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Tyrese Gibson Says He Will Portray Teddy Pendergrass in a Bio-Pic

Singer and actor Tyrese Gibson has tweeted that he will portray the late and legendary singer Teddy Pendergrass. "I have officially secured the life rights to the life story of Teddy Pendergrass, my inspiration," announced Gibson. "This movie will be made."

Pendergrass shot to fame as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in the mid-1970s. The Philadelphia-born Pendergrass later went solo and became one of most electric and iconic singers to emerge in the R&B and disco era. Pendergrass' famous baritone vocals on tracks such as "The Love I Lost", "Bad Luck" and the brilliant cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way" defined Black gay dance music in the 1970s and 1980s.

Openly gay and Academy Award nominated director Lee Daniels should direct the bio-pic, Gibson told IndieWire. "He’s from Philadelphia and he’s raw, knows how to tell the truth about characters and layers," said Gibson. "He knows how to get people to go there. That would be my ideal situation. Lee Daniels would hit it out of the park. It’ll be my first time singing in a movie."

Especially interesting would be how the film would depict Pendergrass' life-altering 1982 car accident. Pendergrass crashed his Rolls-Royce and was left paralyzed from the waist down. The passenger in the car crash, Tenika Watson, was relatively unhurt. Watson turned out to be a well-known Philadelphia transgender nightclub performer. Pendergrass would only say that Watson was a "casual acquaintance" whom he was giving a ride home. Pendergrass repeatedly refused to discuss the circumstances of the accident beyond that.

In the spring of 2008, Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater debuted "I Am Who I Am: The Story of Teddy Pendergrass". The last half of the play concentrated on the accident, Teddy's post-accident career and questions about his sexuality. Speaking to a reporter at the Chicago Free Press, the LGBT weekly, Pendergrass refused to discuss the accident and claimed he was unaware of music's impact on the gay community. Said Pendergrass: "My music appeals to everybody. No, I don’t keep a running list of who listens and who doesn’t. That’s not my job."

You May Have Missed:
The New Yorker Links R20 on Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass Dies at 59
Pendergrass: Don't "Keep a List of Who Listens" to My Music

News: Janelle Monáe, Saeed Jones, Emanuel Xavier, Lee Daniels

· Vanessa Williams heads to Wisteria Lane.

· Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid drops. ArjanWrites: "[It's] a culmination of hard work, her deep love for music and uncompromising ambition to bring enlightenment to the pop charts. The ArchAndroid is equally provoking, stirring and inspiring. This record will move you—it will make you think, it will make you dance."

· Critics: Is Monáe "suited" for mainstream success?

· GQ sells 365 copies of its first iPad edition.

· Facebook: Draft Laura Bush for Dallas Pride.

· Daniel Radcliffe wants Cristiano Ronaldo's abs.

· "It's A Man's World". 

· Saeed Jones' poem “Mississippi Drowning” makes the current issue of The Collagist.  The New Jersey-based poet and author will also present at the Lambda Literary Awards on May 27.

· Gay City News profiles Emanuel Xavier: "One of the most influential players in the spoken word genre and Neo-Nuyorican poetry movement. On June 20, as a testament to Xavier’s continuing influence in the LGBT Latino/a community, El Museo del Barrio will be presenting its first-ever New York City Gay Pride celebration event, "The Legendary Project," a modern dance performance based on Xavier’s spoken word/music collaboration."

· Alicia Banks on Polanski: "Bold. Serial. Pedophile. Rapist."

· Mysterious Skin director Gregg Araki premieres new sexual awakening film Kaboom in Cannes.

· GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco June 5th to honor Lee Daniels, Cybill Shepherd and newly out country singer Chely Wright.

· Report: BlackBerry to launch 8.9 inch tablet this year. "There are some big differences between BlackBerry’s tablet, the iPad and the now-confirmed Google tablet—most notably a lack of cellular networking. Instead, the device will utilize your existing BlackBerry’s connection, communicating with the device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth."

· Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center joins growing economic boycott of Arizona: "The center will prohibit staff travel to Arizona for conferences or other professional activities and will take steps to end all relationships with businesses headquartered in Arizona."

Report: Leona Lewis & Jennifer Hudson Record Theme for SATC2

The buzz is starting to build around Sex and the City 2 which is scheduled for a May 27 released. X-Factor winner Leona Lewis and American Idol's Jennifer Hudson have recorded a duet that may become the theme song of SATC2.

The Sun quotes a production source: "It's being discussed as either the main theme or to feature on the soundtrack. They each have incredible voices and will appeal to both the UK and the US.It's perfect for the next SATC film."

Hudson is no stranger to the SATC franchise having played Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the series’ first film. Meanwhile, Lewis has become the go-to girl for soundtracks. James Cameron chose Lewis to sing the Avatar theme "I See You." And Lewis’ single "Happy" was featured in Lee Daniels' Academy Award-winning Precious.

JHud and Leona together on the soundtrack? I am so there.

In related news: Rumors on the internets say Lewis is also reportedly in talks to join JHud in the upcoming film Black Jesus. The first SATC2 trailer was released over the weekend. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Lenny Kravitz Cast as Andrew Young in Lee Daniels "Selma"

Lenny Kravitz had a small role in the Oscar-winning "Precious". Now there is word that out filmmaker Lee Daniels has cast the stylish rocker in his next film "Selma", his biopic about the historic 1965 civil rights march. No small role this time, Kravitz tells MTV News.

"The next role is Andrew Young in a film called 'Selma,' directed by Lee Daniels," Kravitz said. Young was a significant figure in the Civil Rights movement, someone who worked very closely Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And while the story details for "Selma" aren't really out there yet, Young did aid King Jr. in planning a Civil Rights Campaign in Selma, Alabama. Young was also jailed in that same city for participating in a demonstration there.Kravitz acknowledges that this is going to be a significant step up, moving from his "Precious" nurse to Young, a King Jr. collaborator who was at times the Mayor of Atlanta, a Congressman and the United States ambassador to the United Nations. Kravitz is aware of all of this. As he said, "I gotta bring it."

Yep, Kravitz will have to bring it. Andrew Young was one of King's top lieutenants, it's likely Kravitz would get significant screen time.

Robert De Niro is on board as the infamous Alabama Governor George Wallace. Hugh Jackman has also been cast, reportedly as a sheriff. This should be interesting, to say the least.

WATCH: Mo'Nique Wins Best Supporting Actress Oscar

Mo'Nique wins the best supporting actress Academy Award for her role as a frightfully abusive mother in "Precious", directed by the openly gay Lee Daniels. The actress and comedienne, who hosts The Mo'Nique Show on BET, had been considered the front-runner and racked up supporting actress wins at the Golden Globes, Spirit Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, among many others.

Mo'Nique becomes the fifth black woman to win an acting Oscar tonight, some 70 years after Hattie McDaniel became the first to do so for "Gone with the Wind." Mo'Nique's electric blue dress was the same color as McDaniel's evening gown when she won for GWTW. "I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all she had to so that I would not have to," Mo'Nique said in accepting the Oscar

In one of the first big surprises of the evening, Geoffrey Fletcher just won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for "Precious", becoming the first black to do so and beating expected winners Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for "Up in the Air." Mo'Nique's performance as Mary Jones was riveting. Watch her acceptance speech WHEN YOU JUMP.

Lee Daniels and "Precious" Big Winners at NAACP Image Awards

Out director and producer Lee Daniels and the cast of "Precious" are the big winners the 41st NAACP Image Awards. Daniels won for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Film and Outstanding Independent Motion Picture. Mo’Nique won for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Gabby Sidibe for Best Actress. The complete list of winners here.

Daniels recently made history as only the second black director nominated for an Academy Award for the riveting "Precious." It's thrilling yet remarkable that the venerable NAACP Image Awards are honoring an openly gay black man with its highest honors. Hopefully the NAACP will catch up in other areas, too.

