Living La Vida Homo: Ricky Martin Comes Out

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am. " And so, pop singer Ricky Martin finally comes out of the closet today officially.

Read his entire statement on his web site: http://rickymartinmusic.com/portal/news/news.asp?item=114532

The Gayest Videos of the Week

I'm happy to report that this week's installment of the Gayest Videos doesn't include a single Republican politician explaining why they were caught at a gay bar or bath house.

This week's come from Ellen, Betty White, Freddie Mercury and GLEE's Sue Sylvester.

Betty White talks to Ellen:(hang out to the end, it's really quite funny!)



GLEE's SUE SYLVESTER, played by out actress Jane Lynch, goes on a tyrade against those "sneaky gays".

Mash up with Amy Winehouse, Queen and Ray Charles.

Mash ups are kinda funny. Like sampling. I used to think rap songs that sampled other songs were kinda like stealing until I realized all the classical composers did it as well (Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini much?!)

Cynthia Nixon Fights Back

This is great, on all counts. Thanks Katherine Linton for sending!

Out actor John Barrowman joins the cast of Desperate Housewives

Hunky and very out actor John Barrowman is going to start his guest starring stint on Desperate Housewives this evening playing a new bad guy in town.

Barrowman is known to audiences from the hit British show Torchwood, where he played a tri-sexual (men, women, aliens).

The show is being adapted for an American version, and they're not sure yet whether they'll keep Barrowman's gay tendencies, but in real life, he's all homo, out and proud.

On Housewives he'll play the shadowy figure that Drea De Matteo has been hiding from.

Vote for your Favorite Apology: The Pope, Jesse James or Tiger Woods

There's been a lot of "official apologies" lately, and I'm curious as to whether the public is buying these, so I'm having an informal poll today in the side bar.

The entire nature of the apology itself, is to acknowledge we are human and that we make mistakes, and that we are intrinsically wired to learn from said mistakes. The apology shows this, and offers compassion and regret to those we have hurt. The first step in redemption, as it were, as is supported in most religions whether you're talking about karma or hell.

But you throw in power and ego, and the apology isn't really sincere. The purpose of this kind of apology is to consciously sway what YOU think as to protect the ego and/or power of the person or entity that wronged.

That's when you cue lawyers, politicians and PR people. Woods' apology reeked of preparation from a team who probably all get a cut of his millions potentially earned from sponsors. The Vatican as a city and corporation both, has the most money of anyone on earth and wield extensive power and control over people across every continent.

Here's some links to their apologies, and let me know what you think in the side bar. (ps: I didn't include any recent apologies from American politicians because they are in nature just complete bullshit, and that seem obvious).

Pope responds to on going cover ups of sexual abuse by priests in Ireland. Read Pope's Apology here: Pastoral Apology.

Jesse James cheats on Sandra Bullock, she moves out. Read Jesse James apology here.

Tiger Woods, cheats with numerous women for year. Read Tiger Woods apology here.

Sneak Peak: Kathy Griffin on The Joy Behar Show today

Kathy Griffin on The Joy Behar Show talking about being in DC this week and dealing with DADT.

DADT Update - HRC Rally Results in Three Arrests including Lt Dan Choi

This morning at a rally hosted by HRC/Bravo and Kathy Griffin in Washington, DC, Lt Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo were arrested in front of the White House for handcuffing themselves to the gates.

Griffin helped plan the rally to film it for an upcoming episode of her Bravo show, My Life on the D List.

Choi's actions were apparently not known to HRC and Griffin, prior, although grassroots organizers had been working on this show of action for a while with Choi.

Sirius radio show host Michelangelo Signorile tweeted, "Dan Choi took HRC's and Kathy Griffin's celebrity photo op an dturned it into a real protest."

Queerty commented: "While the ineffective Human Rights Campaign sits idly by and plays with celebrities, we're witnessing a more renegade approach to securing equality going on this minute."

After the rally took place, a march of around 500 protesters left the rally and headed toward the White House, where the two servicemen handcuffed themselves to the fence in protest of the ongoing debate over repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell while protesters chanted "Keep your promise Obama!".

They were both promptly arrested. Robin McGehee - a key leader from Meet in The Middle, Get Equal, and The National Equality March was also arrested for helping them.

