10. DVD: An Affirmative Act
Just in time for the election, An Affirmative Act, billed as the first courtroom drama about same-sex marriage, is now available on DVD. In this tense, gripping drama, a lesbian couple seeking equal benefits are drawn into a legal battle to maintain custody of their young son when they're accused of fradulently applying for a marriage license in New York as "man and wife." Featuring an award-winning cast including Charles Dunning, Blanche Baker, Eric Etebari (pictured) and The Village People's cowboy Randy Jones, this important film is timely, relevant, and compelling. (Watch the trailer)
9. MUSIC: "The Boys," Nicki Minaj and Cassie
Nicki Minaj and Cassie make a lot of costume changes, crash cars, and blast blast flame throwers in this candy-coated video, a single off Minaj's new album coming in November, Pink Friday Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up. We'll watch it for the hinted sapphic innuendo and stay for the reference to Six on Blossom.
8. ART: "Rainbow Crosswalks"
Inspired by the installation of permanent rainbow-colored crosswalks in West Hollywood, for which he advocated, artist Martin Duvander has created more than 60 mixed-media paintings portraying LGBT luminaries and the history of the equality movement. They will be on display this weekend at the James Gray Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, Calif. This will be the gallery's first LGBT-themed show as well as Duvander's first solo show, running Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
7. FILM: Nobody Walks
Bisexual actress Olivia Thirlby stars in Nobody Walks, as the mysterious, young artist who stirs up John Krasinski and Rosemarie DeWitt's marriage when the couple welcome the starving artist into their home as a houseguest. The indie drama, directed by Ry Russo-Young and co-written by Girls' Lena Dunham, is lush with languid cinematography and under-spoken, steamy sensuality. The film opens in Los Angeles and New York today. (Watch the preview)
6. EVENTS: Up Your Alley for Broadway Cares
Whether you can bowl a perfect 300 or you need bumpers to score more than 25, head over to the Bowlmor Lanes in Union Square in New York to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on Monday and Tuesday. Every strike, spare and gutterball will raise money to support more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations across the country, as well as The Actors Fund's HIV/AIDS initiative. For more information, go to BroadwayCares.org/UpOurAlley2012.
5. BOOKS: The Homoerotic Photograph : Male Images from Durieu / Delacroix to Mapplethorpe by Allen Ellenzweig
The paperback edition of this previously published book is finally available for your aesthetic interests and male nude scholarship. Ellenzweig traces the male gaze upon men throughout the history of photography. The book reminds us that much of our history as gay men exists in the depiction of the male nude. Depicting a naked man's body erotically is an act of revolution. Foreward by George Stambolian. Columbia University Press/New York. (Pictured: After Bacon/Muybridge: coupled figures/Whizzer Leg Toss (c) Sorel Cohen)
4. THEATER: Kinky Boots
These boots are made for drag queens, and they're strutting into Chicago on their way to Broadway. Harvey Fierstein has adapted the 2005 film about a struggling British shoemaker who diversifies to save his business into a musical with original songs by Cyndi Lauper. Jerry Mitchell, creator of the venerable AIDS benefit show Broadway Bares, directs and choreographs this world premiere. At Chicago's Bank of America Theatre now through November 4, with a Broadway opening next year.
3. BOOK: The Things That Matter by Nate Berkus
A home says a lot about its occupants, says noteworthy designer Nate Berkus in his new book released this week. He takes readers on tours of homes across the country -- from a rustic cottage in New York's Hudson Valley, to a minimalist Marfa, Texas house -- along with the owners who describe the pieces they've collected to make a house a home.
2. DVD: Magic Mike
Starting Tuesday, you can bring Magic Mike right into your living rooom, when everyone's favorite summer guilty-pleasure, male-exploitation extravaganza is released on DVD. Maybe the story's plot wasn't the most complex in history, but the amount of ab-rippling, booty-shaking, mostly-naked man-meat on display is reason enough to grab a handful of Magic Mike. Rumor has it the DVD also features special deleted scenes, including Matt Bomer's sexy striptease that, for some reason, didn't make the cut in theatrical releases.
1.TELEVISION: RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars
Every single episode of Drag Race has us laughing until we cry and grasping our pearls. Hopefully, this all-star season will be no different, especially with some of our favorites like Latrice Royale, Pandora Boxx, and Jujubee, to name a few. Add that to this season's slate of judges -- Rosie Perez, Vicki Lawrence, and Beth Ditto -- and we might not be able to make it to work on Tuesday mornings. Premiers Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on Logo.
