Actress Lily Tomlin and her partner, writer Jane Wagner, may finally get married after 42 years together, now that same-sex marriage is legal in some states, according to the Huffington Post. The women, who met in 1971 and started dating shortly after, didn't think they would see such a milestone in their lifetime. "You don't really need to get married, but marriage is awfully nice," Tomlin, 73, said. "Everybody I know who got married, they say it really makes a difference. They feel very very happy about it."
Madonna celebrated turning 55 with an over-the-top French Revolution-inspired costume bash in the South of France on Aug. 17, US Magazine reported. Channeling Marie Antoinette, Madonna wore a gold and diamond grill on her teeth, a heart-shaped eyepatch, corset, leotard—and no pants. Boyfriend Brahim Zaibat; daughter Lola, 16; and son Rocco, 13, partied with the singer.
R&B singer Chris Brown has been sued for assault and battery stemming from a January altercation between his entourage and Frank Ocean's, according to Rolling Stone. Sha'keir Duarte claims he was attacked by a member of Brown's entourage during a confrontation between Brown and out musician Ocean Jan. 27 in the parking lot at Hollywood's Westlake Recording Studios. Duarte claims he suffered a concussion ("as well as humiliation and mental anguish") from the attack; Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, says the allegations are unfounded.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump is embroiled in a legal drama involving a gay bar, according to TheWrap.com . In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, entrepreneurs Ryan Allen Carrillo and Andrew Gruver—who previously worked at gay hotspot The Abbey and its parent company, SBE—claim that they partnered with producer Elie Samaha to open a sports-themed gay bar and restaurant called Bar Varsity. Carrillo and Gruver also say that Samaha and others conspired to have Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, swipe Bar Varsity's site. The plaintiffs want a temporary restraining order and injunction blocking further construction work on the P.U.M.P. Lounge.
Lesbian tennis legend Martina Navratilova, out Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Boys Don't Cry director Kimberly Peirce are among those Chicago Humanities Festival's (CHF's) 24th Annual Fall Festival. The festival—with the theme "Animal: What Makes Us Human—will take place Oct. 13 on the Northwestern University campus, Oct. 20 on the University of Chicago campus, and Nov. 1-10 at venues across Chicago. Among others slated to attend are political figure David Axelrod, noted autistic Temple Grandin, playwright Edward Albee, paleontologist Paul Sereno, writer Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) and actor Michael Shannon.
Out designer Nate Berkus has sold his New York City "dream home" just nine months after it featured in a full spread in Architctural Digest, according to Curbed.com . Alexander Gilkes, a co-founder of online art bazaar Paddle8, paid $4.95 million for the Greenwich Village duplex, meaning Berkus stands to net approximately $1.6 million. By contrast, Berkus' Chicago co-op sold in January for $1.6 million after two years on the market and more than $1 million in price cuts.
World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Darren Young surprised a TMZ cameraman when he came out as gay during an impromptu interview at Los Angeles International Airport, the Huffington Post reported. At an airport, a videographer asked Young if he thinks a gay wrestler could be successful within the WWE organization. "Absolutely," Young said, laughing. "Look at me. I'm a WWE Superstar and, to be honest with you, I'll tell you right now, I'm gay, and I'm happy. Very happy." Wrestling blogs exploded with news of Young's coming-out. Young is said to be the first openly gay male wrestler actively participating in the professional sphere.
Bravo's Andy Cohen has backed out of co-hosting this year's Miss Universe pageant because of the event's filming location: Moscow, according to EW.com . Cohen recently explained to his fellow Miss Universe host Giuliana Rancic that he "didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia." George Takei, Stephen Fry, Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and Harvey Fierstein have all criticized Russia, which recently passed a stringent anti-gay law.
The March—a new documentary honoring the 50th anniversary of the original March on Washington that Denzel Washington narrates—premieres Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS, according to a press release. The day after this initial airing, a march commemorating that anniversary will take place in Washington, D.C.; The Civil Rights Museum on Wheels and citizens who were at the original 1963 March on Washington will lead.
Justin Timberlake has been added to the growing list of performers who will perform at MTV's Video Music Awards, according to TV Guide. Timberlake will also receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which was last awarded to Britney Spears in 2011. The singer is tied with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for the most VMA nominations this year with six. Others scheduled to perform at the Aug. 25 event include Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.
