Rufus Wainwright's mother has passed away. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Kate McGarriglewho was one half of the French-Canadian folk act Kate and Anna McGarrigledied in January at age 63 after battling clear-cell sarcoma for three years. Kate, who divorced Loudon Wainwright III in 1976, is survived by Rufus and her daughter, Martha Wainwright.
Shock jock Howard Stern feels that Ellen DeGeneres will ruin the TV show American Idol, according to an Advocate.com item. During his radio show, Sternwho has been rumored to be on the short list of Simon Cowell's replacementssaid, "Everyone goes, 'If Howard Stern takes over American Idol, Ellen DeGeneres might leave.' Well, yeah, that's the whole [ expletive ] idea. I'm not going to sit there with herthat dummy."
Gay-friendly hunk Ryan Reynolds has a new gigas the face of Hugo Boss cologne, according to US Magazine. The actor, 33, is praised the fragrance BOSS and said he was "honored" to be asked to front the scent. Reynolds, who wed actress Scarlett Johansson in 2008, is the star of the upcoming comic-book films Green Lantern and Deadpool.
Robert Poletwho heads Gucci Group, which is the majority stakeholder in Alexander McQueensaid that the designer's brand will remain despite his death, according to Advocate.com . McQueen apparently hanged himself in his London home, according to the Daily Mail. He was found Feb. 11, on the eve of his mother's funeral.
In an exclusive interview with Parade magazine, out music legend Elton John said, among other things, that Jesus was homosexual. John told reporter Dotson Rader that he thought Jesus was a "compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle Eastyou're as good as dead."
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) will honor actress Drew Barrymore and comedian Wanda Sykes in Los Angeles April 17, according to Advocate.com . Barrymore will be honored with the Vanguard Award, which is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. Sykes, will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional.
R&B singer Akon has said that he can now retire early because Lady Gaga has signed with his Interscope Records imprint, KonLive, according to a PrefixMag.com item. "She's pretty much retired me," he said of Gaga. "She was definitely a blessing. She came at the right moment. I'm glad I believed in her, boy. That goes to show you, if you believe in something strong enough, it will pay off."
GLAAD has demanded that musician John Mayer apologize for saying in an interview with Playboy that he once kissed gay Internet gossip maven Perez Hilton "almost as if I hated fags," according to Pink News. Writing on the organization's blog, GLAAD's Jonathan Rosales said, "Just as Mayer indicated in his apology, that he meant no offense in his use of the racist slur, we hope the intent behind his use of the F-word was not malicious." Among other things, Mayer said that his penis was like "a white supremacist."
Actors Michael Douglas and Matt Damon are slated to play lovers in an upcoming movie about the late pianist Liberace, according to the Same Same Web site. The film's director, Steven Soderbergh ( Traffic ) , said, "We've already done some costume and wardrobe tests on Michael, and they're very, very, very good," Soderbergh said. "Michael amazed me. He crushed it." Liberace died in 1987 of an AIDS-connected illness. Interestingly, Douglas and Damon were each on the TV series Will & Grace ( in different episodes ) ; Douglas played a gay detective with a crush on Will, while Damon played a man who longed for Grace.
TMZ.com has posted video footage of Jersey Shore's Ronnie Magro shouting anti-gay slurs before he engaged in an on-camera fight, according to TheStar.com . The video, which had never been shown publicly, showed Magro calling another man a "f---ing queer" and a "f----t." The show's producers responded, "There were several gay staff members that worked on the show and Ronnie always respected them and everyone else."