10. TELEVISION: Orange Is the New Black on Netflix
Who knew a year ago that TV's biggest sensation would be a lesbian-fueled women-in-prison comedy-drama? It's surprising and wonderful that Orange Is the New Black replaced Mad Men as the water cooler TV show of the moment, and its second season -- already received with rapturous reviews -- promises more lurid fun. Thankfully, rumors of Laura Prepon's departure proved untrue and sexy Alex is back, along with Laverne Cox's Sophia, Taryn Manning's Pennsatucky, and, of course, Taylor Schilling's Piper. All 13 episodes available now on Netflix. - Neal Broverman
9. FILM: Obvious ChildDirected and written by Gillian Robespierre,
Obvious Child follows the story of an aspiring young comedian, Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), who finds herself in a very unfunny situation: unwanted pregnancy. As she grapples with her circumstances, Stern, who is Jewish, also embarks on a relationship with a Christian man, setting the stage for one of the year's most surprisingly funny and heartwarming romantic comedies yet.
Obvious Child opens in theaters this weekend. Watch the trailer below.
- Daniel Reynolds8. BOOK: The New Art of Capturing Love: The Essential Guide to Lesbian & Gay Wedding Photography by Kathryn Hamm and Thea DoddsThe guide shatters the old standards of wedding and engagement photography, and replaces it with aesthetic portrait ideas that can work for any couple and their wedding -- especially for same-sex couples, for whom some of the old tropes of wedding photography just don't seem right. Hamm, the president of GayWeddings.com, and Dodds, an award-winning wedding photographer and founder of Authentic Eye Photography, say
this guide is the first of its kind. Between the covers, there are stunning photographs (more than 180!) to inspire same-sex couples in the midst of planning their engagements and weddings as well as help wedding photographers who want to do these couples justice on their wedding days.
- Lynn De La Cruz 7. WEB: The LovebirdsOn the heels of the release of their new album,
Breakup Shmakeup, lesbian folk-pop duo the Lovebirds (Lindsay White and Veronica May) have released a self-titled documentary chronicling the story of how this talented twosome overcame numerous obstacles to maintain their creative momentum. From the experience of ending their romantic relationship to preserve the two San Diego songwriters' musical partnership to battling mental illness and beyond, the documentary is a story of loss, celebration, and rebirth that gives viewers a peek at the experiences that have shaped the unique sound of these dynamic artists. Watch the full documentary below, and for more on the Lovebirds, visit the band's official
website.
- Jase Peeples6. FILM: Girltrash
The long-awaited, hard-rocking, steamy musical that is Girltrash: All Night Long is finally available for your viewing pleasure, just in time for Pride. This must-see lesbian rock-and-roll romance, directed by Alex Martinez Kondrake and written by D.E.B.S. screenwriter Angela Robinson, features Kate French, Rose Rollins, Mandy Musgrave, Gabrielle Christian, Clementine Ford, Malay Rivera Drew, Michelle Lombardo, and Lisa Reiffel. The film, brought to you by LGBT film nonprofit Power Up Films, documents one epic night where the ensemble cast goes looking for love, lust, and rock stardom, but finds rival bands, a lovesick babe, a club-swinging badass (The L Word's Rose Rollins), sleazy con artists, and coke-snorting sorority sisters. Watch the trailer below, and take Girltrash: All Night Long home for yourself via iTunes or Amazon Instant Video. -- Sunnivie Brydum
5. EVENT: Gay Night Rooftop Pool Party and Dragula ScreeningEnjoy free cocktails, a dip in the pool, a new film, and views of New York City along with, oh, probably some shirtless men at this event, hosted by our sibling publication
Out. Cheyenne Jackson and Barry Bostwick star in
Dragula, a short film about a high school senior who overcomes his emotional dysfunction and self-esteem issues when he meets a drag queen with a mysterious past. This is its first New York screening, as part of the Lower East Side Film Festival. The event takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. June 13 atop the Sixty LES Hotel, with the movie starting at dusk. Get details and order tickets
here.
- Trudy Ring4. FILM: Burning BlueSet in the era of "don't ask, don't tell,"
Burning Blue tells the story of two brothers in arms who find themselves in each other's arms after a raucous night out at a Manhattan gay bar. Closeted and in committed relationships with women, Dan (Trent Ford) and Matt (Rob Mayes) must come to terms with their feelings for each other while enduring the focus of a military investigation into what happened that night.
Burning Blue is available on demand and in select theaters this weekend. Watch the trailer below.
- Daniel Reynolds3. FILM: The Case Against 8This documentary on the successful battle to strike down California's anti-marriage equality law deservedly won awards at the Sundance and South by Southwest festivals. Directed to near-perfection by Ben Cotner and Ryan White, the film chronicles not only the dynamic choice of attorneys to fight Prop. 8 (the lawyers representing opposite sides of
Bush v. Gore), but the real people behind the "plaintiffs." You'll feel enormous respect and a debt of gratitude for what Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Paul Katami, and Jeff Zarrillo sacrificed to bring marriage equality back to the nation's largest and most influential state. Out now in theaters in Los Angeles and New York, with more cities to follow.
- Neal Broverman2. EVENT: L.A. PrideThis weekend you and 400,000 of your closest pals can party it up in the heart of West Hollywood at
L.A. Pride: The TLGB Celebration. The festivities kick off Friday with the Lavender Menace party for queer women, with performances by Mary Lambert and Betty Who, capped off with a Dyke March. Who doesn't want to show off their fabulous skills in the outdoor roller rink and sing along with the Bangles, Jennifer Hudson, Demi Lovato, Azealia Banks, and Danity Kane?
- Michelle Garcia1. TV: The Tony AwardsThe Oscar ceremony has been called the gay Super Bowl, but there's a case to be made for the Tony Awards as well. Neil Patrick Harris isn't the host this year, but we can count on the hunky, multitalented, and gay-friendly Hugh Jackman to do a great job in that role. NPH will, however, perform with his costars from
Hedwig and theÂ
Angry Inch; it's nominated for best musical revival, and he's up for best lead actor in a musical. Other expected highlights: Alan Cumming reprises his role as the Emcee in a number from
Cabaret; the cast of
Wicked celebrates the show's 10th anniversary; Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Fantasia perform with the cast of
After Midnight; and Idina Menzel does a song from the new musical
If/Then. (We bet Jackman gets her name right.) Terrence McNally's
Mothers and Sons and Harvey Fierstein's
Casa Valentina are both up for Best Play, Cherry Jones is nominated for her performance in
The Glass Menagerie, Stephen Fry is a contender for
Twelfth Night ... well, you get the idea. Tune in to the festivities from the Gay White Way Sunday at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central on
CBS.
- Trudy Ring