FX is developing the limited series 81 Words,from the 39-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican screenwriter, producer and Pose co-creator, Pal Pictures and 20th Century Fox Television.
Written by Canals, the series centers on gay rights pioneers Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings.
It’s based on Alix Spiegel’s award-winning This American Life episode, “81 Words” and the soon-to-be-released PBS documentary Cured,directed by Bennett Singer and Patrick Sammon.
Until 1974, the medical establishment considered gay people sexually deviant and diagnosed them as mentally ill.
81 Words tells the true story of gay activists Kameny an Gittings, who risked their careers and reputations to conspire with the GAYPA – a clandestine group of closeted psychiatrists – and challenge the American Psychiatric Association’s definition of homosexuality.
Canals will executive- produce the project via his Story Ave. Productions.
Canals is the co-creator and executive producer, alongside Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, of the Emmy– and Golden Globe-nominated and Peabody Award-winning drama series Pose.
The series, named one of the Best TV Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute in 2018 and 2019, will return for its third season in 2021.
Canals was a staff writer on Freeform’s Dead of Summer and made his television directorial debut with the eighth episode of the second season of Pose titled “Revelations.”
The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer and her fellow Pose castmates and producers will take part in this year’s virtual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the awards show will stream on GLAAD’s Facebook and YouTube accounts on Thursday, July 30 at 8:00 pm ET and will air on Logo on Monday, August 3 at 8:00 pm ET.
In addition to Rodriguez and her Pose castmates and producers, the awards show will include appearances by Dolly Parton, Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union, Lil Nas X, Cara Delevingne, Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Lena Waithe, Jonica T. Gibbs, Dan Levy, Rachel Maddow, Ryan O’Connell, trans model and advocate Geena Rocero, Angelica Ross, Brain Michael Smith, Peppermint, Olivia Wilde, Raquel Willis,WWE superstar Sonya Deville and comedian Benito Skinner.
The ceremony will feature a special performance from the Grammy-nominated duo Chloe x Halle.
Comedians Fortune Feimster and Gina Yashere will serve as co-hosts of the show.
Honoring film, TV and media for its fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues, the GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies were originally supposed to take place in New York on March 19 and in Los Angeles on April 16.
The ceremonies were cancelled due to the pandemic, but GLAAD shifted plans and strived ahead in order to give shine to the LGBTQ-centric film, TV and media.
Earlier this year, GLAAD announced over 175 nominees in 30 categories who are being recognized for their work in queer media.
“Among this year’s nominees are a wide range of stories and narratives about LGBTQ people of different races, ethnicities, genders, religions, and other identities that demonstrate the power of inclusion and diversity in fostering positive cultural change,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “As this year’s Media Awards go virtual, we hope to send a powerful message to LGBTQ people that in the midst of this culturally and politically divisive time, our visibility and voices have never been more important.”
HBO Max has released the first official trailer forLegendary, the streaming service’s upcoming unscripted ballroom competition show featuring the 32-year-old transgender Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model, activist, and ballroom dancer, known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue,” as a judge.
The series follows young voguing teams competing in balls and showcasing fashion for a panel of judges.
In addition to Maldonado, the judges panel includes Law Roach, Jameela Jamil and Megan Thee Stallion.
Legendary comes from Scout Productions. Jane Mun and Josh Greenberg serve as showrunners. David Collins, Rob Eric and Michael Williams also serve as executive producers.
Maldonado was a member of the dance troupe “Vogue Evolution,” which was featured on America’s Best Dance Crew. She has worked with artists like Willow Smith,Icona Pop, and CocoRosie. She’s also a choreographer for the ballroom scenes in FX’s Pose.
The 45-year-old Cuban American television writer and One Day at a Time co-showrunner will be taking part in ATX Television Festival’s virtual edition, which has been appropriately titled “ATX TV…From The Couch!”
Calderón Kellett will take part in a conversation about Latinx representation on the small screen, alongside Vida creator Tanya Saracho, Pose’s co-creator Steven Canals and Diary of a Future President’s Ilana Peña.
Calderón Kellett, Saracho, Canals and Peña, some of today’s hottest Latinx content creators, will be “Celebrating Authentic Stories,” the title of their panel.
They’ll talk about celebrating and continuing the push for positive Latinx representation, as well as how decision-makers within the industry can amplify Latinx voices.