(pictured left, Griffin with HRC's Joe Solmonese )

Pietrangelo was discharged in 2004, Choi is up for discharge.

Choi addressed the crowd before handcuffing himself to the fence, "We are at a turning point. We are calling you to action because when there is a moment when no talk can get us any further, action is absolutely required."

What's disappointing is that Griffin allegedly did NOT accompany Choi to the White House, even though she was invited, which means none of it got caught for her show!

Griffin tweeted, "It was my honor 2 share th podium w Lt Dan Choi today. I understand he's been arrested in front of the White House. I dig that dude! Balls!"

THIS IS GAY DRAMA BECAUSE: HRC got a lot of heat when they did not endorse the National Equality March stating they felt rallies were ineffective. Yet now, they are doing a rally, although it seems largely motivated to garner publicity on Bravo since it's being tapped for My Life on the D List. Kathy Griffin is a huge supporter of LGBT rights and did a show last year on the Prop 8 issue in California. Regarding the first rally at Freedom Plaza, GetEqual.org twittered that Joe Solmonese - the organization's ED - stated, "This is a Bravo event."

The same weekend of the National Equality March, HRC hosted a black tie dinner which drew more than a few harsh criticisms from the lgbti community when they were viewed as "hob nobbing" with the DC politicos more than pressuring them to keep their promises. Signorile called out Solomnese on CNN after this, to which the HRC ED commented that the radio show host was outside the event because he couldn't get tickets to the show.

HRC issued this statement this afternoon:

"Today more than 1000 people showed up at a rally - 500 of which signed up to become more involved in the fight to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Joe Solmonese along with Eric Alva and others felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally in ways they can continue building the pressure needed for repeal. This does nothing to diminish the actions taken by Lt. Choi and others. This is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play."

Joy Behar will be covering this rally and the subsequent protest and arrests on her show this evening on HLN.

This is all occurring on a day when there are also massive sit in protests in San Francisco over ENDA.

Here's Choi's speech before he locked himself to the gates:


And here's the CNN live report showing the arrests:

More info and video at The Huffington Post and The Gawker.

photos: Scott Roewer/MeetintheMiddle.org

Photos and Dish from last night's TheSmokingCocktail.com LGBT Mixer

Thanks again for a fabulous evening!

Our co hosts The LA Lesbian & Gay Lawyer's Association were there along with reps from Rock for Equality, and we promoted some fabulous gay fare - the new cd release of SIPPING BREATH by Marianna Fox and the smash theatre piece STREEP TEASE.

Special thanks to Mac Enthusiasts and The Dinah for the outstanding raffle donations of tickets to Dinah Shore Weekend, and the drives, programs and usb wireless thingie that everyone wanted to win! Thanks to photographer Brian Putnam who came by to snap some picts!

We also celebrated the birthday of out author and lecturer Roberta Munroe.

Here's the photos:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Come on down tonight...

If you live in the LA area, come on down tonight for our monthly mixer for lgbt professionals, artists and activists.

Watch Video: The Lesbian Kiss of Juliane Moore and Amanda Seyfried

I wish I could get more excited about this movie, but Atom Egoyan's last foray into the gay gave us the flop Where The Truth Lies.

In Chloe, Amanda Seyfried plays a woman hired by Moore's character to entrap her husband (Liam Neeson) into an affair to prove he's been cheating.

I'm sure there will be tons of twists and "shocking" turns, as in most Egoyan fare, which often borders on pondering melodrama with a junior high school sense of sexual titillation. Of his films where this all paid off: Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter.

In Seyfried's rather short career so far she's smooched two women including Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body.

Meanwhile, Moore recently hit the mother load of sapphic parts starring as the partner of Annette Bening in The Kids Are Alright, for High Art director Lisa Cholodenko. The film bowed at Sundance and garnered the highest selling price of the entire festival.

We shall see about this one, but here's your glimpse and you be the judge:

Or here:

Gayest Videos of the Week

Hi Kitty Cats,

It's a slow news day (unless you count an impotent little earthquake in LA at 4 am - and the health care bill which I can't think about without getting nauseous considering how they fucked up credit card reform), so I thought I'd share with you two videos to make you smile from my vault of "favorites".