Tyler Perry shares a laugh with Daniels as he introduces. Wonder what they talked about. More images WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Mo'Nique on Gays and the Black Church: "God Don't Make Mistakes"

Remember that must-see episode of The Mo'Nique Show where Mo'Nique and veteran R&B singer Miki Howard discussed gays in the black church? Mo'Nique, who was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her dynamic role in Lee Daniels' Precious, talks more about the hypocrisy of the black church toward its many gay and lesbian members in an interview with BET's a Clay Cane at Advocate.com. It's a great interview.

Recently on your talk show you had R&B singer Miki Howard as a guest. Both of you said you grew up with gay people in church and there wasn’t anything wrong with it. That was so refreshing to hear. Could you elaborate on your experiences with gays in the church?
I actually was not a person that grew up in church — that’s what Miki was saying and I was agreeing. Now, I know a lot of folks that go to church and are gay. I tell them, “God don’t make no mistakes, baby, and we keep using it when it’s convenient.” If we are all made in his image, there are no mistakes. I think it’s absolute foolishness, just in my humble opinion, when people make statements like, “It’s blasphemy and you’re going to hell!” Really? And I’m a child of God — do you think God set me up? I’ve never bought in to it. With gays and church, I think there are so many of our brothers and sisters that’s in pain because they go to a place to receive nurturing, the love of God, and you start hearing that you’re going to hell because of who you were made to be. I just don’t buy that!

On homophobia in the black church:

I interviewed Lee Daniels in September and he said he feels very much alone in the black community being openly gay. We know not all black folks are homophobic, but what do you think it will take for some sectors of the black community to have a shift in consciousness when it comes to the gay community?
Love. That’s it; there is no special formula. People that have a platform, if they start speaking about love — we are creatures that latch on, may it be negative or positive. So imagine that if in all of the black churches they started saying, “Let’s love each other unconditionally. Let’s not judge.” That’s it! You can have members be openly gay! Not “Well, we think Troy is gay, but you know! Yes, he switches, but we’re not gonna say nothing!”

He’s the choir director!
Baby, he’s the choir director! You’re telling people to love life, but you’re telling them to live a lie. If we’re given these platforms and we are truly vessels of God or the universe — the God that you think you’re representing — that gay person is his child as well. You’re telling his child, “You’re going to hell.” I don’t think God is appreciating how we continue to separate his children. I just don’t think he’s appreciating that or she’s appreciating that or they’re appreciating that — whatever that beautiful thing is, I think they’re saying, “You know what? We gonna slap the shit out of somebody because we love all of them!” [Laughs]

In your role as Mary Jones in Precious, when you walked away from that final monologue, did something in you say, “I wore that out!”
Nope. When Lee Daniels said, “Cut,” we left it right there. My husband was like Mama — just be it, don’t judge it, and leave it right there. We didn’t celebrate after that scene. It was like, “All right, baby! I’m gonna catch my flight!” That’s what it was.

"God don't make no mistakes." Love. It.

Mo'Nique also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role as Mary Jones in Precious. 

Read the entire interview at Advocate.com.

You May Enjoy:
Lee Daniels in "Attitude"
WATCH: Mo'Nique: "Gay and in the Black Church? God Loves You"
Mo'Nique: Take Two
Mo'Nique ♥ Gays

Lee Daniels in "Attitude"

Openly gay director and producer Lee Daniels recently made history as only the second black director nominated for an Academy Award for the riveting Precious. The director talks to British magazine Attitude (pdf) about the "bumpy ride" of being a black out director in Hollywood.

As a black gay filmmaker, Lee Daniels has endured a bumpy ride to stardom. "For black men it can be tough, and as a black, gay man, it's even tougher," he tells me during the London Film Festival, where his heart-wrenching, Oscar-baiting drama Precious is lapping up serious critical acclaim. "Sometimes, when you're out it can make things much harder, because some people just don't want to listen to what you have to say. That can make it a tough struggle, but that probably drives me on in my work, and makes the work more honest."