Lifetime will air the movie House of Versace—chronicling Donatella Versace's journey after carrying on her brother's (Gianni Versace's) legacy after his 1997 slaying—on Saturday, Oct. 5, according to a press release. The movie will star Gina Gershon (Bound), screen icon Raquel Welch and Enrico Colantoni (TV shows Veronica Mars and Just Shoot Me). Based on Wall Street Journal reporter Deborah Ball's book House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival, the film looks at Donatella's drug addiction—which nearly bankrupts the company—and her comeback.
Openly gay boxer Orlando Cruz proposed to longtime boyfriend Jose Manuel over Facebook, according to the Toronto Sun. In a video message posted to Facebook, Cruz stated, "Now, more than ever that I have an important fight coming up for the world championship, I want to tell you that you are a very special person in my life. ... I want you to be part of my life and me be part of yours." In a similar video reply, Manuel accepted his boxing boyfriend's proposal, saying, "I accept marrying you because I love you and adore you." Cruz became the first openly gay boxer last October when he released a statement, referring to himself as a "proud gay man."
In the September issue of ELLE magazine, actress Amber Heard talked about her bisexuality, according to the New York Daily News. Heard opened up about coming out as a bisexual in 2010, when she was dating photographer Tasya van Ree. "I didn't want to look like I was hiding anything," Heard said about her girlfriend of three years. "I'm not, and wasn't ever, ashamed." She also discussed how she selects acting roles, and said, "I don't imagine myself, my work, or my life fitting into any kind of standardized path."
Federal prosecutors say that James Meyer, a longtime studio assistant to artist Jasper Johns, swiped at least 22 works of art from Johns' Connecticut studio and sold them for $6.5 million without Johns' knowledge or consent, according to Courthouse News Service. Meyer worked for Johns in the artist's studio in Sharon, Conn., for more than 25 years. Some people consider Johns—best-known for the painting "Flag"—a member of the LGBT community, citing a years-long affair he reportedly had with artist Robert Rauschenberg.
In an initial face-off, Katy Perry is currently outselling Lady Gaga two copies to one (450,000-200,000) in their chart race, according to Digital Spy. Perry's new single, "Roar," is facing competition from Gaga's "Applause" after it was rush-released earlier this week to avoid a leak. "Roar" is the first cut from Katy Perry's new album Prism, while "Applause" is the lead single from Lady Gaga's forthcoming collection ARTPOP.
Speaking of Gaga, she has claimed that Internet gossip maven Perez Hilton mocked her on the day she had her hip accident, Digital Spy noted. The singer claimed that Hilton had sent her a text message featuring an image of her in a wheelchair. Across the picture, Hilton had allegedly written "KARMA" while it also featured an image of Madonna pointing a gun at Gaga. Gaga also posted, "Please monsters do not be affected by someone like this NOTHING merits this kind of hatred. Im ok & I always survive. Ignore him. Just Dance."
The Broadway show Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark resumed performances Aug. 16, the evening after the Broadway production was halted when cast member Daniel Curry sustained an injury on-stage during the performance, according to Playbill.com . The Aug. 15 performance of the technically elaborate musical was stopped when Curry's foot was caught in one of the mechanical stage lifts. Shortly after Spider-Man began previews in 2010, cast member Christopher Tierney was injured when he fell from a raised platform into a pit in the stage of the Foxwoods Theatre; in addition, several other actors endured injuries during the preview period.
Adam Lambert's fan community lost a special member when Gale Chester Whittington passed away, according to Examiner.com . Whittington (born in 1948) formed the "Adam Lambert Fan Club" (ALFC) on Facebook, which has more than 40,000 likes. He was also a gay-rights activist, and won numerous awards for his novels, memoirs, poems, short stories and essays.
Jennifer Lopez will be returning to American Idol for its 13th season, according to US Magazine. Lopez had served as a judge for two previous seasons in 2011 and 2012. Lopez will be joining fellow musician Keith Urban, who has already signed on for another consecutive year. Judges Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and veteran Randy Jackson exited after last season.
