Reading Is Fun(damental)

 

So my reading kick continues -- you'd be surprised how many books you can tackle when you stop watching five hours of "Dateline NBC," "48 Hours," "Snapped" et al. a day week.

Recently I polished off Truman Capote's "Answered Prayers," which I'd actually purchased at that darling bookstore in the Marais when I was in Paris months before 9/11. Turns out I was wise to not bother all these years -- it’s a long-winded and tedious mess, and the graphic gay material sounds as embarrassing today as I'm sure it did when it was first published. 

To wash the taste out of my mouth, I finally read "Breakfast at Tiffany's," which I knew was very different from the film -- an all-time favorite -- and enjoyed finding out how. (Now that's good writing.) Damian and I are keeping our Valentine's Day classic movie tradition alive, going to see Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly on the 14th at the Metrograph. 

I also devoured my friend Ellen Jovin's "Rebel With a Clause," which it turns out is largely a print version of the hilarious documentary I've seen a couple times, only with additional local color. I informed her that I especially liked the discussion of the use of possessive pronouns before a gerund, which besides tennis is probably the thing that bonds Damian and me the most. 

And then I read a friend's memoir that he is trying to shop around. Whether anybody who is not famous can sell one of these in a post-"Housewives" era is anyone's guess. But he's about a decade older than I am, which is enough for him to have experienced some things that need to be documented as part of the LGBTQ canon, so I hope it finds an audience. 

Since I still seem to be in the zone, I'm now about to attempt to knock off a couple books from friends that I'm embarrassed to say I never got around to reading -- Jeff Copeland's "I Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn" and Tim Anderson's "Tune In Tokyo" (his "Sweet Tooth" is a fave!) -- plus one that was a gift (Betty Hutton's "Backstage, You Can Have").

But right now I'm knee-deep in "Cybil Disobedience," which I ordered just after we finished watching Ms. Shepherd's titular CBS sitcom and heard that she'd trashed all her co-stars in it -- she does!!!

Let me know what you're reading in the comments.

Remains of the Day (01/30)

People: Big 10 football player lived in fear of teammates learning he's gay -- the secret landed him in the hospital

Gr8er Days: The first known use of the term “gaslighting” -- as a verb -- might surprise you

Attitude: Rob Jetten moved closer to becoming Dutch prime minister after a coalition breakthrough, a role that would make him the Netherlands’ youngest leader and its first openly gay person to hold the office

IG: What could be more natural than sporting a vintage jockstrap while reading your copy of Madonna's "Sex"?

PinkNews: Bruce Springsteen names Alex Pretti and Renee Good in new song dedicated to Minneapolis

Saturday 'Stache: When your treasure trail leads to treasure island

The Nation: A long-lost novel by George Whitmore (1945-1989) resurfaces as a stark, prairie-quiet reckoning with gay survival, solitude and the shadow of AIDS in midcentury America

NYT: So this California Post tabloid is really happening

Advocate: Health insurance costs are up and women and LGBTQ people are paying the price

Go Mag: The LGBTQ films to watch at Sundance 2026

Out: A guide to the "Before I Do" actors, characters and gay storylines in the upcoming romantic comedy directed by Gary Jaffe, which features an all-homo cast

MetroWeekly: NYPD increases security at NYU after anti-LGBTQ bomb threats

American Songwriter: Jane Wiedlin reveals she’ll be sharing “really intimate and crazy shit” in an upcoming memoir titled "TMI" 

NYT: Washington Post plans cuts to reshape newsroom

Out: Rob Rausch turns heads on "The Traitors" with viral photos highlighting his sexy V-line and bulging biceps

Pride: Meet all 41 LGBTQ Olympians at the 2026 Winter Olympics

TV Line: I'd watch Katey Sagal and Jane Lynch play longtime besties in an NBC sitcom

Speedo Sunday: Camo tease

Hot Cat of the Day: Fun idea -- build a dollhouse that's an exact replica of your actual home. Let your cat loose in it. Send pictures to your neighbors, family and friends, saying: "Something happened to the cat, I don't know if I'll survive the night." 

Making his Mark: I miss the days when we had an actual leader -- and a funny one, to boot

Down Under: You can only imagine how happy I am that both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic advanced to the Aussie Open final!

