“FINDING FIRE ISLAND” – A DOCU-PODCAST SERIES FEATURING JOEL KIM BOOSTER, MARGARET CHO, MATT ROGERS, DJ LINA BRADFORD, PAUL RUDNICK AND MORE – DEBUTS ON JULY 6 VIA BROADWAY PODCAST NETWORK
“Finding Fire Island” – a docu-podcast series which brings to life how a sleepy, 19th century beach town became a modern day queer mecca for artists and the New York City theater community – debuts on July 6via Broadway Podcast Network. Queer history has often been told through the lens of loss and disappearance but Fire Island has transcended that to survive as a stunning fantasy world and cultural touchstone. “Finding Fire Island” takes its listener behind the curtain of the mystique, legends and lore of the LGBTQ+ communities (Cherry Grove and The Pines) from folks who experienced their evolution from the 1950s to today.
“Finding Fire Island” features Joel Kim Booster, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers, the iconic DJ Lina Bradford, screenwriter Paul Rudnick (Sister Act, The First Wives Club), Brian Moylan (Vulture, author of The Housewives), Zach Stafford (former editor-in-chief of The Advocate, Tony Award winner), cabaret director Ben Rimalower, and Cherry Grove legends Bob “Rose” Levine and Thom “Panzi” Hansen. A full talent list can be found here.
Watch the “Finding Fire Island” trailer here.
“Finding Fire Island” is created and executive produced by writer, producer and native New Yorker, Jess Rothschild. Since 2019, Jess has published and hosted the podcast “Hot Takes & Deep Dives,” centered on queer pop iconography and New York City culture. Jess has received acclaim from The Huffington Post and The New York Times for her interviews with Rosie O’Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Mizrahi, Melissa Etheridge, Roxane Gay, Mario Cantone, The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken, Fran Drescher and more. Jess Rothschild was a founding writer for the largest independent LGBT website still in existence – Autostraddle – from 2009-2013.
Of “Finding Fire Island,” Jess Rothschild shares: “As a native New Yorker, Fire Island was intrinsically formative to my identity as a gay person. As my obsession with the history and culture of Cherry Grove and The Pines intensified over the years, I began collecting interviews with notable Fire Island figures, past and present. While working on this project, I realized that this is one of the rare pieces of media about Fire Island from the perspective of a woman.”
Comedian / actor Matt Rogers adds: “The thing about Fire Island is, it itself is such a story, but when you go, it becomes part of your story.”
Comedian / musician Margaret Cho notes: “It’s important to create art about Fire Island which really memorializes the history and the important figures. There are so many stories to tell from the island as this legendary queer mecca.”
“We're thrilled to welcome Jess Rothschild and the podcast ‘Finding Fire Island’ to the Broadway Podcast Network! The epic stories, influential storytellers and fascinating Fire Island lore will capture our audience completely,” Dori Berinstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Broadway Podcast Network, said.
“Finding Fire Island” is presented by the Broadway Podcast Network, with new episodes available starting on July 6 on BPN.FM or wherever you get your podcasts. Broadway Podcast Network is the premier digital storytelling destination for everyone, everywhere, who loves theatre and the performing arts.
Queerty Announces Nominees for The 11th Annual Queerties Award Show
Los Angeles, CA – January 25, 2023: Queerty, the LGBTQ+ entertainment news site, is announcing its nominees for The 11th anniversary Queerties awards, taking place February 28th in Los Angeles. The Queerties is a celebration of entertainment and pop culture moments that defined the past year in the LGBTQ+ community. It is designed to uplift and spotlight LGBTQ+ creators, tastemakers, and storytellers who are not often recognized at other award shows.
“The Queerties gives voice to the LGBTQ+ community,” Scott Gatz of Q.Digital, the parent company of Queerty, explains. “It is the only pop culture awards show where queer people vote for the talent and creatives they feel will have the most lasting impact on the next generation of queer youth.”
Bianca Del Rio will host this year’s ceremony. “Grab your sequins, grab your feathers, grab your leather harnesses, and let's be merry, Marys," she says.
Nominees for The Queerties were selected by the editorial team at Queerty. Winners will be voted on by Queerty readers from now through February 21. Categories range from the “Badass” award, honoring the top LGBTQ+ newsmakers, to “Drag Royalty,” and “Closet Door Bustdown”, an award recognizing brave notables who shook up mainstream America with their coming out stories.