Every week I post the gayest videos of the week, but every now and then I pull one out of the past that you mighta missed.

The first one is a homemade commercial for Trader Joe's that someone made on their palm treo:



The second one is about a cat, and proves you can turn anything into art if you speak in French and add some depressing classical music:

Fusion Rocks Saturday Night

Outfest's FUSION Film Festival took place over the weekend at the historic and restored Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, and once again, they knocked it out of the park.

The GALA screening on Saturday night was from out director Quentin Lee and was an unconventional comedy about playing around and settling down: The People I've Slept With.

The film co starred the evening's Fusion Award recipient, Wilson Cruz.

The event itself was lovely and packed. This came following a day jam packed with provocative and interesting new LGBT fare including two programs of shorts, a doc and a restored documentary from their Legacy Film Restoration Program.

I included the photo of the hieroglyphics on the walls of this historic theatre palace above for you LOST fans, because as we all stood in line at the bar that night, I could tell some people were trying to decipher it to figure out the season finale!

Lee's film was surprisingly fresh and buoyant. It was a comedy of errors about a slut who sleeps around so much, when she inevitably gets "knocked-up" she's not really sure who the father is! So her best friend (played by Cruz) and she endeavor to find the paternity whilst learning lessons of love, commitment and growing-up along the way.

Rock solid performances from the entire cast, and wonderful cinematography definitely lifted up a formula picture, and director Lee displayed an accomplished skill at finding the comedy, then not overplaying it. Lee knew where and when to let each cast member a chance to "steal the scene" with hysterical results. There were several laugh-out-loud moments, and I'm hoping Hollywood takes note of this young director since the film was by far more entertaining than 90% of the big studio romantic comedies that came out last year. Cute, cute, cute movie.

I had a chance to sit down for an in depth interview with Gala Award Recipient Wilson Cruz, who has been an out actor and outspoken activist for our LGBT rights for over a decade.

In this video interview, he talks about how he approaches acting, and the difference between performing in television, feature films and musicals. Cruz talks openly about coming out to himself, his family then to the world in The Advocate. I also got a chance to talk to him about two of my favorite of his roles - the transvestite in Ally McBeal (Do you remember that? It just WRECKED me) and as Ricky in MTV's My So Called Life.

Watch the interview here, then jump to below for all the photos from FUSION this weekend.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

America's Top Lesbian Comics Put Their Hysterical Spin on This Year's DINAH SHORE WEEKEND

Get all the inside dish and details on Dinah Shore Weekend from America's funniest out comediennes: Suzanne Westenhoefer, Bridget McManus, Jennie McNulty, Gloria Bigelow and Sandra Valls in this hysterical sneak preview of this year's biggest sapphic event in the universe.

(ps: All these comics will be performing at The Dinah this year!)

BRIDGET McMANUS

1) When was your first Dinah?

Oh jeez, I've blocked it out. I'm pretty sure there was a group fight and I got locked out of my hotel room.

2) What are you looking forward to the most about Dinah Shore this year?
Salt-N-Pepa's performance. I'm hoping they will scan the audience for spontaneous backup dancers and I'll be chosen from the crowd.

3) What is the scariest thing that's happened to you during Dinah Shore weekend?
While racing to a Dinah event I hastily parked my jeep in a sand lot and it got stuck. My friend scared me by saying it was the axle and it would cost a ton of money to get it fixed. Lucky my jeep was fine and it only cost me $200 to tow it out of the sand.

4) Name one little known fact about Dinah Shore Weekend:

Few people know this but Dinah Shore weekend is "supposed" to be about golfing and NOT about being a drunken whore.

5) What's the most shocking or absurd thing you've ever seen during Dinah Shore Weekend?
A bunch of burly drunken straight men hitting on my lesbian friends. Let's just say I took care of it, with a little help from hotel security.

McManus stars in her own show Bridget McManus Presents: That Time of The Month, premiering on the LOGO television network in April 2010. McManus also hosted LOGO's comedy show, Brunch with Bridget, The Jam, a self-help show on Peoplejam.com, The 9th Annual Power Premiere, and The Stonewall Inn's 40th Anniversary Benefit.

