Pride Month is nearing its climax. While some big-market Prides are still to come later this summer, the biggest will be happening over these next few weeks. There’s going to be glitter. There’s going to be rainbows. And there’s going to be a lot happening both at your local Pride and online as the pop cultural machine tries to cram in a few more big gay news happenings before June is up.
Expect a few more celebrity coming-outs, show announcements and controversies as we head into Cancer season.
Thankfully, we’re here to help you keep track of it all. Every week in “The Buzz” we round up everything you need to know in queer and trans pop culture, from Broadway to your Twitter feed.
Here’s what you missed this week.
→ Billy Eichner came out as straight! Well … sort of.
The notably incredibly gay comedian and actor (set to star in and produce Bros, the first all-gay major studio rom-com later this summer) had some fun with fans this weekend after an entertainment site suggested he was dating actress Anna Kendrick.
In a social media post, the site shared images of Eichner and Kendrick alongside Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma as examples of “new celebrity couples that made us believe in love in 2022.”
Eichner had a very understandable response.
He begrudgingly admitted that this was proof enough that he is tragically straight.
Kendrick leaned into the bit in the comments on Instagram, writing “Honestly … I was so into this dress and ponytail, I’m just glad this pic is getting some play. Also, love you baby.”
The pair kept up the bit on Twitter, including some impeccably Pitch Perfect cup jokes.
And of course, Eichner ultimately managed to spin the whole situation in promotion for Bros, and we have to admire the hustle.
In other Bros news, Mariah Carey apparently hosted a private screening this week in what must’ve been the gayest event ever.
→ During a performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles this past week, Jennifer Lopez performed with her child Emme and introduced them with they/them pronouns for the first time publically.
The pair most recently performed together at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show.
“The last time we performed together was in a big stadium like this, and I ask them to sing with me all the time, and they won’t,” Lopez told fans. “So this is a very special occasion. They are very, very busy. Booked. And pricey.”
This weekend the pair sang “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri (which those of us of a certain generation will vividly remember from the Twilight soundtrack). Emme also returned later in the show to join their mom and sing the intro to Lopez’s hit “Let’s Get Loud” and part of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”
→ Basketball legend Sue Bird announced that she will retire after this year’s WNBA season after playing professionally for 19 years—the most in WNBA history.
→ Harry Styles helped a fan come out as gay during one of his concerts this weekend.
The singer lifted a rainbow flag over his head, saying, “When this flag goes over my head you’re officially gay, my boy!”
And then he triumphantly declared: “Congratulations, Mattia, you are a free man!” as the crowd cheered.
Now that’s how you bust down a closet door.
→ Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider threw the ceremonial first pitch at the San Francisco Giants Pride game this week. But Fox Sports did not actually air Schneider’s pitch and aired the pitch from the previous night featuring a NASCAR driver, sparking plenty of controversy on social media and accusations of transphobia from the network.
In a statement to TMZ, Fox Sports officials said the omission wasn’t intentional, and that usually the first pitch is not broadcast at all. The driver’s pitch was included as part of a promotional package.
On Twitter, Schneider said Fox officials reached out to her personally and she believes it was a misunderstanding.
→ This week, Kesha reminded us all that she’s definitely “not straight” in an Instagram post celebrating Pride.
“I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am,” the singer wrote. “I love people. I love people because we are all our own little consciousness journeys, dancing around the sun.”
It’s not the first time the “We R Who We R” singer has opened up about her sexuality. In 2019, she described herself as biseuxal and polyamorous in an interview with Attitude.
→ I love to drag corporate Pride, but also Neopets has a Pride collection now! And considering I did do a lot of gay roleplaying on the Neopets forums as a tween, it makes perfect sense.
→ After Beanie Feldstein’s Funny Girl parade got rained on by bad reviews, the star is leaving the production earlier than planned this fall. And rumours say a certain former Glee star could be poised to take over.
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