Nominees in the “Bad Ass” category include Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island, Loot), Jim Parsons (Spoiler Alert), and Ryan O’Connell (Queer as Folk), among others. Willow Pill will compete against Alaska, Raja, Eureka! and more for the “Drag Royalty” crown. Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Rebel Wilson, Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things) and Aunjanue Ellis (upcoming The Color Purple) are among the stars competing in the “Closet Door Bustdown” category.
Billy Eichner (Bros), Janelle Monáe (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) and Troye Sivan (Three Months) are among those competing in “Best Performance Film”. Indie artists being recognized include influencers Chris Olsen and Megan Mitchell, vying for “Favorite TikTok-er”; Omar Rudberg and Chappell Roan, both named in the “Breakout Musical Artist” category; and Cole Escola and Jeffery Self, whose popular comedy show, Breakfast Buffet, is competing for “Top LGBTQ+ Podcast”.
This year’s event honors Dylan Mulvaney, an actress who documented her gender transition to her ten million followers on TikTok, and musician Rufus Wainwright. Gay music artist VINCINT will perform at the ceremony.
And what is a queer award show without at least a little shade? The 11th anniversary ceremony will also award its renowned “Girl, Bye” prize, the category that execrates the individual most scorned by the LGBTQ+ community. Nominees for 2023 include Candace Cameron Bure, Kanye West, Elon Musk and Ginni Thomas, among others.
For more information on The 11th Annual Queerties Award Show and to vote for your favorite nominees, visit www.queerty.com/Queerties.
Here are the nominees:
BADASS
Rosie O'Donnell
Joel Kim Booster
Jim Parsons
Yasmin Finney
Ryan O'Connell
Keke Palmer
Jinkx Monsoon
Jerrod Carmichael
Ts Madison
David Archuleta
DRAG ROYALTY
Victoria E. Black
Alaska 5000
Militia Scunt
Honey Mahogany
Raja
Victoria Scone
Hot Chocolate/Larry Edwards
Tenderoni
Eureka O’Hara
Willow Pill
FUTURE ALL-STAR
Kerri Colby
Jasmine Kennedie
Miss Fiercalicious
Angeria Paris VanMicheals
Tempest DuJour
Kornbread
Thirsty Von Trapp a.k.a Mark Indelicato
Plastique Tiara
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
Jorgeous
PODCAST
Sibling Rivalry
Hall and Closet
Still Processing
Breakfast Buffet
Hi Jinkx!
Vibe Check
MLVC: The Madonna Podcast
Las Culturistas
FANTI
Lez Hang Out
CLOSET DOOR BUSTDOWN
Aunjanue Ellis
Ellia Green
Queens of Drag Race Season 14 (Kerri Colby, Bosco, Jasmine Kennedy, Kornbread, & Willow Pill)
Noah Schnapp
TJ House
Kit Connor
Maybelle Blair
Rebel Wilson
Sanjaya Malakar
Tevin Campbell
FAVORITE INSTA-FOLLOW
Jonathan Bennett
Jazz Jennings
TonyTalks
Renee Rapp
George Takei
Laith Ashley
Dominique R Jackson
GFlip
Matt Bernstein
Benito Skinner
FAVORITE TIK-TOKER
Juwan Gutierrez
Chris Olsen
Kelon
Garret Clayton
Henry Jiménez Kerbox
Emira D’Spain
Austin Cho
Boman Martinez-Reid
Megan Mitchell
Ebony and Denise (@Team2Moms)
BREAKOUT MUSICAL ARTIST
Madison Rose
Gia Woods
Omar Rudberg
Lagoona Bloo
Ocean Kelly
Sam Williams
Omar Apollo
Zee Machine
Chappell Roan
Doechii
COMIC
Fortune Feimster
Matt Rogers
Sherry Cola
Matteo Lane
Dewayne Perkins
Jerrod Carmichael
Mae Martin
Meg Stalter
Rob Anderson
Nicole Byer
LIVE THEATER
& Juliet
Titanique
A Strange Loop
Melissa Etheridge: A Journey Through Life
Take Me Out
Drag: The Musical
The Collaboration
Fat Ham
Merrily We Roll Along
Best of Enemies
MUSIC VIDEO
"C'mon Loretta" by Trixie Mattel
"Let Go & Your Name" by Shea Coulee
"The Loneliest Time" by Carly Rae Jepsen ft. Rufus Wainwright