She has also graced the cover of CURVE Magazine's "America's Funniest Lesbian" issue, ranking third in their national poll, and she won LOGO's 2008 NewNowNext Award for "Best Lesbian Vlog Ever."

SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER

1. MY FIRST DINAH.....
My first Dinah was 1993. ( I was twenty...LOL)

When I host the comedy show this year it will be my 12th time- I have never been there as just a person, always had a show...

2. WHAT AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST...
This year I am looking forward to watching Meredith Baxter's face when she realizes everyone loves her as she is doing the Fashion show.

3. THE SCARIEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN AT DINAH?
Being stuck in an elevator with two girls making out. Okay not scarey so much as sad.....

4. LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT DINAH SHORE WEEKEND
Little known fact about Dinah weekend? If you pick up a golf shoe and put it to your ear you can hear the poolside chatter of lesbians from years gone by....it's like radio waves...

5. MOST ABSURD THING I'VE EVER SEEN AT DINAH SHORE WEEKEND
Most shocking thing? I would have to say during a celesbian golf tourny a few years back.....pink plaid pants and an orange belt. That's not golf fashion, that's LSD fashion...
sorry if that was you Mariah....oh heck, it may have been Mariah....

Suzanne was the first openly lesbian comedian to appear on Comedy Central, A&E, HBO and “Late Night with David Letterman.”

JENNIE MCNULTY

1. MY FIRST DINAH.....
My first Dinah was ....about 6 years ago, I think. I went with my then girlfriend and a bunch of teammates and we all piled in one room. Don't tell Mariah.

2. WHAT AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST...
Okay, here comes the egomaniac. I can't wait for the comedy show! Seriously, I performed there once a while back and it was the most AMAZING crowd. The Shorites are soooooo there to have a good time and the shows are always a blast from the performers perspective (and, hopefully, the crowd's as well). The audience is there for you from word one. Of course, by having said all this, I have probably just totally jinxed myself.

3. THE SCARIEST THING ABOUT DINAH
Having just jinxed my own damn performance.

4. LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT DINAH SHORE WEEKEND

A long time ago when Dinah Shore was dating Burt Reynolds (yes, there really IS a Dinah Shore) they were on the Mike Douglas Show together and he made some off-hand joking remark about "...I've heard rumors about all you lady golfers in Palm Springs." At which, of course, the crowd laughed and Dinah blushed somewhat.

But, the lesbos heard...and the next year there were way more lesbians than previous years attending the golf tournament. And, as the saying goes, they told two friends, and so on, and so on..... That's how the lesbians started coming out and making it an annual event. A lot of people don't know that. In fact, that is such a "little known fact" because it's completely false. But, it sounded good, didn't it?

5. MOST ABSURD THING I'VE EVER SEEN AT DINAH SHORE WEEKEND
Saturday afternoon, a woman, sitting by the pool, reading a book.

Recently rated amongst the Top 10 Lesbian comics by Curve magazine and “One of the premiere comedians in the country” by the New England blade, Jennie can currently be seen on MTV Network’s LOGO channel in her second comedy special. She can also be seen as the host of her bi-weekly walking talk show, "Jennie McNulty Presents: Walking Funny With…” on the premiere lesbian website, “AfterEllen.com”.

She has traveled the world doing comedy – literally. In addition to headlining in comedy clubs all over the US and Canada, she has entertained the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bosnia, Serbia and many other bases. And, for some less dangerous excitement, she performs regularly at Harrah’s Casino in Las Vegas.

Sandra Valls

When was your first Dinah?
My first dinah was 2 years ago. Can you believe?? Just 2 years ago. It was like spring break for lesbians! Why did I wait so long? I mean, Drinks, Dancing, Dining, Dildos, and dykes!! uh....Delicious!

What are you looking forward to the most about Dinah Shore?
Lots of sex with my girlfriend! Also, my girlfriend's clothing line, Dewberries will be on sale. Hot clothes for the grown and sexy! I love it! She's a vendor this year! Oh and lots of sex with my girlfriend!

What is the scariest thing thats happened to you during dinah shore?
I had to perform at a pool party at noon.....in the sun. I hate the sun. And it hates me. I had to wear shorts because, well, it was freakin' hot, but my legs are so white, it's shocking. I had to slather my girlfriend's make up on my legs just to give them a little color. How embarrassing.

