Daniel Radcliffe is ready to pass the torch to a new generation.
Watch the First Trailer for ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
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The much-anticipated Red, White & Royal Blue Trailer has finally made its magnificent debut. PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly have exclusively premiered the first glimpse of this upcoming Prime Video rom-com, adapted from Casey McQuiston’s bestselling 2019 novel.
The Story Behind the Red, White & Royal Blue Trailer
The captivating tale revolves around the persistent feud—and eventual romance—between Alex Claremont-Diaz, portrayed by Taylor Zakhar Perez, and the UK’s fictional Prince Henry, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Supporting these central characters is Uma Thurman, starring as the US President, Ellen Claremont.
Alex and Prince Henry maintain a “total disdain for each other,” culminating in a “disastrous—and very public—altercation at a royal event,” posing a threat to the international relations between the two nations “at the worst possible time,” as per the film’s synopsis.
Their families and handlers, seeking to mitigate the damage, thrust the two adversaries into a contrived ‘truce.’ However, Alex and Henry’s frosty relationship surprisingly starts melting into a tentative friendship, sparking an unforeseen depth of feelings.
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Bringing the Prince Henry and Alex to Life
Perez, 31, describes the film to PEOPLE as “a classic fairy tale with a twist for all generations,” with the hope that viewers derive “joy” after watching it. His character Alex is “driven by ambition and strives for success in everything he does,” he shares. Alex is “willing to stand up for what he believes in and is fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He’s also incredibly stubborn, impulsive and impatient.”
Discussing how he and Galitzine, 28, developed the onscreen chemistry, Perez attributes it to trust and vulnerability. He adds, “We were lucky to have rehearsals and many meals together before we began our first day of filming. We both knew we had a lot on our shoulders, given the success of the book, and that was a big motivation for us to be locked in at all times.”
Bringing the Red, White & Royal Blue to the Big Screen
The film, written and directed by Tony Award-winning playwright Matthew López in his directorial debut, also boasts author McQuiston, 32, as an executive producer. Ted Malawer contributed as a co-writer.
López, 46, commends Perez and Galitzine, saying, “They each embody their characters so perfectly while also working effortlessly as a team.” He praises Nick for bringing “a tremendous amount of vulnerability and dignity to Henry,” and lauds Taylor for turning “himself into a human cannonball in order to bring Alex to life.”
Beyond Perez, Galitzine, and Thurman, the cast of Red, White & Royal Blue includes Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, Ellie Bamber, Thomas Flynn, Malcolm Atobrah, Akshay Khanna, Sharon D Clarke, Aneesh Sheth, and Juan Castano.
Shahi, 43, describes her decision to join the film as a “no-brainer,” confessing that she “fell in love with” the screenplay. She plays Zahra, President Claremont’s deputy chief of staff and right-hand woman. “I was floored by the dialogue,” she expresses, “It didn’t matter that it was a gay love story—it was a bottomless well of relatability.”
The Red, White & Royal Blue starts streaming on Prime Video from August 11.
Watch the First Red, White & Royal Blue Trailer
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35 Photos Depicting Queer Resilience and Joy at NYC Pride
NYC Pride 2023
Here we are, at the end of another Pride month and on the other side of NYC Pride. For four years we have seen the scales tip against LGBTQIA+ rights in the United States, with anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation growing in number every year. This year that number reached record highs. For a brief moment, some in the LGBTQIA+ community almost breathed a full sigh of relief. It seemed for a short time that perhaps the worst of the queerphobic legislation was behind us. It’s clear now that this was at best wishful thinking and at worst a naive and false sense of security.
Related | Supreme Court Sides With Anti-Gay Website Designer
Be Gay and Organize
Despite this, if there is one thing the queer community does well, it’s organizing. Whether it’s to protest or to celebrate (and let’s be honest, sometimes it’s both) we never miss out on an opportunity to come together. The first Pride parade in NYC, Christopher Street Liberation Day, took place exactly one year after the Stonewall Uprising. Since that day Pride celebrations have been a symbol of resilience, acceptance, and unity within the LGBTQIA+ community. These electrifying events serve as a platform to honor the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals while also celebrating their identities and achinéeevements.
