OUT on DVD & Digital: Like Me

Breaking Glass Pictures is proud to announce the release of the LGBTQ+ drama LIKE ME, the debut feature from writer-director Eyal Kantor. LIKE ME arrives on VOD, digital platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and local cable & satellite providers today, and on DVD on March 21.

Tom, a high school senior, is forced by his father to find a new home in two weeks and finds himself in a demanding relationship with a fashion photographer who is older than him, while secretly being in love with his close friend Gilad. The film stars Yoav Keren, Mendi Barsheshet, Gal Amitai, and Danny Geva.

LIKE ME world premiered at the 2022 Guadalajara International Film Festival, where it played in Premio Maguey Competition, and went on to play AMOR Festival Santiago del Chile, OutSouth Queer Film Festival, Outshine Film Festival- Fort Lauderdale, and Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival.

IGLTA Selects Osaka, Japan as its 2024 Global Convention Destination

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) announced today that it has selected Osaka, Japan as the destination for its 2024 Global Convention. This will be IGLTA’s first-ever Global Convention in Asia. IGLTA is proud to partner with the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) to make this historic event possible. 

 

“After a very detailed evaluation process, we are proud to recognize Osaka’s impressive bid and the leadership they have shown as an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Japan. Their commitment toward more discrimination-free spaces and travel experiences is remarkable,” said IGLTA Board Chair Felipe Cardenas. “This is truly a historic moment as Osaka becomes the first-ever IGLTA Global Convention host city in Asia–a reflection of our deep commitment to bring a more fair and inclusive travel industry to every corner of the globe.”

 

Home to the second-largest LGBTQ+ scene outside of Tokyo, Osaka is known for its welcoming locals and decadent food culture. Osaka Prefecture was the first regional-level government to implement a same-sex partnership system, for which over 500 couples have registered as of January 2023. 

 

Osaka city has also led Japan in encouraging businesses and organizations to incorporate and implement protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2019, Osaka launched the LGBT Leading Company initiative, evaluating organizations on their actions, both as service providers and as employers, to ensure that all individuals can enjoy the same benefits regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. 

 

“We truly thank you for selecting Osaka as the host of the 2024 IGLTA Global Convention. Osaka actively works to develop into a city even more welcoming of all travelers, and we were the first destination in Japan to develop strategies specifically in LGBTQ+ tourism,” said Hiroshi Mizohata, President, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau. “Osaka has a long history of being the gathering place for people, ideas, and goods from across Japan, making it well-suited to be labelled a diverse destination.” 

 

Osaka is undergoing rapid development to receive a massive influx of visitors for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The theme of Expo 2025 is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” a philosophy that is deeply shared with IGLTA’s mission. 

 

For more information on welcoming Osaka: www.visitgayosaka.com.

2023 Oscars Facts: 95th Academy Awards By The Numbers

With 2022’s domestic box office revenue up 65% from last year and the 95^th Academy Awards just 10 days away, WalletHub today released its 2023 Oscars Facts report.

Highlights include:

• $56.8M: Total cost of the Oscars ceremony.
   
• $10M: Cost of the look for an A-list actress attending the Oscars.
   
• 28%: Share of this year’s Oscar nominees who are women (lowest percentage in four years).
   
• $24.7K: Cost of the 50,000-square-foot Oscars red carpet.
   
• 2^nd: Consecutive time in five years when the Oscars telecast will have a host (Jimmy Kimmel – marking his third time as the host).

LET'S DANCE! Mark Your Calendars for the 2023 David Bowie Convention

  

Overwhelming excitement is building for the 2023 DAVID BOWIE WORLD FAN CONVENTION on June 17-18, 2023 at New York City’s Racket (431 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011) and at the event’s heart is the glamourous Deryck Todd's BowieBall, an unmissable late night celebration of the music, style, and legacy of David Bowie. Sponsored by Polaroid, the Deryck Todd's BowieBall will be hosted by renowned Bowie performer Michael T, and features a spectacular selection of performances from acclaimed Bowie tribute Sons Of The Silent Age, special guest vocalist Ava Cherry and Bowie DJs TheMenWhoFell2Earth, so make sure you’ve got your red shoes on!