“ATX TV… from the Couch!” marks the first virtual event for the fest and will include industry-forward panels with showrunners and executives, sneak previews of upcoming series, and virtual events such as television trivia and a music showcase.
The virtual event will take place June 5-7. It will be free to access via ATX’s official YouTube channe l, with the option for viewers to donate to select organizations providing COVID-19 relief regionally and nationally.
In addition to the Latinx panel, the festival’s virtual line-up will include conversations with cast and creatives from Freeform’s The Bold Type, NBC’s hit drama New Amsterdam, and The CW’s mystery-drama Nancy Drew.
The ATX Television Festival will also include a Scrubs reunion with the show’s creator Bill Lawrence, as well as cast members Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes. The cast was previously confirmed for ATX Season 9 in Austin, and rescheduled their in-person reunion for the 2021 festival.
Mj Rodriguezis bringing the pride to sheltering in place…
GLAAD will host the live stream event “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Pose star among the celebrities taking part.
The event will be available on GLAAD’s YouTube channel and Facebook Liveon April 26 at 8:00 pm ET.
“Together In Pride” will raise funds for LGBTQ community centers impacted by the coronavirus.
In addition to Rodriguez, the event will include appearances by Billy Eichner, Matt Bomer, Adam Lambert, Lilly Singh, Bebe Rexha, Dan Levy, Wilson Cruz, Gigi Gorgeous, Nats Getty, Michelle Visage, Javier Muñoz, Sean Hayes, Sharon Stone,Tatiana Maslany, with more guests being announced soon.
The event will include performances by Kesha and Melissa Etheridge.
Actor and producer Erich Bergen is working alongside GLAAD to bring the event to the masses.See More
“At a time when some LGBTQ people could be isolating in homes that are not affirming, GLAAD is bringing together the biggest LGBTQ stars and allies to send messages of love, support and acceptance,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “So many LGBTQ people, especially our youth, depend on support from local community centers around the country, and during this time of financial distress, we must come together as a community to ensure that all LGBTQ organizations can continue their life-saving work.”
“Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” will also raise critical funds for CenterLink, a coalition of more than 250 LGBTQ community centers from 45 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia.
CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers, which serve over 2 million people each year. Participating community centers will also share the livestream on their social platforms.
“LGBTQ centers are the heart of the community, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic these centers have continued to provide vital connectivity and services, pivoting to virtual programming, modifying in-person services when possible, and ensuring that their communities have resources and support when they need it the most,” said Denise Spivak, Interim CEO of CenterLink.
In March, GLAAD joined over 100 LGBTQ organizations in an open letter calling on U.S. public health officials and media to address the heightened vulnerability of LGBTQ people to COVID-19. Amongst other factors, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of cancer, HIV, and tobacco use — all which factor into higher susceptibility to negative outcomes from COVID-19. Additionally, LGBTQ people continue to experience discrimination and unwelcoming attitudes in medical settings, and as a result, many are reluctant to seek medical care. On Wednesday, Centerlink released a letter signed by over 160 LGBTQ community centers to House and Senate leaders, urging them to include nonprofits who serve the LGBTQ population in future relief packages.
Eighty-six film and television writers have been named finalists for the 2020 HUMANITAS Prize, as announced by HUMANITAS Executive Director Cathleen Young and President Ali LeRoi, with the Spanish animator and screenwriter’s Spanish animated film Klaus making the list.
Klaus, which Pablos wrote and directed, is nominated in the Family Feature Film category.Distributed by Netflix as its first original animated feature, the film was co-written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney. It stars Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones and Joan Cusack and serves as a fictional origin story to the myth of Santa Claus.The plot revolves around a postman stationed in a town to the North who befriends a reclusive toy-maker (Klaus).
Steven Canalshas earned his own Humanitas nod…
The queer Afro-Latinx screenwriter and co-creator of FX’s Pose was named a finalist in the Drama Teleplay category for co-writing the Pose episode “In My Heels,” alongside Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck.
Mario Correa is also being recognized this year…
The Chilean screenwriter and playwright was named a finalist in the Drama Feature Film category for co-writing the screenplay for Dark Waters with Matthew Michael Carnahan; based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich.