RIP: Catherine O’Hara, who has made me laugh for as long as I can remember, is reportedly dead at 71. Although the cause is unclear, what is certain is that there are millions of heartbroken fans today. How lucky we were to have had her. xo

Demond Wilson, Lamont on "Sanford & Son," dies at 79

On the Rag, Vol. 893

This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Zac Barrett, Robbie G.K., Hudson Williams, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Scott Eastwood and more BELOW. 

Remains of the Day (01/28)

Out With Dan: Jeff Copeland joins the podcast to talk about his deep creative bond with Holly Woodlawn and their years developing a biopic of her life -- a journey he recounts in “Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn,” his coming-of-age story in Hollywood. Listen HERE.

Advocate: Over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ attacks occurred in U.S. in 2025

SCMP: Malaysians lampoon minister over stress-gay link: "They never work hard in parliament?"

State Press: My college newspaper where I was a reporter explores the impact of "Heated Rivalry" on LGBTQ+ portrayal in television

Washington Blade: Defunding LGBTQ groups is a warning sign for democracy

Wrestle Wednesday: "Anything he wanted"

Timely Coincidence: My pal Steve Rutledge happened to feature Bobbi Campbell on his #BornThisDay feature today, which came as a surprise because Damian and I just watched "And the Band Played On" for the first time this week, in which Donal Logue portrayed the late AIDS activist and onetime Newsweek coverman. (I'd read the book while interning on Capitol Hill in early '89) Learn more about the birthday boy, who died in 1984 at just 32, HERE. 

Attitude: Remembering Roger Butler, the first man to come out publicly as gay in the U.K. press

PinkNews: How the Nazi pink triangle became a defiant symbol of LGBTQ rights

BAR: San Francisco exhibit focuses on LGBTQ psychiatry history

Out: "Heated Rivalry" star Hudson Williams is a mouthful in splashy new photo shoot

GCN: Sundance Film Festival offers LGBTQ features, documentaries and shorts

Just Jared: Calvin Klein, 83, spotted at gym with model boyfriend Kevin Baker, 37

Out: Antoni Porowski is getting the gays all horned up with new SAXX underwear campaign

Variety: LGBTQ rom-com "Before I Do" to star Cole Doman, Michael Hsu Rosen and Nico Greetham

Washington Blade: Top Democrats reintroduce bill to investigate discrimination against LGBTQ military members

Gay Express: Uganda shuts down LGBTQ human rights group ahead of election

Out: The Billie Jean King documentary “Give Me the Ball!” garners Oscar buzz

Hot Cat of the Day: If only Erdogan could be replaced by someone sane ... 

"Antiheroine": A new doc on the singer-slash-superstar that premiered at Sundance gives Courtney Love the mic -- and lets her tell her story in her own words

Liza With the T

 

Liza Minnelli's memoir is heading to a bookstore near you, although this has "the audiobook will be even better" written all over it!

She writes:

On March 10, my book "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!" finally arrives in the world. I’m spillin' the tea and tellin' the truth about my life - from “Original Nepo Baby” to carving out my own lane as an artist. It honors my father, my mother, my family… and all but one of my husbands!

My book began as a series of recorded conversations with my dearest friend, Michael Feinstein, over the past 15 years. I used to say, “Michael, tell it when I’m gone!” Yet, as countless people I loved lost their lives to drugs and alcohol, I knew it was time to open up and truly let you inside my heart.

In these pages, I share my loves, heartbreaks, triumphs, the laughter that keeps me going, and my lifelong challenges with what we now call SUD (Substance Use Disorder) - and yes, how I’ve thrived in recovery for over 10 years. If my book helps even one person find their way to healing, then telling my story is worth it. I'm taking all the tremendous love you’ve shown me over the years and giving it right back to you.

The first signed editions of my book sold out immediately … You've asked for more, so it's back to my desk! Kids, I turn 80 in March, so I can’t keep signing forever. I invite everyone who connects with me here to be aware that we have a limited number of signed copies. If you'd like, we'll share my life, my memories, my recovery, my joy and my love for you.

Order HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Lachlan McLean

Yowza. More of the 29-year-old old former professional soccer player cum media personality and men's health advocate BELOW.

