Roseanne Barr has blogged about Michael Bryan, Marie Osmond's 18-year-old son who recently committed suicide—and said that his sexual orientation played a factor, according to a SheWired.com item. Barr, who SheWired described as "dangerously unbalanced," wrote, in part, "marie osmonds poor gay son killed himself because he had been told how wrong and how sick he was every day of his life by his church and the people in it. Calling that 'depression' is a lie! ... I want her and all the gay kids in the world to know that they are just fine being gay and that they deserve love and respect instead of insults and rebuke!" Barr has since called Marie Osmond "strong and decent" but still has taken a hard line regarding how Mormons generally view gay people, according to RadarOnline.com .
Openly gay actor John Barrowman may be moving from the hit TV series Desperate Housewives to another popular show—Glee, according to BBCAmerica.com . Regarding Glee, the Torchwood star told the Daily Mirror, "I absolutely love the show. What would I play in it? I'm not sure what kind of character I'd like to play, maybe I could be a teacher, you know, another teacher who comes in and helps out." And as for Patrick Logan, his character on Desperate Housewives, Barrowman described him as "the most evil character they've ever introduced to the series."
Speaking of Barrowman, he has revealed that his natural hair color is "completely white" instead of the dark millions of viewers have seen, according to Pink News. Barrowman, 42, said that he has been coloring his hair for years at the request of his civil partner, architect Scott Gill. Barrowman also said that he would like to adopt a child, but does not know if Gill feels the same way.
Barbara Walters is saying that she regrets ever asking singer Ricky Martin about his sexuality. According to the New York Daily News, Walters, 80, told the Toronto Star her line of questioning regarding Martin's sexual orientation was "inappropriate." "In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was," Walters said. "A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now I feel it was an inappropriate question." Martin has not publicly commented on his sexuality.
Actress Betty White, 88, is going to host Saturday Night Live. According to Advocate.com, SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels has confirmed that White will host the show May 8—an episode that will include a reunion of six female ex-cast members, including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. White had previously rejected offers to host three times over the years.
Out actress Cynthia Nixon ( Sex and the City ) has taped a video to support Fight Back NY, a new political-action committee that targets New York legislators who voted against same-sex marriage, according to Towleroad.com . In the ad, Nixon says, "I am a lifelong New Yorker but I don't have the rights that most of my friends and neighbors do. I'm engaged to the woman I love, but on Dec. 2, the New York State Senate voted against my right to marry her. ... That's why I've decided to fight back. I'm supporting Fight Back New York so that we can finally show these anti-equality state senators that there are consequences to their actions—that they can lose their seats for voting against our rights."
In Florida, state Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, is proposing a tax incentive to attract the film and TV industries to the state—but would exclude productions that feature "nontraditional family values," according to the Palm Beach Post. "Think of it as like Mayberry," Precourt said of the $75 million incentive package. However, Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger said "nontraditional family values" could encompass everything from "drug abuse to excessive drunkenness to homosexual families."
Actor Alec Baldwin is either gay or bisexual, according to a peoplemagazinedaily.com item ( not to be confused with People Magazine ) . On his site The Awful Truth, E! reporter Ted Casablanca has published several articles that allude to Baldwin's sexual orientation—and even details Baldwin allegedly trying to pick up actor Jake Gyllenhaal ( another favorite Casablanca item ) at last year's Golden Globe Awards. On Oct. 16, 2009, Casablanca allegedly alluded to Baldwin hiring male prostitutes.
Mad Men has conquered the world of TV—but starting this summer, it will set out to take the top spot in the realm of toys. According to MSNBC.com, four of the hit series' characters will be in plastic when Mattel unveils a line of dolls inspired by the show. Dolls of Joan Holloway ( played by Christina Hendricks ) , Roger Sterling ( John Slattery ) , Don Draper ( Jon Hamm ) and Betty Draper ( January Jones ) comes with accessories ranging from necklaces to a briefcase—but do not, for obvious reasons, include two signature indulgences of the characters: cigarettes and alcohol.
In an interview with CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour, singer Annie Lennox stressed that HIV and AIDS are the leading killers of women of reproductive age worldwide, according to CNN.com . During the talk, Lennox said, "The world needs to wake up and realize that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has changed its face since the 1980s. It has been affecting women and children at an enormous rate. As a woman and a mother myself, I want to contribute to keeping this issue on the table. HIV is invisible."
Out actress Cynthia Nixon and The View's Joy Behar were honored March 13 at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, according to a press release. The GLAAD Media Awards aim to "elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people." Among those who attended the event were Michael Urie, Sigourney Weaver, Meredith Vieira, Rosie Perez and Dustin Lance Black.
Colony Capital LLC, a private-equity firm owned by billionaire Thomas J. Barrick, will assume the debt of photographer Annie Leibovitz after she bought back control of her property, according to Business Week. Art Capital Group, which had control of Leibovitz's real estate and photography, stated its loan to her had been satisfied. Last year, Leibovitz—who was involved with writer Susan Sontag until her death in 2004—renegotiated a $24-million loan to get her homes and photos back.