Marking the anniversaries of Let’s Dance (40th) and Aladdin Sane (50th), the night will also see a return of the "Best Dressed Bowie" competition where the Deryck Todd's BowieBall invites all attendees to showcase their brightest, boldest and most daring Bowie outfits to celebrate the innovative impact that David Bowie had on the world of fashion. Promising a weekend of stardust-spangled grandeur, performances, presentations, art installments, and panel discussions, the David Bowie World Fan Convention celebrates its second sell out in the convention’s two year history so keep your 'lectric eyes open as there's plenty more to be announced.

OUT On Demand & Digital: Lonesome

Written and directed by Craig Boreham, and starring Josh Lavery, Daniel Gabriel, Anni Finsterer, and Ian Roberts, LONESOME from Dark Star Pictures is out now on demand and digital. 

Casey, a country lad running from a small-town scandal, finds himself down and out in the big smoke of Sydney. When he meets Tib, a young city lad, struggling with his own scars of isolation, both men find something they have been missing but neither of them knows quite how to negotiate it.

Lonesome is a new feature film by Award Winning Australian director, Craig Boreham, exploring sexuality, loneliness, and isolation in a world that has never been more connected.

Hulu's "TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS" Premieres April 7

Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things follows Clare (Kathryn Hahn) a floundering writer who becomes a revered advice columnist while her own life is falling apart.

When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny is barely limping along; her teenage daughter, Rae, is pushing her away; and her once-promising writing career is non-existent. So when an old writing pal asks her to take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she has no business giving anyone advice.  After reluctantly taking on the mantle of Sugar however, Clare's life unfurls in a complex fabric of memory, exploring her most pivotal moments from childhood through present day, and excavating the beauty, struggle, and humor in her unhealed wounds. Through Sugar, Clare forms a salve for her readers -  and for herself - to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that our stories can ultimately save us.  And, perhaps, bring us back home.

Atsuko Okatsuka Coming to Comedy Works Larimer Square

Comedy Works is pleased to announce that Atsuko Okatsuka will perform at Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square. Atsuko Okatsuka is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in LA. Her debut stand-up special, The Intruder, directed by Tig Notaro, premiered on HBO, December 2022.

 

She was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch for 2022. She made her late night stand-up debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden where Vulture proclaimed she “won late-night.” She was the special correspondent on Arsenio! Live for the Netflix is a Joke Festival. Atsuko stars in the new Comedy Central animated series, Fairview, and the Paramount+ feature film, Washingtonia, from EP Stephen Colbert. She's written for Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show and Soft Focus with Jena Friedman.

 

Atsuko’s on-screen credits include History of the World PT. II, ROOM 104 and The Show Next Door with Randell Park. She was raised by her grandmother, and they created the #DropChallenge together which has amassed more than 10 million views. Her unique upbringing brings an artfully-offbeat resilient persona which is perfectly embodied in her blunt bangs and bowl cut.

 

Want to Connect with Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With MileHighGayGuy!

Denver's gay community is the 7th largest in the United States - and growing all the time! And the best way to reach them is by working with MileHighGayGuy –Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.

Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

Out Now on DVD/Digital: The First Fallen

At the turn of 1983 in a small Brazilian town, a group of LGBTQIA+ men and women celebrate the New Year with no idea of the approaching. 

The biologist Suzano knows something terrible is disrupting his body. Uncertain of his future and desperate at the lack of information, Suzano reaches out to transsexual artist Rose and videomaker Humberto, both equally ill. Together they’ll try to survive the first wave of the AIDS epidemic.

First-Ever Season of 'Drag Race Svergie' Premieres This Saturday

Oh how Swede it is! World of Wonder is looking forward to the first ever season of “Drag Race Svergie” premiering this Saturday, March 4th at 12:30pm PT on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories worldwide followed by a weekly roll out every Saturday at 5pm PT.

The show will be followed by an “Untucked” episode at 5:00pm PT. 

Queer artist MATHEW V releases new single and live performance video "BIG SPENDER”

 

Today, Vancouver-hailing jazz singer Mathew V releases his glitzy rendition of Peggy Lee’s “Big Spender.” Written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the 1966 musical Sweet Charity, “Big Spender” brings a new layer of romance to Mathew’s album ‘Anything Goes’ out April 14th via 604 Records.