Name one little known fact about Dinah Shore:
Women who otherwise never have sex will definately have sex here. That's why I don't ever touch anything. I always have hand cleaner with me everywhere I go. LOL

Whats the most shocking or absurd thing you've ever seen during Dinah?

I had to do a song number at the end of a comedy show where I had to wear a fedora, a long, white men's buttow down shirt, fish net stockings and heels. I totally femmed it up. I looked hot. I looked in the mirror and thought, "Hell, I'D sleep with me!"

Georgia Ragsdale once commented, "If Margaret Cho and George Lopez had a love child, it would be Sandra Valls!"

Sandra Valls is a brash, high energy, outrageously funny, in-your-face Latina comic. Sandra performs over the country and at local comedy clubs in Los Angeles including the world-famous Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, and The Hollywood Improv and yes even at London's Comedy Camp. Her television credits include One Night Stand Up (Logo), Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen (ABC), First Amendment Comedy (Starz Network) , ComicView (BET), and Que Locos (Galavision). Recently, she was seen with Eva Longoria at the HBO Comedy Festival in Las Vegas and can been seen in her comedy special on Showtime in the spring of 2010.

GLORIA BIGELOW

1) When was your first Dinah?

Last year... I was to tipsy to recount the details of it... but fun... fun was had by all.

2) What are you looking forward to the most about Dinah Shore this year?

Salt- N- Pepper of course... ahh push it... ahh push it... what a man, what a man what a mighty good man...ahhh push it... i may be mixing up the songs... but you know what I mean... push it

3) What is the scariest thing that's happened to you during Dinah Shore weekend?

The cab driver's "lesbian book". A cab driver had a book of pictures of lesbians that he'd taken photos of for the last two years.

He was like, "Uh, can I take your picture"

and I'm all like, "Uh no."

He's like, "the ladies let me take their pictures."

I'm like "I'm not a lady, I'm a dyke."

4) Name one little known fact about Dinah Shore Weekend:

Legend has it that Dinah Shore's hit song from 1955 "Whatever Lola Wants"-which reached # 12 on the charts- was a dedication to Shore's long time "companion/ roommate" who's name was...well... Lola of course- Lola's great-great grand daughter- was one of the 7 Sisters of Dinah who attended the 1st Dinah Weekend- along with Jessica Tandy's Great-Great Granddaughter- (Tandy who incidentally was in Driving Miss Daisy- which won the oscar 20 years ago) Lola's Great-Great Grand and Tandy's Great Great Grand hooked up at the first event. After one two many Manhattans- word on the street is- LOLA's G.G.G. threw a bucket of water on Tandy's G.G.G.- and that is how the wet t-shirt contest began. Tandy's G.G.G.- had fabulous boobs!

5) What's the most shocking or absurd thing you've ever seen during Dinah Shore Weekend?
It's unmentionable... but let's just say there was a vagina and there was glitter and neither belonged to me

Gloria is a comic who lives in New York City with her Dog Niles and Cat Misu. Performing highlights include Michfest, Aqua Girl, Cambria Women's Weekend, Michigan's Lesbian and Gay Comedy Fest and New York Cities 2009 Pride. Whether it's Colleges or Comedy Clubs- Glo is a crowd favorite. You can catch her in the movie Laughing Matters Next Gen and look for her on LOGO this Spring in Afterellen's One Nite Stand-Up. She's 1/4 of the fabulous foursome Cherrybomb which can be viewed on SheWired.com.

All these lovely ladies and more will be performing Friday night at The Dinah.

Click here for more info and to purchase your tickets.

Top Ten Gay Stories of the Week

1. DC ALLOWS SAME SEX MARRIAGE

The Washington, DC same-gender marriage law went into effect this week! DC now joins Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut and Massachusetts in allowing same gender marriages.

