Every week, the GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend!
1) Independent film A Kid Like Jake opens in limited theaters on Friday. Helmed by trans director Silas Howard, the film follows Brooklyn parents played by Claire Danes and Jim Parsons, the latter of whom is coming off of receiving GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzack Award. Their story revolves around their son Jake as he begins defying gender norms, and how the couple takes different approaches when it comes to Jake’s identity. A Kid Like Jake opens in New York this weekend, and then in LA and San Francisco on June 8, when it will also be available on demand. Watch GLAAD’s interview with the cast and crew below!
2) A new trailer has been released for documentary McQueen, which delves deep into the life and work of infamous out designer Alexander McQueen. The film tells his story through archival footage, exclusive interviews with friends and family, and unique music and visuals. It will show the extraordinary work of McQueen, while also showing less perfect aspects of his life. McQueen will be released in theaters in New York and LA on July 20.
3) Coming off of his Oscar win for Best Screenplay for Call Me By Your Name, out screenwriter and director James Ivory has found two new projects. He will pen the screenplay for The Judge’s Will, based on a New Yorker article by Ivory’s late collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Ivory will also serve as narrator for the Italian drama Dance Again With Me Heywood!, described as a modern fairytale where two people become friends due to their love of dancing and sharing of a rale magical disease. In other film news, out comedian Wanda Sykes has been cast in romantic comedy The Wedding Year.
4) To celebrate pride month, streaming service Sundance Now will premiere five original LGBTQ documentaries. It will be called TAKE 5: Beyond the Parades, and show different stories and movements around the globe. These five films include On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani & Popi, executive produced by Howie Mandel; Becoming More Visible from director Pamela French; Cold Fear: Gay Life in Russia, narrated by Matt Bomer; Faith and Gay Fear commissioned by BBC; and Seed Monday: The Chuck Holmes Story, directed by Michael Stabile. They will be available on Sundance Now beginning on June 7.
5) Another series of documentaries will be airing for pride month, on KCET, the country’s biggest independent public television station. Based in Southern California, the station will air three specials that dive into LGBTQ identity, gender, coming out, and fighting against hate. The first special, to air on June 12, Coming Out: A Fifty Year history will be narrated by trans teen Jazz Jennings and delve into the history of decades of LGBTQ people. Other specials include The Year We Thought About Love and Denial: The Dad That Tried To Save The World.
6) A drama from writer/director Max Emerson, Hooked comes to theaters in Los Angeles this week. The indie film follows eighteen-year-old hustler Jack and his boyfriend Tom who are an item, close and very much in love. However, Jack tends to be very impulsive with his body and emotionally explosive. Ken, a married man who hasn't come out of the closet, decides to take Jack from NYC to Miami with the intention of helping him before its too late. A percentage of the profits will be donated to organizations who support homeless LGBTQ youth. The film will be out on DVD and VOD on June 5.
7) Disney has announced a TV series version of High School Musical for its upcoming streaming service. Attached to the project is out writer Tim Federle who most recently wrote the animated film Ferdinand, and has written a series of queer young adult novels. In other TV news, Netflix has released a trailer for their newest animated series Super Drags which follows three drag queens who work in a department store by day and then by night, get into full drag and help defeat supervillains. Using animation talent from Brazil, Super Drags will be released late this year to give us the fabulous adventures of these heroes.
8) Out singer Hayley Kiyoko has released a video for her song “What I Need,” which features fellow queer pop star Kehlani. The video is a love story between the two women, and it’s wonderful to see two out queer women taking center stage in a video. “What I Need” is available on Kiyoko’s album Expectations and the video is below.
9) Out former Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears has released a new music video for his single “Creep City.” The video shows a blend of drag, burlesque, and New Orleans glamor. Shears also announced that he will be releasing a solo album on August 10. The singer recently made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots and has a memoir coming this summer. “Creep City” is available for download and streaming now, and the video is below.
10) Betty Who just released a new video, a remix of the Queer Eye theme song which features the fab five in a fun bright, take on the show. Antoni, Bobby, Jonathan, Karamo, and Tan are all featured in the video helping promote the next season of Queer Eye which comes out on Netflix June 15. The first season is available to watch now on Netflix and the music video is below!
11) The first batch of Tony Award appearances have been announced, with out celebrities including Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and Andrew Rannells. All of these men are starring in the revival of Boys in the Band which just officially opened on Broadway. The Tony Awards will air on June 10 on CBS.
12) Trans filmmaker Jessie Jeffrey Dunn Rovinelli is currently funding for her next feature film So Pretty. Based off a German novel, the film follows four queer and trans folks in New York, exploring their love while fighting against the oppressive regime. The film cast queer and trans artists to play their roles, and partially uses their work to show the relationship of art and life. To learn more about the film and how to help, click here!
