qvoicenews.com - 386 Showbiz News and Updates

Michigan became the 22nd state Wednesday to ban “conversion therapy,” the discredited pseudoscience that attempts to convert gay, lesbian, and bisexual people heterosexual. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, signed two bills into law Wednesday — House Bill 4617, which defines conversion therapy, and House Bill 4616, which bars licensed therapists from subjecting minors to the practice and lays out penalties for violation, including discipline by public health regulators. Photo: Officer of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

While many are questioning the sexual identity of Ken in the new “Barbie” movie, there’s one studly disco-era male doll whose sexual identity has never been in doubt, a very gay male doll name Gay Bob. The Gay Bob doll came out of his closet in 1977 much to the displeasure of the right-wing culture warriors of the time, not just because Bob was out and proud but also because he came with a penis. Photo: Museum of the City of New York

Long Beach Pride Parade marchers make their way along Ocean Boulevard May 20, 2018. Photo: Thomas R. Cordova

In a sudden about-face, the right-wing majority Temecula school board approved a textbook and accompanying teaching materials that contain a reference to the late gay politician Harvey Milk. The dramatic turn of events took place during an emergency school board meeting Friday, two days after Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state would fine the Temecula Valley Unified School District $1.5 million for refusing to carry the updated textbook and teaching materials. Photo: Temecula Valley Unified School District YouTube page

La Cruz makes reggaeton for the gay community. His songs bring a queer sensibility to a genre that has been dominated by heterosexual men.

Dragstrip 66 was a phenomenon in Los Angeles’ queer community — A beloved monthly event for the alternative gay nightlife scene.

Netflix has released images from the upcoming biopic “Rustin,” including several photos of Emmy-Award-winning actor Colman Domingo, who identifies as gay, who plays Bayard Rustin, the openly gay civil rights titan.

Pickle is scheduled to be officially installed Sunday, International Drag Day, as West Hollywood’s first Drag Laureate.

The Rev. Steven Pieters, a long-time HIV survivor and activist who became famous when interviewed by televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in 1985, died Saturday of complications from gastrointestinal cancer. He was 70. 

Dr. Susan Love, a physician who took an iconoclastic approach to the detection and treatment of breast cancer, has died at age 75.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed three anti-LGBTQ+ bills Wednesday in defiance of veto-proof Republican majorities in the state legislature. Photo: North Carolina Governor’s Office.

Kevyn Lee-Wellington, the co-owner of Fluffy’s Sno-Balls in Long Beach, takes pride in his frozen treat from New Orleans. Fluffy’s Sno-Balls in Long Beach has been named one of the best ice cream shops in the nation, according to Yelp. Photo: Caitlin Hernández for Q Voice News.

Truvada, or PrEP, is a medication that can reduce HIV infection by more than 90 percent. Health officials consider it an important HIV prevention tool. Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have collaborated to reintroduce the PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023 to help reduce HIV. Photo: Gilead Sciences.

An evangelical Christian web designer can refuse services to same-sex wedding websites, the Supreme Court ruled Friday. Photo: Queerency

The Temecula school district, in the midst of a conservative Christian revolt over LGBTQ+ curriculum materials, has fired the superintendent. Behind closed doors before Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the Temecula Valley Unified School District, the board voted 3-1 to fire Jodi McClay. Her firing was mentioned to the public during the meeting. At that time, McClay left the dais, waved to the audience, and said, “Thank you.”

Robert Gamboa attends the unveiling of the two Pride-painted lifeguard towers at Ginger Rogers Beach on Saturday in Santa Monica. Photo: Robert Gamboa.

Amid anti-LGBTQ+ extremists protesting at area schools, Los Angeles Unified School District President Jackie Goldberg, who identifies as a lesbian, spoke out against the vitriol this week. Photo: Screenshot of Los Angeles Unified School District board meeting.

One of the chief things for which televangelist Pat Robertson will be remembered is his long record of anti-LGBTQ+ statements.

The 51st LA Pride will take place this weekend with two concerts in the park and a parade in Hollywood.

A fight broke out at Saticoy Elementary in North Hollywood Friday morning after adult protestors rallied against a Pride Day assembly. The violence outside the school followed weeks of hostility, including the burning of a transgender teacher’s LGBTQ+ Pride flag. Photo: Google image

Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965, four years before the Stonewall uprising in New York City. Kameny, who served in World War II and later as a civil service astronomer with the U.S. Army’s Map Service, was fired and banned from federal employment in 1957 because he was gay. Photo: New York Public Library.

Gay filmmaker and author Kenneth Anger, known for his experimental and homoerotic movies and his wildly gossipy “Hollywood Babylon” books, has died at age 96.

Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem are well aware of how iconic and beloved their roles in Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” film are — and they were more than prepared to do them justice.

The WeHo Pride Parade grand marshals were named Thursday and include “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Laith Ashley, Niecy Nash-Betts & Jessica Betts, and Melissa McCarthy. Photo: Jon Viscott/City of West Hollywood

Mattea Roach has represented the queer community, Generation Z, and Canada in stellar fashion during their time on “Jeopardy!”

Margaret Cho, the ACLU of Southern California, and a posthumous honor to Leslie Jordan will be the grand marshals at the LA Pride Parade on June 11.

Long Beach Pride Parade marchers make their way along Ocean Boulevard, May 20, 2018. Photo: Thomas R. Cordova

The Dodgers have banned the local chapter of the drag ensemble Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from the team’s annual Pride Night after a backlash from conservative groups and a U.S. senator from Florida. Photo: Provided by Bearonce Knows

The “Bridgerton” universe was already diverse and inclusive, but now, it just got a whole lot gayer.

ABC News correspondent Gio Benitez, who identifies as gay, has been promoted to a permanent co-anchor on the weekend edition of “Good Morning America.”

The FDA has ended its 40-year ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood, a policy that numerous critics said was discriminatory, the agency announced. Instead, the Food and Drug Administration issued updated recommendations on Thursday that include a questionnaire for all donors, regardless of sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity, to help understand their recent sexual activity. Photo: iStock.

“Noah’s Arc,” the beloved and groundbreaking series chronicling the lives and loves of four gay Black men in Los Angeles, will return to the small screen this year.

Netflix has released the trailer for Hannah Gadsby’s next comedy special, titled “Hannah Gadsby: Something Special,” which will premiere globally May 9.

Q Con, the queer comic convention, will return to West Hollywood in less than three months. More than 900 people attended last year’s event in Plummer Park. Photo: Prism Comics

“Noah’s Arc,” the beloved and groundbreaking series chronicling the lives and loves of four gay Black men in Los Angeles, will return to the small screen this year.

GOP lawmakers in the Montana House of Representatives on Wednesday banned the state’s only transgender legislator from speaking on the chamber floor for the remainder of the legislative session after she called out her GOP colleagues last week during a debate on access to gender-affirming care.