Remains of the Day (01/26)

Gayety: Mayor Zohran Mamdani urges New Yorkers to stay home and read "Heated Rivalry" during snowstorm

Parade: "Bionic Woman" star and "The Six Million Dollar Man" reunite

Attitude: Terrence Higgins Trust CEO reflects on his meeting with Keir Starmer about chemsex, suicide and gay men’s mental health

E! News: Liza Minnelli says "trolls didn’t bother to read the truth" about AI used on her new song

Greg in Hollywood: Robby Benson at 70 ... time to watch "Ode to Billy Joe"?!

Attitude: "Laid Bare" shows orgy, butts and 11 full frontals just 20 minutes in 

East Bay Times: LGBTQ TikTok star found beaten to death in Thai forest; suspect arrested

TV Line: HBO rejected Ryan Murphy's sex-soaked "Open"

Advocate: Despite doing everything by the book, the U.S. is potentially sending two asylum-seeking gay men to their deaths in Iran

Instinct: Naked Evan Peters will have you reaching for the replay button during "The Beauty"

KIT212: "To Catch a Predator"-style operation ensnares gay English/drama teacher

People: Beloved senior-living center executive found dead, half-dressed, inside a hidden “sex house,” leaving a shattered husband and a mystery that blurs pleasure, power and murder

CNN: Pentagon pauses HIV-positive recruit training while signaling it may soon reinstate a ban on their enlistment 

Out: Meet the lesbian couples competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics 

Socialite Life: Male Model Monday featuring Cris Rivera, Giorgio Ramondetta, Trip Wilson and more

Hot Cat of the Day: Well hello, Mr. Handsome!

Meals on Heels: Just finished -- and thoroughly enjoyed -- Erik Piepenburg's "Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants," which explores the cultural history of LGBTQ dining establishments as vital spaces for community, activism and self-expression from the 1920s to the present. (Loved the shoutout!) His event at the New York Public Library was postponed because of the snowstorm. But you can hear his appearance on the "This Way Out" podcast HERE.

ICYMI: When a restaurant full of HIV-positive people posed naked for Spencer Tunick in Florent to mark the 10th anniversary of POZ magazine. (I was reminded of this by Erik's moving section about the legendary Meatpacking diner.)

Heaven Sent: Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd and Kate Jackson to celebrate 50 years of "Charlie's Angels" at reunion event

Gabe Lopez, Gay Pop Visionary and 'Drag Race' Musical Force, Dies at 49

Was sorry to read about the death of Gabe Lopez, a singer, songwriter and producer whom I knew of through his work with Belinda Carlisle. He was 49. In an Instagram post, his family said the cause was "a brief but intense battle with lymphoma."

Based in Los Angeles, Lopez built a career that bridged artist and behind-the-scenes hitmaker. He became widely known for his work as a music producer on the Rusicals for "RuPaul’s Drag Race," a role he expanded in 2019 to include RuPaul’s Drag Race Live in Las Vegas, which opened at The Flamingo in January 2020. He also produced music for television series including "The Other Two" and "Gayme Show."

Lopez was a trusted collaborator for both legacy pop acts and contemporary artists. His credits included work with the aforementioned Carlisle, the Go-Go’s and New Kids on the Block, for whom he co-wrote and produced multiple tracks across several albums. He also produced and co-wrote all of the songs on Carlisle’s album "Wilder Shores," released in 2017.

Carlisle paid tribute in an emotional statement, calling Lopez “my beautiful friend, creative collaborator and producer of my last two albums, and an incredible artist in his own right.” She wrote that she was “devastated and heartbroken,” adding, “I can’t remember being in so much pain.” Carlisle remembered their 12 years of working together as filled with joy and creativity, saying she could not imagine her life without him. “Godspeed, Gabe -- you were always an angel, now it’s time to soar,” she wrote, adding, “I love you and will always hold you dear to me. May his music live forever.”

Gabe Lopez (far left) with Belinda Carlisle & Co. at the launch of her "Wilder Shores" album in London back in 2017

In addition, Lopez produced the vocals on “Club Zero” by the Go-Go’s for their 2020 documentary, which premiered at Sundance, further cementing his reputation as a go-to creative partner for artists navigating both nostalgia and reinvention.

