’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in October

It will be a Rocky Halloween for Victoria Justice

Fox will air its remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring the 23-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer, in October. A specific date was not announced.

Victoria Justice

A re-imagining of the original movie, the two-hour event follows sweethearts Janet Weiss (Justice) and Brad Majors (Ryan McCartan), who stumble upon the bizarre abode of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Laverne Cox), a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious alien mad scientist. She’s holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of Rocky Horror – a fit, attractive man (Staz Nair) created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.

The cast also includes Adam Lambert (Eddie), Reeve Carney (Riff Raff), Annaleigh Ashford (Columbia), Christina Milian (Magenta), Ivy Levan (Usherette), Ben Vereen (Dr. Everett Scott) and Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter, as the show’s Criminologist Narrator.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is executive produced by original Rocky Horror EP Lou Adler, along with Gail Berman and Kenny Ortega.

Fox 21 Television Studios is the producer.

Leto to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards

It’s another night with The Actor for Jared Leto

The 43-year-old part-Spanish American actor, who picked up a SAG Award, also known as “The Actor,” last year for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, will serve as a presenter at Sunday’s 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Jared Leto

In addition to Leto, other presenters just added to the roster include Matthew Beard, Colin Farrell, Jeff Goldblum, Allen Leech, Lupita Nyong’o, Emmy Rossum, Andy Samberg, Liev Schreiber and Reese Witherspoon

They join previously announced Patricia Arquette, Adrien Brody, Ellar Coltrane, Kevin Costner, Laverne Cox, Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric Dane, Viola Davis, Carrie Fisher, Ethan Hawke, SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard, Felicity Jones, Rashida Jones, Michael Keaton, Lenny Kravitz, Matthew McConaughey, Edward Norton, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Roberts, J.K. Simmons, and Emma Stone.

The SAG Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS at 8:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm PT.