Tag Archives: The Trevor Project

Tony Rodriguez to Participate in Live Reading of Michael Ausiello’s Soap Opera “Beverly Hills”

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Tony Rodriguez is preparing for a sudsy experience…

The Latino actor and longtime performer of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters in New York and Los Angeles will take part in a live reading of Beverly Hills, a soap opera written by TVLine founder and Spoiler Alert author Michael Ausiello when he was 13.

Tony RodriguezRodriguez, a voice actor on The Simpsons, is part of a cast that includes Ana Gasteyer, Tony Hale, Dulé Hill, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash and Sasheer Zamata.

Adding an element of surprise, the actors will get to read the script for the first time when they take the stage on July 16 at Los Angeles’ Hayworth Theater (aka Dynasty Typewriter).

Proceeds from the event, which will be live-streamed, will benefit The Trevor Project.

Per the description: “Back in the ‘80s, when Ausiello was a closeted gay pubescent living in small-town New Jersey, he penned 517 episodes of a daytime soap opera, titled Beverly Hills. Miraculously, he saved every handwritten script. The event on July 16, which has a roughly 80-minute running time, will center on a concentrated, self-contained story arc that found six of Beverly Hills’ most popular characters traveling overseas for a life-or-death adventure. Although some of Teenage Ausiello’s atrocious spelling has been cleaned up for this theatrical experience, the scenes will be performed exactly as they were written all those years ago. For better or worse.”

The cast of the reading also includes Mitch Silpa and newcomer Tristan Michael Brown, who will portray teenage Ausiello.

The performance will be co-directed by Ausiello and LA theater vet Tom DeTrinis and produced by Ausiello and Patrick Cotnoir.

Founded in 1998, The Trevor Project, headquartered in West Hollywood, CA, is a nonprofit suicide prevention organization that provides 24/7 crisis support services, research, and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth.

Demi Lovato Promotes Partnership with Propeller to Raise Awareness & Action for LGBTQ Issues

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Demi Lovato is encouraging people to do their part to support the LGBTQ community, even though Pride Month has drawn to a close.

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American actor/singer has shared a new video to help promote their partnership with Propeller, aiming to raise awareness and actions for LGBTQ issues by offering fans a chance to win special prizes.

Demi Lovato

In the clip, Lovato shared the reason why they started the campaign — in order to help LGBTQ and trans youth around the country.

“In 2021 alone, more than 34 states have introduced legislation targeting trans youth,” Lovato said in their video. “It is more important than ever that we continue to work to secure equal rights for all. Join me in taking action to support organizations working hard to defend LGBTQIA+ rights, and support the Equality Act.”

The star also spoke on some of the prizes that fans could win, the biggest being a trip to Joshua Tree to stay at the Invisible House, where Lovato shot the promotional photos for their latest album Dancing With the Devil..The Art of Starting Over. 

“You’ll have a chance to win items from my closet including outfits I’ve worn on tour or an incredible trip to Joshua Tree,” they added. “I’ve put together some of my favorite things to do and some of my favorite places to go there, and I’m teaming up with Propeller to give that all to you. All you have to enter is take action with Human Rights Campaign, a group that has been working tirelessly to support trans and non-binary equality, and all LGBTQ+ rights for over 40 years.”

For their new campaign, Lovato is urging fans to donate directly to organizations such as HRC, The Trevor Project, and more, while also asking them to sign petitions for causes including the Trevor Project’s “50 Bills 50 States” initiative to end conversion therapy in the U.S., or HRC’s “Count Me In” campaign to support transgender and non-binary youth.

You can enter their Propeller campaign here.

Demi Lovato to Co-Host Special YouTube Pride 2021 Livestream

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Demi Lovato is celebrating Pride in a big way…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American actor/singer and Olly Alexander with Mawaan Rizwan will join previously announced hosts Trixie Mattel and Daniel Howell for the YouTube Pride 2021 livestream on June 25.

Demi Lovato

Lovato and their fellow emcees will host the YouTube Originals multi-hour livestream event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, including Pride parties from their respective YouTube channels.

The festivities will include musical performances, challenges and more, during which viewers will be encouraged to donate to The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth, as well as the UK-based LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt.

The livestream’s special guests will include YouTube star Tyler Oakley, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8 runner-up Kim Chi, All Stars winner Monét X Change, season 9 runner-up Peppermint and season 13 contestant Denali Foxx.

Demi Lovato announced last month that they are non-binary and their pronouns are they/them. The “very personal” news came as part of Lovato’s new “4D With Demi Lovato” podcast, in which they explained, “Over the past year and a half I’ve been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I’ve had the revelation that I identify as nonbinary.”

Alongside H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile, Lovato paid tribute to Elton John by performing a medley of his biggest hits at last week’s iHeartRadio Awards.

YouTube Pride 2021 will be held on Friday, June 25. JA Films producers created a Pride 2021 microsite asking content creators to submit videos of themselves sharing their stories and questions for the hosts with a chance to have their videos featured on the YouTube livestream.

