Los Angeles, CA, May 25, 2023 — Today, Outfest – the Los Angeles-based nonprofit that uplifts global Queer and Trans creators in the entertainment industry by providing career support and curating the exhibition and preservation of queer and transgender stories – announced its Outfronts, presented by IMDb, a 4-day festival that connects fans with all things LGBTQ+ in television. The four-day event will take place virtually June 2 – 5 and will feature panel discussions with the creatives behind some of the best LGBTQ+ series.
“With Outfronts now in our third year, we are committed to continuing to build platforms and spaces where we can raise awareness of the importance of having LGBTQ+ stories and characters represented on television, especially when it seems that the industry is lagging behind,” said Damien Navarro, Executive Director of Outfest.
Virtual panels will include a talk with one of the architects of GLAAD’s 2022-2023 Where We Are On TV report Raina Deerwater with Ian Carlos Crawford and Monica Monroe to discuss the future of LGBTQIA+ representation in television moderated by Dana Piccoli; a conversation with actors Ronen Rubinstein, Rafael Silva, and Brian Michael Smith moderated by TVLine’s Andy Swift to discuss how their characters have grown over the four seasons of 911: Lonestar; cast members Rhys Darby, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, Con O’Neill, and Taika Waititi (also an executive producer and directed the first episode) from the groundbreaking Max Original comedy series Our Flag Means Death reflect on the series’ unique and totally surprising queer flavor, from genuine gay romance to swashbuckling non-binary pirates; cast members Isis King and Vincent Rodriguez sit down with Tre Wesley from IMDb to talk about With Love season 2’s authenticity when it comes to queerness, and what’s in store for their characters this time around; as well as a conversation with writer and director of Quantum Leap’s “ Let Them Play” episode Shakina and actors Mason Alexander Park, Josielyn Aguilera, and Trace Lysette moderated by Alex Schmider (Producer; Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD) on how they brought current trans issues to primetime television and created an impactful episode that sheds light on the ongoing conversation about trans kids in sports; cast and creators discuss how HBO’s Somebody Somewhere season 2 reminds us that families are hard, even the fun ones; and a conversation with the entire hilarious ensemble and creators of The Other Two give us a tour through Season 3’s even more bizarre send-up of show business, the fame game, and social media stardom.
The Outfronts festival aims to highlight the diverse representation of LGBTQ+ characters on screen, spanning across genres and styles as Queer and Trans representation continues to increase across television and cinema. All panel discussions will be free of charge to view online and via Outfest’s Outfest+ platform. To RSVP to the free panels visit TheOutfronts.com.
The Outfronts is presented by IMDb; additional sponsors include West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, Comcast NBCUniversal, The Los Angeles Times, ABC7 and On The Red Carpet, Prime Video, and West One Music Group.
About Outfest
Founded by UCLA students in 1982, Outfest is the world’s leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting Queer and Trans stories on the screen. For forty-one years, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers, and preserved more than 40,000 LGBTQ+ films and videos. Outfest programs include The Outfest Screenwriting Lab, which has mentored and helped launch the careers of nearly 150 screenwriters, and The Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, which, in partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, is the only film archive in the world exclusively dedicated to preserving LGBTQ+ images, among others.
About IMDb
IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows and celebrities. Products and services to help fans decide what to watch and where to watch it include: the IMDb website for desktop and mobile devices; apps for iOS and Android; and X-Ray on Prime Video. IMDb also produces IMDb original video series and podcasts. For entertainment industry professionals, IMDb provides IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo. IMDb licenses information from its vast and authoritative database to third-party businesses worldwide; learn more at developer.imdb.com. IMDb is an Amazon company. For more information, visit https://www.imdb.com/press and follow @IMDb.
Our Flag Means Death – Premieres Friday, June 2nd @ 8am PT
Cast members from Max’s groundbreaking action-comedy series reflect on Season 1’s unique and totally surprising queer flavor, from genuine gay romance to swashbuckling non-binary pirates.