As one of the first songs Mathew knew he wanted on the record, his audacious take on “Big Spender'' creates space for bold attitude and booming vocals that demand attention. Of the song Mathew says, “[Big Spender] has such a level of camp and flirtation and sass which are my favorite parts of this era of music.”

He continues, “Growing up I listened almost exclusively to Shania Twain & Celine Dion. (A very patriotic Canadian household.) I found my love for melody and big vocals from these artists. I also loved Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald. There was such a timeless quality to their voices that made me feel like an old time movie. I built my vibrato around their voices and I think it's a signature part of my voice today.”

In case you missed it, Mathew recently released his version of George Gershwin’s “The Man I Love.” As the most traditional arrangement on the record, Mathew’s take on Gershwin’s “The Man I Love” pushes the boundaries of conventional jazz from the queer perspective and has already garnered support from Spotify where the song was included in the New Music Friday Canada, Contemporary Blend and Sweet Jazz playlists. The single also reached #1 on the Canada iTunes Jazz Chart.

SAN ROMAN Shares Cover Of "Breathe" By Michelle Branch

Today, SAN ROMAN, the solo music project of multi-disciplinary artist Alexa San Román, shares a cover of “Breathe” by Michelle Branch. Fans can check out the new cover now HERE.

Speaking on this cover, Alexa says, “This song was a go to for middle school Alexa to listen to on the bus on the way to school. It’s a song that I hold dear in my heart and has always evoked such an emotional reaction in me… it just felt like such a no-brainer for me to do a cover of. There’s songs you grow up listening to that inspire you to create your own music and this song was a huge one for me. I want to continue recording cover songs and videos and make a series of me covering different songs with different musicians for fun!”

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted to Write About Denver's Gay Community

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL!

BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL is a provocative and intimate look at one of the world's most legendary sex symbols, told in her own words. In this alluring documentary, out now on DVD and digital, the real Bettie Page emerges from the veil of myth and speculation for the first time, through stunning, never-before-seen photographs and archive footage, and exclusive audio interviews recorded prior to her death in 2008.

Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo Celebrate 200 Episodes of UNHhhh, New Season Premiering 3/15

UNHhhh, the iconic Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova-led talk series, is set to return to WOW Presents Plus for an eighth season on Wednesday, March 15th 2022 at 12pm PST / 3pm EST.  The season eight premiere of the series will also mark UNHhhh’s 200th episode, a major milestone after first premiering on March 25, 2016! To commemorate this landmark accomplishment, photographic artist Franz Szony captured new artwork with Trixie and Katya against a background of green fabric traveling up their legs to form stunning gowns, symbolizing how the pair are masters of green screen comedy. The final images can be found HERE.  

“200 episodes of pushing the woke agenda!” says Trixie Mattel in celebration of their landmark accomplishment. “Now more than ever, season 8 is better than good. It’s great.” adds Katya. 

As with previous seasons, new episodes will air weekly on Wednesdays uncensored, exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, followed by a launch of a censored episode on the WOW Presents YouTube a month later. As an added bonus, this year, for the first time ever, WOW Presents Plus subscribers will have exclusive access to unfiltered, uncensored extended cut episodes of the series.

“As WOW Presents Plus continues unprecedented growth, we are thrilled to celebrate UNHhhh’s 200th episode with the iconic talents of Trixie and Katya!  Watching their stars non-stop meteoric rise, we are honored to have captured so much of their genius with this series,” said Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, co-founders of World of Wonder.

In these extended cut episodes, subscribers will be treated to even more of Trixie and Katya’s signature uncensored wit and nonsensical debate across this season’s themes of jealousy, theft, domesticity, hobbies, problems, punishment, and more. In addition to the show's premiere on the popular WOW Presents Plus SVoD service, fans will also be able to enjoy the hilarious pair everywhere they go, as each episode will be simulcast on all key podcasting platforms.

The return of UNHhhh is one of many original series airing on WOW Presents Plus this spring, with shows like Kerri Kares, Why R Humans?, Click Boys, Alyssa’s Secret and Keeping Up with Krystal Versace all part of the streaming service’s spring slate. All series are exclusively available on WOW Presents Plus. Be sure to check out the spring slate of new shows coming to WOW Presents Plus in the Spring trailer HERE.