2. STATE SENATOR CAUGHT IN A DUI - AFTER BEING AT A GAY BAR
Republican... yes, of course, it's always a GOP... Roy Ashburn got pulled over and slapped with a DUI after leaving a gay bar, Faces, with a man. The punchline is he has constantly been adamant about voting down anything remotely LGBT-helpful. Ashburn has been voting down gay rights measures for 14 years, and has built his name on "Family Values", visibly touting his wife and four daughters as the perfect family.
This week, Ashurn came out publicly as gay (is your big surprised face on?). The 55 year old defended his self-hating bullshit voting record by claiming he was always voting the way of his constituents in conservative Kern County. If you'd like to send Roy an email, just click here.



3. AN ENTIRE PROM IS CANCELLED TO AVOID SEEING LESBIANS IN TUXES!
I love when the little guy gets all lawyered up and slaps a lawsuit on the man. Watch the CBS interview with Constance and her attorney here:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

4. MEXICO CITY HAS IT'S FIRST SAME SEX MARRIAGE

After a law passed in December, this week the first same-sex couple (lesbian!) tied the knot in Mexico City. The Federal Government is moving to block this new law, lead by the stronghold the Catholic Church has on the country.

5. THE KIDS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER RELEASE A GAY MUSIC VIDEO
For You Belong with Me. Very cute.

6. FLORIDA GIVES GREAT TAX BREAKS TO FILMING...UM, ER, UNLESS YOU'RE GAY

The Florida House proposed a bill this week that would increase the tax breaks film and television production gets in the state...unless the content is homosexual.

Rep Stephen Precourt is leading the charge, and if you'd like to drop him a line, just click here.

7. MAN SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR MURDERING HIS LOVER

Jorge Luiz Munoz plead guilty in a plea bargain to manslaughter and will serve 11 years in prion for murdering his "friend" Pedro Ramirez. Munoz excuse for killing, was that he was defending himself from unwanted homosexual advances. Munoz claimed to homicide detectives that he was straight and had a girlfriend, yet many friends reported that he had been dating the victim for months. Munoz strangled Ramirez in his bed at his San Diego apartment after the two had been there several hours.

8. RUMER WILLIS, SPAWN OF DEMI MOORE AND BRUCE WILLIS HAS HER FIRST PRIMETIME LESBIAN KISS

The 21 year old Rumer Willis engaged in a lesbian kiss on the popular remake 90210. Since I'm over 20 years old, I didn't watch it.

I'm still trying to get over the lesbian storyline in Law & Order SVU last week!

9. LADY GAGA'S NEW MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERS: TACKLES PENIS RUMOURS AND HAS HOT LESBIAN PRISON ACTION

La Ga always seems to thank "the gays" when she wins awards. Is this why in the first few minutes of this TELEPHONE music video she lip smacking a bunch of seriously butch prison chicks?

I hate to mention the train wreck that was the Law & Order SVU lesbian episodes again, but you know, I'm kinda over the stereotype of lesbians as being hard-core, violent, rough butches at this for this week.

10. A GOLDEN GIRL GETS DISSED, ANOTHER TAKES THE STAGE

At Sunday night's Oscar telecast, there was a glaring omission when actresses Bea Arthur and Farrah Fawcett were omitted from the Memorial Tribute Reel by Chuck Workman. Even with the new addition of out-gay director/choregrapher Adam Shankman (Hairspray, So You Think You Can Dance) as a show producer, and another openly gay man writing (Bruce Vilanch), these two gay friendly faces were still overlooked.

This caused a media storm including an hour spent discussing this on Larry King Live. The Academy released a statement saying it was not an oversight, but a conscious choice because the two were known more for their television work. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson - known more for his music - was shown even though he only did one movie. Arthur did three, including one that garnered Oscar nods, and Fawcett got a Golden Globe nod her for role in Extremities.

It is still unclear how the Academy will respond considering the public backlash. To show how utterly stupid they were, another glaring omission - Maurice Jarre. Probably one of the most lauded and celebrated movie composers of all time! He wrote the score for films ranging from Lawrence of Arabia to Ghost and won 3 Oscars. They also didn't include Dominick Dunne who ran a movie studio.

In happier Golden Girls news, Betty White has been tapped to host Saturday Night Live on May 8th.

In happier Oscar news, the first femme ever won Best Director - you go Kathryn Bigelow! I believed in you since Pointe Break!

GOLDEN GIRL BETTY WHITE TO HOST SNL May 8th

Did you join the Facebook group, because I did, and it nudged SNL head Lorne Michaels into caving in and giving La White a hosting gig to air May 8th.