Keep scrolling for photos of NYC Pride, taken by New York-based photographer Madison Swart, that capture queer resilience and joy.
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Joy and Resilience
At Pride, an atmosphere of celebration prevails, fostering an environment where queer and trans joy can shine brightly. Celebrating trans joy in the face of 355 active anti-trans laws this year alone is a powerful act. Pride celebrations, like NYC Pride, serve as a testament to the strength and resilience of the trans community. It also reminds us what it means to “celebrate” Pride in the first place. Years like this one, marked with hardship and tragedy as they are, ask us to make space for both joy and resilience. Together they create a passion for liberation. Without this, we are already shrinking ourselves back down to fit into the closets society built for us many years ago.
Make sure to follow Madison Swart for more queer joy and resilience and consider supporting their work on Ko-Fi.
Supreme Court Sides With Anti-Gay Website Designer
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
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The Landmark Decision
In a loss for LGBTQIA+ rights, the Supreme Court sided with an anti-gay wedding website designer and against the Anti-Discrimination Act in Colorado. In a 6-3 decision, divided along ideological lines, SCOTUS has now opened the door for further discrimination against the queer community.
This makes it easier for businesses like 303 Creative to refuse services to LGBTQ+ couples.
Introduction to the Controversial Case
The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, recently reached a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. This contentious case revolved around the right of a wedding website creator to refuse service to same-sex couples based on First Amendment rights.
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case?
This case expands on the precedent set by the 2018 case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The Supreme Court had previously sided with a bakery that declined to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, using the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment as justification.
The Argument of 303 Creative LLC
Lorie Smith, the proprietor of 303 Creative LLC, wanted to prevent the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act from being enforced against her. Smith stated that same-sex marriage went against her Christian faith, a belief she argued was protected under the First Amendment.
Understanding Public Accommodation Laws
Public accommodation laws like Colorado’s strive to ensure equal access to publicly available goods and services, regardless of sexual orientation. This case put such laws under the microscope, questioning how they should apply to businesses providing expressive services.
The Question of Compelled Speech
The Justices of the Supreme Court debated whether the creation of a wedding website constituted speech. This question was vital because if creating such a website were seen as speech, anti-discrimination laws could potentially compel someone to express something they disagree with, potentially violating their First Amendment rights.
Wider Implications of the Case
The decision in this case has ramifications far beyond wedding websites. It is set to influence other businesses providing expressive services by examining the balance between anti-discrimination laws and First Amendment rights.
FAQ: 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis
What was the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case about?
At its core, this case focused on whether a wedding website creator has the right to refuse service to same-sex couples, basing this refusal on First Amendment grounds.
How is this case related to the 2018 Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case?
Interestingly, the Masterpiece Cakeshop case involved a similar issue, where a bakery refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In that case, the Supreme Court sided with the bakery, establishing a precedent that this current case aimed to follow and further clarify.
Who is Lorie Smith and what was her argument?
Lorie Smith is the individual at the center of this case. She owns 303 Creative LLC, a wedding website creation business. Smith’s primary argument was a desire to prevent the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act from being enforced against her. In her view, creating wedding websites for same-sex marriages violated her Christian faith.
What are public accommodation laws?
Public accommodation laws, such as the ones enforced in Colorado, serve a crucial purpose. They aim to ensure that everyone has equal access to publicly available goods and services, regardless of characteristics like sexual orientation. The enforcement and interpretation of these laws in relation to businesses providing expressive services became a key issue in this case.
What is the idea of ‘compelled speech’?
Compelled speech is a nuanced concept in constitutional law. It suggests that the government cannot force an individual or group to support certain expressions or ideas. Consequently, this case delved into whether making a wedding website for same-sex couples could be considered a form of compelled speech.
What could be the wider implications of this case?
The ramifications of the decision, in this case, are far-reaching. It could influence how other businesses providing expressive services navigate conflicts between religious beliefs and public accommodation laws, particularly when it comes to serving LGBTQ+ individuals or same-sex couples.
What decision did the Supreme Court make about this case?
The Supreme Court sided with 303 Creative LLC, thereby making it easier for businesses to refuse services to LGBTQ+ couples.