As a solo artist, Lopez released a string of warmly received albums that blended classic pop hooks with candid storytelling. His debut, "This Is About You" (2006), earned strong reviews and saw all 17 tracks licensed for film and television. It was followed by "Shine Like the Sun" (2011), which included the anti–Prop. 8 anthem “No Hate,” embraced by the NOH8 Campaign.

Later releases included "California Blues" (2015), featuring backing vocals from Belinda Carlisle; "Lasso" (2017), released alongside a UK tour with Carlisle; and "God Bless the Queens" (2018), a celebratory, defiant album that debuted on the iTunes charts and underscored Lopez’s pride in his identity and community.

Friends and collaborators are remembering Lopez on my social-media feeds as endlessly generous with his time and talent -- a true pro who welcomed ideas, worked through the night when needed, and lifted every project he touched. He is survived by his family and a wide circle of friends and collaborators. 

Weekend Tennis Roundup

This year's Australian Open seedings have held up in record fashion. Full report plus all the beef that's fit to post including Pam Shriver's hot sons BELOW.

Once More Unto the Sleet

What a fun way to wake up! Is this what it's like to live in Chicago? 

Harvey's intrigued ...

Remains of the Day (01/23)

 

Music Matters: Let's bring back paper concert tickets!

ICYMI: I revisit my own stub collection -- Go-Go's, Missing Persons, Thompson Twins, the Smiths -- HERE 

PinkNews: "Boots" star Max Parker lands "God of War" role after Netflix show canceled

Advocate: EEOC rescinds LGBTQ-inclusive guidance on workplace harassment

DM: Kristy McNichol sighting in Pasadena!

Saturday 'Stache: Charles Melton rocking a 'stache and not much else

Stolen Holiday: A love letter to Agatha Christie’s most flirtatious duo -- and the 1983 TV series that let Tommy and Tuppence sparkle, smooch and sleuth their way through the Jazz Age

AM NY: Suspect sought for attacking man at L train station in Brooklyn with anti-LGBTQ slurs and fists

Out: Nicholas Galitzine shows off his muscles and abs as He-Man

Advocate: Corporate allies tell Davos attendees that LGBTQ people are important to global economy, but don't tell the kiddies 

Greg in Hollywood: Terrence O’Connor opens up about beginning and end of his relationship with Benito Skinner

SCMP: "Was he asking for it?" Survey reveals surge in men groped on Tokyo transit

Attitude: Who is "The Apprentice" candidate Conor Galvin?

GCN: Anti-LGBTQ bomb threats target NYU, prompting NYPD to increase security

MetroWeekly: Trans Space Force colonel forced out flooded with donations after Congress campaign launch

E! News: "Heated Rivalry" stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to light up the Winter Olympics as torchbearers

Washington Blade: Judge denies D.C. request to dismiss gay police captain’s anti-bias lawsuit

Speedo Sunday: Green with envy

Hot Cat of the Day: Fear not -- Rudy is safe at home! 

Reading list: Finished the "On the Road" audiobook. Will Patton did an incredible job of bringing the characters to life in a way my teen self never could. (Verdict: I think audiobooks are a great alternative in certain situations. My brother Terence told me he wanted to hear Frank McCourt tell the story of "Angela’s Ashes" and "'Tis" -- and now I do, too.) Then I finished reading "Gay Bar: Why We Went Out," which (for better or worse) wound up being a little more about why the author and his partner went out than a general look at why gay people crave our own spaces. Also polished off Molly Shannon's memoir, detailing the car accident that left her without a mother and down a sister and cousin. (God, she's a doll!) Next up: Thinking of finally starting Erik Piepenburg's look at gay restaurants, "Dining Out." Let me know if you've read it and what you thought.

Boystack: 2026 Oscar nominations offer something for everyone -- except Paul Mescal, Ariana Grande and two of the year’s biggest movies

On the Rag, Vol. 892

 

This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Wyatt Dorion, Pietro Boselli, Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Musetti, Jack Tracy, Mike Maimone and more BELOW.