Originally, the powers at SNL thought the octogenarian was too old carry the 90 minute gig (White is 88!), but Michaels conceded that the big Facebook campaign sealed the deal. I can't wait to see her duet with Adam Sanberg.

To ease the burden of too many live skits on the Grand Dame of TV Comedy, SNL will also pack that show with celeb guests including Tina Fey, Amy Boehler, Maya Rudolph and Rachel Dratch (all a welcome return sin my opinion), and they are coining the episode the Mother's Day Special.

Which is kinda funny since White made a very public and conscious decision early in her career to forgo having children, and it cost her a marriage. White eeked into television in the early, early days by guesting right out of high school on a local show. That show went national, then it was one Betty White Show after another. She dominated the airwaves for years, and has truly earned her pioneer status. Today, that is lost to most because those shows are not available or easily viewed, but she had a huge career in the 1950's. Then, after marrying Allen Lunt, she went on to have quite a healthy run on Password. Before you knew it, it was another decade in the business, then bam - Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Betty White made quite a comeback, and entered the gay view when she starred with three other senior citizens in Susan Harris's The Golden Girls. After a while, it was clear the show had a huge gay following but it really hit home when the show debuted in syndication on Lifetime and garnered that network the largest ratings ever for a tv show on Lifetime up until that point. They blocked out their programming then with another gay fav, Will & Grace.

Recently, current femme comedy fav Sandra Bullock honored her hero by pulling in White to costar in the hit feature, The Proposal. Another big fan, Craig Ferguson, regularly has her on his show doing skits and bits. Rumour has it, she turned down the part years ago in As Good as it Gets because she didn't want to do the scene when the character puts the dog down the garbage shoot!

The Facebook craze started right after the super bowl after White appeared in a rather humorous Snicker's ad.

While White skipped the kids route, she has been a loyal and outspoken voice for animal rights since the 1950's and considers her rescued pooches her children.

You go Betty!

Outfest Fusion: Always a Best of Film Festival

One of SoCal's treasured little gems of the LGBT community is occurring this weekend as FUSION 2010 kicks-off it's film festival at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Produced by Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, this smaller fest benefits from the distillation of the experience because it's only the best lgbt films out there, packed into one fun-filled day. Dubbed The People of Color Festival, I joke that's it's the film festival of everyone but white gay men - because all nationalities and women are included. Movies are by and about lgbt Native Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Asians, lesbians and so much more!

Fusion Shorts 1 start Saturday at 3:30 pm.

The Outfest Legacy Project Screening is at 4 pm with PORTRAIT OF JASON, a 1967 documentary of an African-American gay hustler at the Chelsea Hotel in NY.

Fusion Shorts 2 happens at 6 pm- with new offerings from award winning veteran Sundance film makers Rodney Evans (Brother to Brother) and Dee Rees (Pariah).

(pictured: Directors Rodney Evans and Dee Rees)

The Fusion Gala happens Saturday night at 8:30 pm and includes a screening of Quentin Lee's The People I've Slept With and an award tribute to Wilson Cruz.

Cruz has been on the forefront of LGBT activism for years and regularly appears and speaks on lgbt rights since his historic coming-out during his run on the MTV hit My So Called Life.

NBC/Universal came on board this year to sponsor the fest, which includes an entire day of panels and workshops for emerging film makers on Friday.

For tickets and more info, check out their site.

And check out the sexy trailer for the Gala Film:

Gabourey Sidibe to Gerald Butler on Red Carpet: "Yeah, I'd hit that"

Some of the most memorable Oscar quotes this year didn't happen on stage, but on the red carpet just prior, thanks in part to the always fresh and funny Oscar nominated Gabourey Sidibe from Precious.

While Miss Ryan Seacrest was interviewing her, he took a moment to point out heart throb Gerald Butler just a few steps away. Gabourey gave Butler the eye and without missing a beat said, "Yeah, I'd hit that."

Then Seacrest called over Butler so she could repeat it to his face. Which she did. "That certainly breaks the ice," Butler responded.

Later, when asked about her dress, Sidibe proudly responded, "If fashion was porn, this dress would be the money shot."

