Loveloud
Founded by Dan Reynolds -- the lead singer of Imagine Dragons -- in 2017, Loveloud is a concert that raises funds for LGBT youth; it also highlights issues that disproportionately impact them, such as homelessness, drug use, and suicide. This year's event will be held in Salt Lake City this Saturday and is hosted by out comedian Cameron Esposito. Its star-studded lineup includes Imagine Dragons, Zedd, Mike Shinoda, Grace Vanderwall, Vagabob, Tyler Glenn, and A.W. Proceeds benefit the Trevor Project, Encircle, the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and more LGBT charities. Learn more at LoveloudFest.com.
Not the End of Me
On his new album, Not the End of Me, Steve Grand is candid and emotional about the obstacles he's had to overcome. As a child, Grand faced internalized homophobia. "I had always heard kids say the word 'gay,' but I didn't know that was a real thing. 'Gay' simply meant 'bad.' Then I realized I was this thing and felt terribly for a while," Grand told Out. After a period of drinking in the wake of a tumultuous breakup, which came after the release of his heartbreaking music video for "All American Boy" Grand went sober, and he has remained so for roughly two and a half years. Grand's new album doesn't shy away from the hardships he's faced. "People have told me it's hard to listen to because they feel what I'm feeling. It's painful, but it's still beautiful," he told Out. Grand is playing at the Art House in Provincetown, Mass., until September 9. Get notifications if Grand is playing in your town by signing up for BandsInTown.com/stevegrand. Listen to Not the End of Me on Spotify and iTunes.
The Violators: Queer Artists vs Social Media Censorship
A group exhibition/protest organized by Gio Black Peter features 15 queer artists whose works have been targeted by censorship on social media, including Alex La Cruz, Anne Lamb, Ari Fraser, Bruce LaBruce, Damien Blottiere, Gio Black Peter, Joseph Wolfgang Ohlert, Natasha Gornik, Oliver Sarley, Paco y Manolo, Ruben Esparza, Slava Mogutin, Stuart Sandford, and Timothy Hill. "The Violators" opens today and is on display at New York's Studio UZI until August 13. For more information, email Gio Black Peter at StudioUZInyc@gmail.com. Check out some uncensored images here. Pictured: Alejandro y Mara by Paco y Manolo.
Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black is back for its sixth season on Netflix, and the ante has been upped following last season's riot that devastated Litchfield Penitentiary. Now Piper, Red, Taystee, Suzanne, Nichols, Cindy, and the rest (well, not all) have been hauled off to max, where they'll face even more hard-core challenges from inmates and abusive guards. One refrain from Piper (Taylor Schilling), at least in the first episode, is "Where's Alex?" OITNB's on-again/off-again toxic but lovable couple got engaged under duress during the riot, but now Alex (Laura Prepon) is nowhere to be found. Joining the cast as a "daddy" in max is The Voice's season 1 out finalist Vicci Martinez, who only has eyes for Daya (Dascha Polanco).
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
It's no surprise to most of us that the stars of old Hollywood were not universally heterosexual, but still there are some amazing stories in Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood, Matt Tyrnauer's documentary about Scotty Bowers, who arranged liaisons for many of Tinsel Town's biggest names from the 1940s on. Bowers, now in his 90s, operated from a gas station on Hollywood Boulevard. He claims to have fixed Katharine Hepburn up with 150 women, and that her supposed love affair with Spencer Tracy was a cover for the gay tendencies of both. He also talks about arranging a tryst between Cary Grant and Rock Hudson, sending tricks to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and his own sexual adventures with both men and women -- he tells of having a three-way with Ava Gardner and Lana Turner, and about assignations with other big stars (Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh) and government bigwigs (J. Edgar Hoover). "You know me. I'm up for anything ... anytime," Bowers says in the film. It's out now in Los Angeles, comes to New York City August 3, and opens in other locales after that. Watch the trailer below and get more info here.
Up Your Alley
It's time to break out the summer leather because Up Your Alley is upon us! The all-day gathering, presented by Folsom Street Events, draws more 15,000 people and 50 vendors for a celebration of BDSM play on Dore Alley south of San Francisco's Mission District. "If rubber, sportswear, biker gear, skinheads, punks, or any variety of built, hairy men turns you on, then we've got it," reads the promo for Up Your Alley. "Spanking, punching, whips and floggers, bondage, domination and submission, creative watersports, toys and so much more are in full effect." Up Your Alley runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Let's Talk About PrEP
Chicago's Howard Brown Health has released "Let's Talk About PrEP," an upbeat parody of Salt-N-Pepa's "Let's Talk About Sex" that encourages young people to engage in conversation about the pill that has been proved to lower a person's chance of contracting HIV by more than 90 percent. The music video features a diverse LGBTQ cast, led by KC Ortiz and featuring Big Dipper, with featured performers like drag queen and advocate Lucy Stoole, DJs [X]P and All the Way Kay, and comic Tien Tran. "This song is about conversation -- we need to talk about PrEP and HIV in our community," said Ortiz. "When we talk to our partners and our loved ones about sexual health, we are eliminating stigma. Let's talk about sex. Let's talk about HIV. Let's talk about PrEP."