Remains of the Day (01/21)

KIT212: Olympic gold medalist charged with raping coach's 13-year-old daughter 

Socialite Life: Try to guess if Alexander Skarsgaard isn't really bisexual, as he hinted while promoting a gay movie

The Athletic: Bill Kennedy, Robin Roberts, Jason Collins highlight LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame inductees

HotSpots: Cozy up with these winter reads for queers

Attitude: LGBTQ authors report falling royalties amid U.S. bans

Wrestle Wednesday: When XL met XS

Instinct: Ricky Martin ex Jwan Yosef reacts to Milan photo with Hudson Williams

HuffPost: Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) is an actual condition -- and it could explain a lot

Gr8er Days: The enduring beauty of Guy Madison

GCN: Knicks set to host Pride Night at Madison Square Garden Jan. 27

SCMP: Meet Giancarlo Giammetti, longtime partner of the late fashion designer Valentino Garavani

NYT Opinion: Americans are turning against gay people

Decider: "Heated Rivalry" star Francois Arnaud shuts down Andy Cohen’s question about his personal life: “None of your f***ing business”

MetroWeekly: Jason Elliott on his year as Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather

Out: Everything we know (so far) about "Red, White & Royal Blue 2"

Deadline: "Boots" was Netflix’s most-watched recent series to be canceled and did better than shows that were renewed

HotSpots: Antoni Porowski wants you to talk about sex -- and PrEP -- like you talk about food

People: Christopher Reeve's TV newsman son Will Reeve marries Amanda Dubin in Miami wedding

Hot Cat of the Day: Wishing Larry the cat at Downing Street a belated 19th birthday! 

The Caftan Chronicles: Tim Murphy's "Heated" chat with a scholar who wrote a New York Times essay about that gay hockey show

 Final Chapter: You may have read that pioneering gay book publisher Don Weise died unexpectedly last week at just 59. Although his old-school ways left him largely unprepared for the 21st century take on the industry, I'll always be grateful to him for signing me in 2013 to write my memoir, "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?" My deepest condolences to those who adored him, and there were many. xo 

Even More 'Tubular' Festival Coming This Summer

 

As I've mentioned, I generally hate music festivals. But where was this line-up -- even sans Dave Ball (RIP) -- when I let my guard down for the Totally Tubular Festival last month?! I quickly ran afoul of the male singer from Animotion when I mentioned that these things typically attract the "wrong" nostalgia acts. (No word on how Astrid Plane feels.) But if I'm honest, I just as easily could have cited "headliners" Men Without Hats and A Flock of Seagulls, especially when compared with the Human League, Soft Cell and Alison F**king Moyet. All I can say is I doubt tickets will go for 22 bucks the day before!

Am I his obsession? 

Tennis Tuesday

See if Frenchman Rayan Ricci can quench your thirst BELOW.

Broadway, Booze and a 'Blizzard'

Was a little MIA these past few days because we had my brother Terence in town to celebrate his 61st birthday. 

It was a bit of a whirlwind, including but not limited to:

Two plays: "All Out" at the Nederlander Theatre (sort of "Laugh In" meets "SNL" with a band playing in between sketches) and "The Honey Trap" at the Irish Repertory Theatre (suspenseful and thought-provoking) 

And he wasn't even the honey trap!

Five restaurants (Viand Cafe, Westside diner, Friend of a Farmer, Rosa Mexicano, Elmo) 

Three bars (Dublin House, P.J. Clarke's, Central Park Tavern)

and 

One reunion with our former colleagues from our college jobs answering phones in the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette circulation department. 

Photo highlights below:

Thursday: Toasting the birthday boy on the Upper West Side 

Friday: Catching Simon Rich's latest, which consists of live readings of short stories about "ego, envy, greed, and basically just New Yorkers in general." Simon is the son of my former NYT colleague Frank Rich. 

Saturday: Woke up to a winter wonderland that amazed Harvey

Can't say enough about this one. Bravo to writer Leo McGann and director Matt Torney -- and to actor Harrison Tipping's tits 

Have been friends with these two lovelies since 1986, sisters Mary (far left) and Kristin, who happened to be in town from Arizona and Italy for their uncle's 96th birthday. On weekends we would sometimes arrive to work at the Republic & Gazette's circulation call center having been out partying all night -- still lightly drunk or in the early stages of a hangover -- to field calls from angry subscribers whose papers weren't delivered or even worse: were missing the coupons on Sunday!

Mary and Kenny

Terence

"Circulation, may I help you?" 

Terence left on Sunday and Damian and I even managed to go to the gym despite another snowfall! 

From my Instagram HERE.