Daniels' work includes a clutch of memorable films, many of which dance around sensitive subject
matter. As a producer, he's overseen the likes of Monster's Ball (2OO1), persuading Halle Berry to lose her clothes and ushering her towards that tear stained Oscar win, and lhe Woodsman (2005), inwhich Kevin Bacon plays a child-molester recently released from prison. As a director, Daniels has brought us the stylish drama Shadowboxer and now he's back with his second directorial offering Precious.

"You know, Shadowboxer was an important film  for me, because it has a black gay voice," says Daniels. The film centres on a man, played by Cuba Gooding Jr, and his stepmother, Helen Mirren, who are contract killers and lovers. lt is not, however, a story about a black gay man. "True, but that film had a black gay director. And it has many elements that I think gay black men understood and connected with." He laughs. "Plus you get to see Stephen  Dorff's penis swinging around!"

Daniels is raising two of his brother's children with his ex-partner. Daniels' brother, the biological father, abandoned the children and does not approve of Daniels' raising  them. The director explains:  "My brother hates it that it is me who's raising his kids. He's mortified by the fact that I'm gay."

The straight, biological father abandoned his children and is "mortified" his gay, Academy Award-nominated  filmmaker brother is giving them a home. Priceless.

The entire profile is here (pdf).

Lee Daniels in "OUT 100"

Filmmaker Lee Daniels, director of the critically-acclaimed Precious,  was photographed by Jason Bell for the Out 100:

"If Daniels wins best director at this year’s Oscars for the devastatingly beautiful Precious—as he almost certainly will—he will be the first gay African-American to take the honor. The producer of not-so-lightweight films like Monster’s Ball and The Woodsman, Daniels is on his way to collecting a trophy case full of awards (the film has already won top prizes at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals) and securing himself a spot alongside directors like Alexander Payne and Ang Lee as a distinctive voice of his generation."

On a related note, Lee Daniels talks to the Chicago Free Press about the challenge of being an openly gay black director in Hollywood. 

For me, I think the gay part is not an issue. But more the black gay part is a bigger issue. As a gay man, gay men, there so many of them in Hollywood and (they’re) decision makers and it’s a cult, I think. I don’t have to worry about prejudices right now, anymore. I fought so long all my life—prejudices about being gay, about being victimized because I was gay, being victimized because I was black, being victimized because I was gay and black. I’m so happy at 50 years old, that I’m being embraced for my spirit and for me. And it’s so overwhelming. It’s just so beautiful that people can accept me for me and being open. I don’t have to lie. 

Precious, which is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, opened Friday in limited release and earned some $1.8 million at the box office. The film is showing at only 18 theaters nationwide. Its $100,000 per screen average is an industry record.

BlackVoices Pays Tribute to Notable Black Gay Men and Lesbians

Just in time for gay pride, AOL/Blackvoices produces a thoughtful microsite devoted to Famous Gay African-Americans. The editors went beyond the usual suspects and devoted slides and bios to 29 contemporary and historical men and women, and, some of the choices were surprising. On the historical side, there is Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, as well as women such as the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, author Octavia Butler, and singers Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. The sexuality of these women is often ignored by mainstream and black media, so their inclusion was commendable.

On the contemporary side, there are bios of Rod 2.0 faves such as Darryl Stephens, Billy Porter and Maurice Jamal, as well as producer/director Lee Daniels, Sheryl Swoopes, Angela Y. Davis, E. Lynn Harris, Kevin Aviance and many others. Several of the inclusions are questionable, such as The Wire's Felecia Snoop Pearson, who is openly lesbian and tells Jasmyne Cannick she has "no thoughts" on homophobia or anti-gay discrimination. Meanwhile, Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin did not make the list.

The new gay and lesbian microsite is a welcome improvement to some of Blackvoice's more superficial recent content.

Thanks Katina and Lynne