Speaking of American Idol, music producer-songwriter Dr. Luke is reportedly in talks to be the third judge on the show, according to GossipCop.com . Luke is responsible for dozens of pop music's biggest hits, including Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" as well as songs for Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha. He also performed in the Saturday Night Live band for 10 seasons.
GLSEN—the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network—announced that award-winning actress Kyra Sedgwick is joining the organization's national board of directors, according to a press release. Sedgwick, the wife of Kevin Bacon, is best known for her starring role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the TNT crime drama The Closer. Lesbian singer/The LikeMe Organization founder Chely Wright is among the board members of GLSEN.
An exhibit about the late Grace Kelly's upbringing, Hollywood career and storybook ascent to royalty will make its only U.S. stop in Doylestown, Pa., in the Michener Art Museum, according to an ABC News item. The exhibit—"From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly-Beyond the Icon"—opens Oct. 28 (and runs through Jan. 26, 2014) at the Michener, not far from where Kelly made her professional stage debut at the Bucks County Playhouse in 1949. Monaco's ruling sovereign, Prince Albert II, said via videotaped that his mother "was, indeed, a talented woman who became an international fashion icon, but that is just the surface of her life."
Singer Kelly Clarkson has added to her status as a gay icon with same-sex couples among those featured in the video for the single "Tie It Up," according to On Top Magazine. Clarkson, who is planning her own wedding to talent manager Brandon Blackstock, plays the ultimate wedding singer in the video. Among other things, the video features wedding photos from fans, including same-sex couples. However, some have complained that Clarkson (who has endorsed marriage equality) doesn't have enough same-sex couples in the video.
In the NBA, the Detroit Pistons have reportedly expressed exploratory interest in signing gay free-agent center Jason Collins, ESPN noted. In late April, the seven-foot-tall Collins became the first openly gay athlete in North America's four traditional major sports leagues. Collins has already played with teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, announced that Emmy-nominated actress Kerry Washington—star of the hit ABC-TV series Scandal—and openly gay L.A. Galaxy soccer player Robbie Rogers will serve as honorary co-chairs for this year's GLSEN Respect Awards, according to a press release. The host committee for the event (which will take place at The Beverly Hills Hotel Oct. 18) includes TV showrunner Shonda Rhimes, NBC Entertainment Chair Robert Greenblatt and out gay actor Matt Bomer, among others.
A man appears to have committed suicide at Olivia Newton-John's house in Florida, according to GossipCop.com . A 42-year-old contractor, who has not been named, was found dead shortly after noon Aug. 19 inside the Jupiter home the singer-actress owns with husband John Easterling.
Singer and X Factor judge Demi Lovato will appear on the fifth season of the Fox series Glee, according to the New York Daily News. Playing the role of Dani—one of Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Santana Lopez's (Naya Rivera) New York friends—the part will mark Lovato's return to a regular acting gig. She formerly starred on the Disney Channel's Sonny With a Chance from 2009 to 2011.
Nick Gruber, the onetime lover of designer Calvin Klein, was reportedly booted from a party on New York's Fire Island after being rude to guests and demanding that gay people not touch him, the Huffington Post noted. Gruber supposedly "crashed" a party porn entrepreneur Michael Lucas was throwing to announce he is now straight. Gruber's rep, Matt Rich, said, "After about the fifth guy grabs your ass, you say, 'Look, I'm not interested.' He apologized. He didn't know what kind of party this was going to be." Rich also described Gruber's relationship with Klein as a "close companionship."
Nineteen-year-old YouTube star-turned-Nickelodeon actor Lucas Cruikshank has come out as gay on (what else?) YouTube, according to the Huffington Post. "My family and friends have known for like three years, I just haven't felt the need to announce it on the Internet," he explained, adding that he felt "so awkward." At one point in the video, he turns to actress Jennifer Veal (in bed with him) and asks, "How come you didn't have to make a video saying you're straight?"
Sir Patrick Stewart, 73, posted pictures of himself being taught the finer points of archery—with Sir Ian McKellen watching, according to the New York Daily News. Stewart's soon-to-be brother-in-law was instructing him. (Stewart is engaged to jazz singer Sunny Ozell, 35.) The openly gay McKellen—who's co-starring with Stewart in the 2014 movie X-Men: Days of Future Past—will officiate the wedding.