YouTube is also launching a #GiveWithPride donation campaign with hopes to raise $500,000 for The Trevor Project. YouTube is matching donations made to the campaign up to $250,000.

If the campaign’s fundraising goal is met, YouTube creators will each release a zany challenge video, including Patrick Starrr, Gigi Gorgeous, Elle of the Mills, The Fitness Marshall, Jackson Bird, Alannized, Jessie Paege, KingOfReads, and Jade Fox. The video, which teases creators bleaching their hair, getting tattoos and re-creating viral dance challenges, will air during YouTube Pride 2021.

Demi Lovato to Take Part in iHeartMedia & P&G’s “Can’t Cancel Pride” Virtual Benefit Concert

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Demi Lovato is celebrating Pride in a big way…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actor will be taking part in iHeartMedia and P&G’s second annual “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a virtual benefit concert featuring some of the biggest LGBTQ names in music appearing to offer special performances, while also raising funds for nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping LGBTQ people around the world.

Demi Lovato

Hosted by Elvis Duran and Bebe Rexha, the event will take place on June 4, and will feature appearances and performances from Lovato, Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan, Rexha, Brothers Osborne, Busy Phillips, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, P!nk, Ricky Martin, Regard and Tate McRae.

Along with putting on a good show, iHeartMedia and P&G are also partnering with Greater Cincinatti Foundation to help distribute the funds raised from the event to six organizations supporting the LGBTQ community in 2021, including GLAAD, SAGE, The Trevor Project, the National Black Justice Coalition, CenterLink, and OutRight Action International.

“As the country is returning back to normal and we are slowly starting to gather again, LGBTQ+ communities around the world are still feeling the devastating effects of COVID-19,”  iHeartMedia’s chief  marketing officer Gayle Troberman said in a statement. “We look forward to once again celebrating the incredible voices and allies of the LGBTQ+ community with an amazing night of music that will honor Pride and the communities’ fight for equal rights, all while benefiting six remarkable nonprofits that make an everyday positive impact.”

“Can’t Cancel Pride” will take place on June 4th at 9:00 p.m. ET on iHeartRadio’s TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram TV pages, PrideRadio.com and Revry, while also being broadcast on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App.

Learn more about the upcoming event here.

MJ Rodriguez & Her “Pose” Castmates to Be Honored by The Trevor Project

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MJ Rodriguez is getting a special honor…

Since its debut back in June, FX’s Pose, starring the 27-year-old Latina transgender actress and singer, has been busy breaking records.

MJ Rodriguez

The Ryan Murphy-helmed program feautured the largest cast of transgender actors in series-regular roles, the largest ever LGBTQ cast on a scripted series and featured the first episode of television in history to be written and directed by a transgender woman of color, Janet Mock.

Now, Posewill reap the rewards of their progressive programming. The Trevor Project, a world-famous non-profit organization aimed at aiding at-risk LGBTQ youth, will honor Murphy, Rodriguez, who portrays Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista,and the rest of the cast of the show at their upcoming TrevorLIVE Gala.

Amit Paley, the CEO and executive director for The Trevor Project, said that the show’s aim to represent trans people so directly has been inspiring to watch.

“Ryan Murphy and the cast of Posehave had a tremendous impact on the lives of young LGBTQ people over the past year,” he said. “We’re incredibly excited to honor them for their dedication to creating a community of openness and inclusiveness for LGBTQ youth through their innovative work and leadership.”

Murphy added that he was similarly affected by the organization’s decision to honor his work and his cast. “I’m thrilled to be honored by The Trevor Project alongside the cast of Pose,” he said in a statement. “We’re extremely supportive of the work that this extraordinary organization does to help LGBTQ young people in need feel heard and valued.”

Rivera to Appear at The Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE Gala Event

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Naya Rivera will be taking the stage at the Trevor Project’s annual gala fundraiser.

The 26-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer will join her fellow Glee stars Jane Lynch, Darren Criss, Amber Riley and Chris Colfer, as well as American Idol alum Adam Lambert at TrevorLIVE, on December 8 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Naya Rivera

Hosted by comedienne Kathy Griffin, the event raises funds for The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Lynch will be honored by the organization.

Lambert, along with Riley, Smash star Megan Hilty and Glee alum Cheyenne Jackson, will take the stage for special performances.

Others scheduled to make an appearance include Dot-Marie Jones and Harry Shum, Jr., of Glee, Sarah Michelle Gellar of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crazy Ones; Hannah Simone of New Girl; Andrew Rannells of  Girls; Allison Janney of Mom and Masters of Sex; TV host Ricki Lake and Jennifer Coolidge of American Pie.

The show will be produced by So You Think You Can Dance judge Adam Shankman, whose directing and producing credits include Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Glee and the 2010 Academy Awards.

The red carpet and pre-show will be shown via livestream.