The HUMANITAS Prize, now in its 45th year, honors film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope, and understanding in the human family.
The finalists are nominated for their work in 10 categories including Comedy Teleplay, Drama Teleplay, Children’s Teleplay, Independent Feature Film, Drama Feature Film, Comedy or Musical Feature Film, Family Feature Film, and Documentary. In addition, this year HUMANITAS has introduced two new categories, Limited Series, TV Movie or Special and Short Film, to reflect the increased significance of those forms in the digital media landscape.
All prize winners will be announced at the 45th Annual HUMANITAS Prize event on Friday, January 24, 2020, at The Beverly Hilton Hotelin Beverly Hills, California.
“As we celebrate four and a half decades of empowering, supporting, and honoring storytellers, HUMANITAS continues to evolve and grow to reflect the world around us,” said LeRoi. “This year we have added two new categories to recognize work in forms that have seen dramatic increases in both popularity and artistic merit in the age of streaming and online viewing.”
Added Young: “As our world faces enormous challenges to the goal of peace and love in the human family, which is at the core of HUMANITAS’s mission, it is extremely inspiring to be able to honor the work of so many talented individuals. Intelligent, insightful and compassionate storytelling remains one of the most powerful weapons against hate and intolerance, and our finalists’ work epitomizes those qualities.”
The 45th Annual HUMANITAS Prize finalists are:
Drama Teleplay Category THIS IS US “Our Little Island Girl” Written by Eboni Freeman POSE “In My Heels” Written By Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuck & Steven Canals THE TWILIGHT ZONE “Replay” Written by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds THE HANDMAID’S TALE “Useful” Written by Yahlin Chang; based on the novel by Margaret Atwood
Comedy Teleplay Category SHRILL “Annie” Teleplay by Aidy Bryant & Alexandra Rushfield & Lindy West; based on the book Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West BLACK-ISH “Black Like Us” Written By Peter Saji ATYPICAL “Road Rage Paige” Written By Robia Rashid VEEP “South Carolina” Written By Alex Gregory & Peter Huyck
Limited Series, TV Movie or Special Category WHEN THEY SEE US “Part 4” Teleplay by Ava DuVernay & Michael Starrbury; story by Ava DuVernay TRUE DETECTIVE “Now Am Found” Written by Nic Pizzolatto CHERNOBYL “Vichnaya Pamyat” Written by Craig Mazin LIVE IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE: NORMAL LEAR’S ALL IN THE FAMILY AND THE JEFFERSONS “All in the Family #406: ‘Henry’s Farewell'” Written by Don Nicholl; “The Jeffersons #101: ‘A Friend in Need'” Teleplay by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernard West, Barry Harman & Harve Brosten; story by Barry Harman & Harve Brosten
Children’s Teleplay Category THE LOUD HOUSE “Racing Hearts” Written by Kevin Sullivan A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS “The Penultimate Peril, Part 1” Teleplay by Joe Tracz; based on the book by Lemony Snicket ELENA OF AVALOR “Changing of the Guard” Written by Kate Kondell NIKO AND THE SWORD OF LIGHT, SEASON 2: NIKO AND THE AMULET OF POWER “The Automatron” Written by Shaene Siders
Drama Feature Film Category A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster; inspired by the article “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod A HIDDEN LIFE Written and directed by Terrence Malick; source material: letters between Franz and Fani Jagerstatter taken from Franz Jagerstatter: Letters and Writings from Prison edited by Erna Putz DARK WATERS Screenplay by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan; based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich BOMBSHELL Written by Charles Randolph
Comedy or Musical Feature Film Category YESTERDAY Story by Richard Curtis, Jack Barth; Written by Richard Curtis THE FAREWELL Written by Lulu Wang JOJO RABBIT Screenplay by Taika Waititi; Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens THE LAUNDROMAT Written by Scott Z. Burns; based on the book Secrecy World by Jake Bernstein
Family Feature Film Category THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON Written by Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz FROZEN 2 Story by Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez; Screenplay by Jennifer Lee TOY STORY 4 Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Josh Cooley, Valerie LaPointe, Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, Martin Hynes and Stephany Folsom; Written by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom KLAUS Story by Sergio Pablos; screenplay by Sergio Pablos, Jim Mahoney, Zach Lewis