I don't know about you, but I think we have a new Diva on our hands, and yes you can read this as gay icon. As you know, the requirements for becoming a gay icon/Diva include: performing vulnerable and heart wrenching songs or roles in films involving overcoming injustices and the struggle on the uphill battle (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Diana Ross, Judy Garland), be the odd girl out that always rises to the top even without classical good looks (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler) or beating the man at his own game by rising to the top against expectations (Cher, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams - yeah, take that Miss America pageant!).

All things that we as homosexuals can identify with for obvious reasons.

Catch The Devine Ms. Sidibe on this Friday's episode of The Soup and you be the judge!

Oscars Tid Bits

Well if you couldn't tell, last night's Oscar awards were produced this year by a gay man. I know, right, what gave it away - the Follies and Busby Berkley opening number with out-gay actor Neil Patrick Harris or the gorgeous sets?!

Adam Shankman, best known for helming HAIRSPRAY and being a judge on So You Think You Can Dance joined the Oscar team this year as a producer this year and even though he openly criticized the GLAAD Awards last year for going 3.5 hours (from stage no less, whilst accepting his award - memorable comment: "My, we gays do really like to hear ourselves talk), the Oscar ceremony last night went just about that long.

If you're gay, you no-doubt caught the GLARING omission of two lgbt icons Bea Arthur and Farrah Fawcett in last night's In Memorandum section. WHAT?!

Farrah Fawcett starred in the film MYRA BREKINRIDGE written by that flamer Gore Vidal in a story revolving a famous transexual. She also starred in the scifi pict LOGAN'S RUN, which holds a special place in West Hollywood's heart since as we all know, if you turn thirty there and you're gay you might as well be dead. She also starred in Saturn 3 and Cannonball Run, but will always be remembered for her turn on Charlie's Angels, which was the way you could tell in those days if a little boy was going to be gay - if he feathered his hair and spun around like the girls; and if you were going to be a lesbian if you had that iconic poster of her on your wall (a few of my exes did!).

Bea Arthur was mainly a television actress, but she was also big on stage and who could forget her performance in the otherwise train-wrecky MAME. Her turn as Vera just made that film!

Anyway, now that we've properly included two icons, onto the Oscars. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were fantastic as hosts, probably because of their long history of conquering the kind of one-liners that long time Oscar writer (and out-gay man) Bruce Vilanch likes to write. Bruce got his start writing jokes for Bette Midler in the bathhouses...now it's the Oscars! The show also has a lesbian writer this year - Carol Leifer - who has long been rumoured to be the basis of the character Elaine on Seinfeld. You can catch her next week along with Sharon Osbourne and Cindy Lauper on the new Celebrity Apprentice, fyi.

Anyone who has ever enjoyed watching a behemoth ego get popped, certainly must have jumped for joy over watching Kathryn Bigelow beat out ex husband James...what's his name again?...even if they never saw the film. Then to see The Hurt Locker beat out Avatar? Seems like the Academy was dolling out a force feeding of hubris to Mr. Cameron.

It was especially ironic and somewhat touching to have Barbra Streisand hand out the best director award to Bigelow - first ever win for a female in this category - if you remember the hub bub with La Babs over Yentl and The Mirror has Two Faces.

Speaking of a funny girl, other highlights included Sandra Bullock beating out Dame Meryl Streep for the best actress statuette (she tried to lean over and kiss her again, but she said in an interview later that the dress wouldn't allow her to bend over!). Mo'nique won for best supporting actress then admitted in an interview to Barbara Walters that she channeled her older brother for the role, admitting she had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child.

I was happy to see one of my favorite films of the year, UP win for Best Animated Feature, and it was also great seeing Geoffrey Fletcher win for adapting the screenplay for PRECIOUS. It was also nice to see DISTRICT 9 included in some of the categories, since it had such a great friendship and twist at it's core and I thought it was clever and fresh. STAR TREK, while just bubble gum fare, probably deserved a nod just for not SUCKING (I really enjoyed it), but it was nice to see nods in their direction in some of the tech categories.

Other winners included Jeff Bridges for CRAZY HEART and Christoph Waltz for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.

All Star Comedy Line Up - Wednesday in Hollywood

I'll be there, will you?