The Daily Sting, Friday: A Gay London Landmark Saved, ‘Clueless’ Remake in the Works
TGIF, everybody! It’s a great day in the UK, as local bar Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a gay London landmark, has officially had its future saved with a new 20-year lease. And we aren’t sure we need it — or even asked for it — but a Clueless remake is apparently in the works!
In other news, the cast of the film Philadelphia has celebrated its 25-year anniversary with a new short film, Troye Sivan just dropped a Queen cover in time for today’s release of Bohemian Rhapsody, and if you’re curious what bravery looks like, look no further than protester Mateo Emanuel Alejandro Cox, who earlier this week confronted U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on attempts at trans erasure.
From a gay London landmark saved to the Clueless remake, here are the day’s top queer headlines:
1. Gay London Landmark the ‘RVT’ Saved With New 20-Year Lease (Nightlife)
At this point known for its troubled path to stay open as much as its diverse programming, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a local gay London landmark, has officially secured a new 20-year lease that replaces the short-term one previously due to expire in 2019. This new lease doesn’t, however, prevent the bar from being sold. The RVT team said it’s “delighted” with the new terms. “We remain committed to ensuring the preservation of our history and culture,” says James Lindsay, the bar’s CEO.
Read the full story by Gay Star News here
2. Cast of Philadelphia Reunites 25 Years Later for Short Film The Last Mile (Film)
It’s been announced that Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Mary Steenburgen — stars of the 1993 film Philadelphia, in which Hanks’ character, an HIV-positive gay man, sues his law firm employer for discrimination — will reunite to appear in The Last Mile. The short film will feature interviews with the cast looking back at the film’s significance, how things have changed since the early ’90s and the current state of HIV in the world. Hanks famously won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett.
3. What Bravery Looks Like: Protester Confronts Jeff Sessions on Trans Erasure (News)
On Monday of this week, while U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was speaking at a Federalist Society meeting in Boston, he was met with protester Mateo Emanuel Alejandro Cox, who held up a trans flag and yelled at Sessions, “We will not be erased!” Cox, who requires a wheelchair and/or crutches for mobility, was escorted from the event but not before he claims security sprained his neck, ankle and shoulder, which led him to the emergency room. Cox was protesting Sessions’ appearance following the leaking of this memo, in which the Trump administration makes clear it is attempting a full-scale erasure of trans rights and identity in America.
4. Clueless Remake for a Younger Generation Currently in the Works (Film)
Though still in the earliest of stages over at Paramount, a Clueless remake is reportedly in the cards. Word is still out, though, on whether this new film will be a total reimagining of the 1995 quotable classic or whether some of the original cast from Amy Heckerling’s masterpiece (yeah, we said it) will be returning. In the meantime, a musical version of the Alicia Silverstone-starring film is heading to off-Broadway in NYC later this month.
5. Troye Sivan Releases ‘Somebody to Love’ Cover Timed With Bohemian Rhapsody (Music)
Today’s the big day, as the Rami Malek-starring Bohemian Rhapsody — a biopic of Freddie Mercury and his journey to becoming the ultimate rock god while fronting Queen — is now in theaters. And Aussie pop star Troye Sivan is the latest to release a cover to benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which supports global efforts to end HIV. His cover of “Somebody to Love” is pared-down and oozes loneliness. Maybe not so great for your ‘ready to party’ playlist, but solid nonetheless.
And go read Hornet’s review of Bohemian Rhapsody here.