Independent Feature Film Category END OF SENTENCE by Michael Armbruster HOTEL MUMBAI by John Collee & Anthony Maras BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo THE BANKER Story by David Lewis Smith & Stan Younger and Brad Caleb Kane; screenplay by Niceole Levy & George Nolfi and David Lewis Smith & Stan Younger
Short Film Category VARIABLES Written by Sabina Vajraca PURL Written by Kristen Lester THE CHARGE FOR THE SUN Story by Terence Nance; screenplay by Eugene Ramos KITBULL Written by Rosana Sullivan
Documentary Category TORN APART: SEPARATED AT THE BORDER Directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS Directed by Jenifer McShane, SEA OF SHADOWS Directed by Richard Ladkani; THIS IS FOOTBALL “Redemption” Directed by James Erskine, Written by John Carlin
The David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Fellowship Eliana Pipes (Boston University) FAUXRICUA Nick Madson (Boston University) DOWN AND OUT Sheridan Watson (USC) LADY LAZARUS
The Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Fellowship James Bentley (UCLA) THE PIRATES OF FELLOWSHIP, MAINE King Lu (Columbia) FROM JUNE TO JULY Jennifer Frazin (USC) CHOSEN PEOPLE
New Voices Winners Robert Axelrod, TUCKED Christina Brosman, SACRIFICIAL Jeanine Daniels, CONVOLUTED John Doble, THE AMEN SISTERHOOD Obiageli Odimegwu, THE SHOW Roniel Tessler, BLUE MOON
For more information, visit the HUMANITAS Prize at www.humanitasprize.org.
Forget pretty in pink… MJ Rodriguez is fabulous in fuschia…
The 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress rocked the Emmys red carpet in a hot pink Jason Wu gown that she collaborated with the designer to create.
“I wanted to stand out. I wanted to be sharp. I wanted to have angular lines, hence the deep V. And I wanted a color. I wanted it to pop. I wanted people to see me. And I wanted to feel like this is the first moment that I’ve ever had been taken seriously,” Rodriguez said during the E! red carpet special. “That’s what this dress does for me.”
Rodriguez, who was nominated along with the rest of the Posecast for Outstanding Drama Series, said that nailing the magnetic color was a priority for her stunning look.
“The color stood out to me,” she said. “When I first saw it, I was like, ‘Oh my god this is a very prominent color.’ Not only does it look great, but I know it looks good on my skin complexion because I’m a wonderful girl of color. And, that’s what my eye drew to.”
Rodriguez said she also loves the fashion on Pose, which is all about the underground drag ballroom culture in New York City in the ’80s and ’90s. When E! host Zanna Roberts Rassi asked if costume designer Lou Eyrich actually spends around $30 on each outfit to maintain authenticity, Rodriguez said she wasn’t sure, but she did know they are “spectacular.”
“I do know some are actually pretty cheap,” Rodriguez said. “But I do know that every piece of clothing on that show is spectacular.”
She’s also tried to grab a few to keep — with no success.
“I try my best to borrow something,” Rodriguez said.
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards aired live from the Microsoft Theaterin Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22.
Julian Castro will be discussing LGBTQ Issues later this week…
The 45-year-old Mexican American politician and Democratic US presidential candidate will take part in the national 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues.
Hosted by Pose actress Angelica Ross, the forum is presented by GLAAD, One Iowa, The Gazette and The Advocate and will be livestreamed from Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 20 at 7:00 pm CT.
In addition to Castro, whowas the youngest member of President Barack Obama‘s Cabinet, serving as the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017, participants include Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Sestak, Elizabeth Warren and Marianne Williamson. Country artist and contestant on season 11 of The Voice Billy Gilman is set to perform the National Anthem at the event.
A transgender activist, Ross will join GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellison stage tol bring LGBTQ specific-issues to the forefront of discussion in the 2020 presidential election.
During the Forum, each candidate will discuss their plan and vision for improving LGBTQ acceptance in a divisive time for marginalized communities.
“This LGBTQ Presidential Forum is a pivotal moment in the 2020 election cycle,” said Ellis. “It’s the first time that LGBTQ issues will be exclusively discussed by 2020 presidential candidates on a national stage.”
She adds, “We look forward to hearing how the 2020 candidates plan to reverse the attacks and rollbacks of the Trump Administration and put LGBTQ Americans on a course to 100% acceptance.”