"Becky's So Hot" by Fletcher
"Black" by Bob the Drag Queen, Basit, & Ocean Kelly
"i get high" by Jordy
"This Hell" by Rina Sawayama
"The Curse of the Blackened Eye" by Orville Peck
"AMEIANOITE" by Pabllo Vittar & Gloria Groove
"Away From You" by Zach Campbell
ANTHEM
"Unholy" by Sam Smith ft. Kim Petras
"You and Me On The Rock" by Brandi Carlile ft. Lucius
"What I Want" by MUNA
"Everybody's Gay" by Lizzo
"Hold Me Closer" by Elton John & Britney Spears
"Booty" by Santana & Latto
"COZY" by Beyonce ft. Honey Dijon & Ts Madison
"Boys Don't Cry (Live)" by Anitta ft. Miley Cyrus
"Bad Habit" by Steve Lacy
"Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron
STUDIO MOVIE
Anything's Possible
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bros
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Fire Island
Better Nate Than Ever
My Policeman
Spoiler Alert
Tár
The Inspection
TV COMEDY
A League Of Their Own
Hacks
Heartstopper
I Love That For You
Reservation Dogs
Smiley
Sort Of
The White Lotus: Sicily
Uncoupled
What We Do In The Shadows
TV DRAMA
American Horror Story: NYC
Elite
Euphoria
Interview With The Vampire
P Valley
Queer As Folk
Severance
The L Word: Generation Q
Welcome To Chippendales
Young Royals
REALITY/DOCU-SERIES
Trixie Motel
Bargain Block
Legendary
The Andy Warhol Diaries
The Book of Queer
The Big Brunch
The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans
Lesbian Bar Project
Queer for Fear
We're Here
PERFORMANCE - TV
Abbi Jacobson - A League Of Their Own
Bilal Baig - Sort Of
Devery Jacobs - Reservation Dogs
Harvey Guillén - What We Do In The Shadows
Jeff Hiller - Somebody, Somewhere
Joe Locke - Heartstopper
Michaela Jae Rodriguez - Loot
Murray Bartlett - Welcome To Chippendales
Nicco Annan - P Valley
Vico Ortiz - Our Flag Means Death
Emma D'arcy - House Of The Dragon
Johnny Sibilly - Queer As Folk
PERFORMANCE - FILM
Amandla Stenberg - Bodies Bodies Bodies
Ben Aldridge - Spoiler Alert
Billy Eichner - Bros
Eva Reign - Anything's Possible
Conrad Ricamora - Fire Island
Jamie Clayton - Hellraiser
Janelle Monáe - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Jeremy Pope - The Inspection
Stephanie Hsu - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Troye Sivan - Three Months
INDIE MOVIE
Benediction
Close
Firebird
Girl Picture
Joyland
Please Baby Please
The Swimmer
Three Months
We're All Going To The World's Fair
Wildhood
DOCUMENTARY
A Sexplanation
All Man: The International Male Story
All The Beauty And The Bloodshed
Framing Agnes
George Michael: Freedom Uncut
God Forbid
Mama's Boy
Access All Areas: The AAA Girls Tour
Holding Moses
Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story
WEBSERIES
Interested In
Avocado Toast
Adam In Fragments
The Michael Henry Cinematic Universe
WeHost with Zach Noe Towers & Darren Bluestone
IMHO: The Show
The Walk In with Mo Heart
Moonie
Translation
I Need Space
BEST READ
Just By Looking At Him by Ryan O'Connell
You Gotta Be You by Brandon Kyle Goodman
The One You Want To Marry by Sophie Santos
Let's Not Do That Again by Grant Ginder
Working Girls by Trixie and Katya
Daughters of the New Year by E.M. Tran
The You Kind of Kind by Nina West
This Time For Me by Alexandra Billings
Miss Memory Lane by Colton Haynes
My Government Means To Kill Me by Rasheed Newsom
NEXT BIG THING
The Little Mermaid
Nyad
Fellow Travelers
Legally Blonde 3
The Color Purple
Yellowjackets
Oppenheimer
Barbie
Rustin
They Both Die At The End
GIRL, BYE
Ron DeSantis
Candace Cameron Bure
Ginni Thomas
Elon Musk
George Santos
Kevin Sorbo
Laura Ingraham
Kanye West
Kevin McCarthy
JK Rowling