Moderated by Dana Piccoli with panelists Rhys Darby, Taika Waititi, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, and Con O’Neill
911: Lone Star – Premieres Sunday, June 4th @ 8am PT
In the wake of this season’s big Tarlos wedding, three of the actors behind some of the most beloved characters on network TV join TVLine’s Andy Swift to discuss how their characters have grown over four seasons, and what the future might hold in Ryan Murphy’s ever-eventful firehouse procedural.
Moderated by TVLine’s Andy Swift with panelists Ronen Rubinstein, Rafael Silva, Brian Michael Smith
With Love Season Two – Premieres Friday, June 2nd @ 8am PT
With Love is a romantic dramedy centered on siblings Lily and Jorge Diaz as they navigate big life changes and rely on their equally big family to get them through. As Season 2 begins, we’re joined by cast members Isis King and Vincent Rodriguez to talk about the show’s authenticity when it comes to queerness, and what’s in store for their characters this time around.
Moderated by Tre Wesley from IMDb with panelists Isis King & Vincent Rodriguez III
The Other Two – Premieres Sunday, June 4th @ 8am PT
The entire hilarious ensemble, as well as the show’s creators, join us to give a tour through Season 3’s even more bizarre send-up of show business, the fame game, and social media stardom. **RECORDED IN APRIL 2023 PRIOR TO THE WGA STRIKE**
Moderated by Ryan Mitchell and panelist Heléne Yorke, Drew Tarver, Molly Shannon, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Josh Segarra and Brandon Scott Jones..
Quantum Leap – Premieres Friday, June 2nd @ 8am PT
Recorded live at the 2023 Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival, the creative team behind NBC’s Quantum Leap “Let Them Play” episode shares how they brought current trans issues to primetime television and created an impactful episode that sheds light on the ongoing conversation about trans kids in sports. **RECORDED IN APRIL 2023 PRIOR TO THE WGA STRIKE**
Moderated by Alex Schmider (Producer; Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD) and panelist Shakina (Director & Writer of “Let Them Play” Episode), and actors Mason Alexander Park, Josielyn Aguilera, and Trace Lysette..
Somebody Somewhere – Premieres Friday, June 2nd @ 8am PT
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE follows Sam (Bridget Everett), a true Kansan on the surface, but, beneath it all, struggling to fit the hometown mold. Grappling with loss and acceptance, singing is Sam’s saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders who don’t fit in but don’t give up, showing that finding your people, and finding your voice, is possible. In this panel, the cast and creators discuss how Season 2 reminds us that families are hard, even the fun ones. Sam and Joel (Jeff Hiller) have settled into a comfy routine. But nothing stays the same forever. **RECORDED IN APRIL 2023 PRIOR TO THE WGA STRIKE**
Moderated by Queerty’s Cameron Scheetz and panelist Bridget Everett (“Sam” / Writer / EP). Jeff Hiller (“Joel”), Mary Catherine Garrison (“Tricia”), Murray Hill (“Fred Rococo”), Hannah Bos (Co-creator / Writer / EP) and Paul Thureen (Co-creator / Writer / EP).
“Cancel Your Gays”: The Rough Television Landscape for Queer and Trans Stories – Topic Panel – Premieres Sunday, June 4th @ 8am PT
GLAAD’s 2022-2023 Where We Are on TV Report, released in March of this year, noted an alarming downward trend of LGBTQIA+ characters appearing on television, and even more troublingly, delivered the news that nearly 30% of the current queer and trans characters on TV would disappear from screens within the next year. Queer fandoms are no strangers to their favorite shows getting canceled (RIP A League Of Their Own, Queer As Folk, First Kill, and on and on…), their beloved characters being killed off, and intense devotion to a series being rewarded with a network giving no opportunity for a fanbase to grow and flourish. So what’s the deal? Journalist Dana Piccoli talks with one of the architect’s of GLAAD’s report, Raina Deerwater, along with key figures in queer TV fandom to explore the future landscape for queer stories on TV in the face of seeming indifference, and an unprecedented battle for fairness in work and pay for queer creatives.
Moderator Dana Piccoli and panelist Raina Deerwater (GLAAD), Ian Carlos Crawford, Monica Monroe