This comes at a time when members of the American LGBTQ community have faced more than 124 anti-LGBTQ attacks in policy and rhetoric from the Trump Administration. This includes the ban on transgender Americans from serving in the military and the administration’s opposition to the Equality Act.
This year’s Imagen Awards were doled out over the weekend, with the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress taking home one of the night’s awards.
Rodriguez was named Best Actress – Television for her role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista on the FX groundbreaking television drama Pose, which was named Best Primetime Program – Drama alongside CBS’ Magnum P.I.
Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Afro-Latino television writer/producer Steven Canals, features the largest cast of transgender actors to be starring as series regulars in a scripted show. In addition to Rodriguez, the series also stars 23-year-old Dominican actor Angel Bismark Curiel.
Anthony Ramos won the Best Actor – Feature Film prize for his role in Monsters and Men, which was named Best Feature Film, while Isabela Moner was namedBest Actress – Feature Film for her role inInstant Family.
Jon Seda was named Best Actor – Television for his role in Chicago P.D., while Wilmer Valderrama was named Best Supporting Actor – Television for his role on NCIS.
Rita Moreno was named Best Supporting Actress – Television for One Day at a Time, while Anthony Gonzalez was named Best Young Actor – Television for HBO’s Icebox.
Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Imagen Awards were established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in media. The winners were judged and selected in 18 categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latinx community leaders.
The Imagen Foundation also honored Chairman of Endemol Shine Americasand CEO of Endemol Shine North America’s Cris Abregowith the prestigious Imagen President’s Awardand Luisa Leschinwith the Norman Lear Writer’s Award.
The complete list of winners can be read below.
Best Feature Film Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Director Reinaldo Marcus Green, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Actor – Feature Film Anthony Ramos, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Actress – Feature Film Isabela Moner, Instant Family (Paramount Pictures)
Best Primetime Program – Drama (TIE) Magnum P.I. (CBS; CBS Television Studios, Universal Television, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, 101st Street Productions) Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)
Best Primetime Program – Comedy One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)
Best Primetime Program – Specials, Movies & Limited Series Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)
Best Actor – Television Jon Seda, Chicago P.D. (NBC; Wolf Entertainment in association with Universal Television)
Best Actress – Television Mj Rodriguez, Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)
Best Supporting Actor – Television Wilmer Valderrama, NCIS (CBS; CBS Television Studios)
Best Supporting Actress – Television Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)
Best Young Actor – Television Anthony Gonzalez, Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)
Best Variety or Reality Show Hip-Hop Houdini (Fuse; 7Beyond)
Best Children’s Programming The Loud House (Nickelodeon)
Best Documentary – Great Performances John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway (PBS; NGL Studios & Diamante Content Production in association with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET & Latino Public Broadcasting)
Best Informational Program Breaking Big (PBS; Ozy Media)
Best Short-Form Non-Fiction Program SC Featured – A Dreamer’s Path (ESPN Deportes)
Since its debut back in June, FX’s Pose, starring the 27-year-old Latina transgender actress and singer, has been busy breaking records.
The Ryan Murphy-helmed program feautured the largest cast of transgender actors in series-regular roles, the largest ever LGBTQ cast on a scripted series and featured the first episode of television in history to be written and directed by a transgender woman of color, Janet Mock.
Now, Posewill reap the rewards of their progressive programming. The Trevor Project, a world-famous non-profit organization aimed at aiding at-risk LGBTQ youth, will honor Murphy, Rodriguez, who portrays Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista,and the rest of the cast of the show at their upcoming TrevorLIVE Gala.
Amit Paley, the CEO and executive director for The Trevor Project, said that the show’s aim to represent trans people so directly has been inspiring to watch.
“Ryan Murphy and the cast of Posehave had a tremendous impact on the lives of young LGBTQ people over the past year,” he said. “We’re incredibly excited to honor them for their dedication to creating a community of openness and inclusiveness for LGBTQ youth through their innovative work and leadership.”
Murphy added that he was similarly affected by the organization’s decision to honor his work and his cast. “I’m thrilled to be honored by The Trevor Project alongside the cast of Pose,” he said in a statement. “We’re extremely supportive of the work that this extraordinary organization does to help LGBTQ young people in need feel heard and valued.”
