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Sixteen year-old aspiring country singer Courtney Stodden has married actor Doug Hutchinson, 51, whom you may recall played the weasely Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile. The happy couple plans a champagne toast to their nuptials in five years when the bride reaches drinking age.
(Tipped by JMG reader Blair)
Matthew Rettenmund reports at Boy Culture:
Duke Mason is the son of Morgan Mason, who served in Ronald Reagan's State Department, and singer Belinda Carlisle, as well as the grandson of film star James Mason. But he's also a vocal proponent of LGBT rights—and he's not letting his acting aspirations silence his advocacy. Mason has founded the Trailblazer Campaign. Modeled after It Gets Better, Trailblazer's goal is to help Hollywood come out of the closet—and it's about fucking time!). With videos coming from Chad Allen, David Moretti, Perez Hilton, Mike Manning and Sandra Bernhard, he's off to a good start.
The U.S. Senate has passed a Boxer/Feinstein-sponsored resolution honoring Elizabeth Taylor. It reads, in part:
Whereas Elizabeth Taylor used her fame to raise awareness and advocate for people affected by HIV/AIDS;(Via - LGBTPOV)
Whereas, at a time when HIV/AIDS was largely an unknown disease and those who were affected by HIV/AIDS were ostracized and shunned, Elizabeth Taylor called for and demonstrated compassion by publicly holding the hand of her friend and former costar, Rock Hudson, after he had announced that he had AIDS;
Whereas Elizabeth Taylor testified before Congress saying, “It is my hope that history will show that the American people and our leaders met the challenge of AIDS rationally and with all the resources at their disposal, for our sake and that of all humanity.”;
Whereas, in 1985, Elizabeth Taylor became the Founding National Chairman for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (commonly known as “amfAR”);
Whereas, in 1991, Elizabeth Taylor founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to provide direct support to those suffering from the disease;
Whereas the extensive efforts of Elizabeth Taylor have helped educate the public and lawmakers about the need for research, treatment, and compassion for those suffering from HIV/AIDS;
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and honors the courageous, compassionate leadership and many professional accomplishments of Elizabeth Taylor; and offers its deepest condolences to her family.
Most of Elizabeth Taylor's massive fortune will go to the two AIDS charities with whom she was most famously associated.
Screen queen Elizabeth Taylor has left behind a fortune worth at least $600 million, much of which is expected to go to the AIDS charities she championed for decades. Her famous jewelry collection, valued at an eye-popping $150 million in 2002, is likely to be auctioned off with the bulk of the proceeds going to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and amfAR, the AIDS charity she helped found in 1985, according to WFLD/Fox TV Chicago. "From what I understand, she seems to have been very wise about her investments," said a financial planner who has worked with other Hollywood A-listers. At the time of her 1994 divorce from her last husband, Larry Fortensky, Taylor's net worth was estimated at $608.4 million. That figure could now be well in excess of $1 billion. During the 1990s, Taylor reportedly earned about $2 per second, or about $63 million per year. Her famed perfume, White Diamonds, earned more than $70 million last year, according to reports.Our hero, even in death.
Lindsay Lohan would like you to know that she is dropping her family name and will join the tiny galaxy of megastars known only by one word.
"So many of the greatest people in showbiz are known by just their first name. Look at Oprah and Beyonce. Now you can add Lindsay to that list," a family friend tells me. "And it's a way for them all to start over. No one in the family want anything to do with Lindsay's father [Michael Lohan] anymore and that includes sharing a last name."Fortunately, California's prisons already use a handy inmate numbering system, so this change will not be problematic. Call her TAFKALL.
Last night Joy Behar spoke to Fred Phelps' estranged son about Westboro and Elizabeth Taylor.
Perhaps to thwart the Westboro Baptist Church, who yesterday vowed to picket her funeral, Elizabeth Taylor will be buried today at the famed Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the final resting place of many Hollywood stars. I just checked the Twitter feed of Margie Phelps, who doesn't yet seem to be aware of the speedy service. Story developing...
UPDATE: E! Online reports that the private service took place under tight security and without "unwelcome interruptions," although Westboro may get another shot during an upcoming "more expansive" memorial service. Taylor was interred in Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum near Michael Jackson. Tomorrow night Broadway's marquees will go dark for one minute at 8PM in Taylor's honor.
"To me, Elizabeth Taylor's importance as an actress was that she represented a kind of womanliness that is now completely impossible to find on the U.S. or U.K. screen. It was rooted in hormonal reality -- the vitality of nature. She was single-handedly a living rebuke to postmodernism and post-structuralism, which maintain that gender is merely a social construct. Let me give you an example. Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right is a truly wonderful film, but Julianne Moore and Annette Bening -- who is fabulous in it and should have won the Oscar for her portrayal of a prototypical contemporary American career woman -- were painfully scrawny to look at on the screen. This is the standard starvation look that is now projected by Hollywood women stars -- a skeletal, Pilates-honed, anorexic silhouette, which has nothing to do with females as most of the world understands them. There's something almost android about the depictions of women currently being projected by Hollywood." - Camille Paglia, writing for Salon.
Barry Manilow has never come out (as far I can know), but in last night's interview about Elizabeth Taylor he acknowledged that "I had lost half of my phone book" to AIDS. Manilow revealed that Taylor was so grateful that he agreed to perform at her first AIDS fundraiser that she sent him a pot of gardenias every year on his birthday.
Good As You posts the above 1985 news clipping as a reminder that Elizabeth Taylor was among the first and most vocal celebrities to demand funding for AIDS research, a move she made at great risk to her career, considering the tenor of those dark, dark days. Taylor went on to cofound the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which raised over $50M in its first ten years.
This morning the Human Rights Campaign acknowledges Taylor's tireless campaign against HIV/AIDS: "We are deeply saddened by the death Elizabeth Taylor. Ms. Taylor was a true ally to the LGBT community. She was one of the first public voices to speak up about the AIDS crisis while many others stayed silent in the 1980s and she helped raise millions of dollars to fight the disease. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, and to all those whose lives have been positively impacted by the life and work of Elizabeth Taylor."
"On Friday, one of the most liberal states in America killed a bill to legalize same-sex 'marriage.' That doesn't seem to register with a small group from Hollywood, who can't see past their agenda to the political reality: that counterfeit marriage is a losing issue. Some celebrities are still pushing the President to publicly endorse same-sex 'marriage,' despite some bruising losses on the state front. 'Say, 'I do,' Mr. President,' they wrote in a letter. The actors praised his decision to abandon the federal marriage law in court, and said that move calls for 'clarity' on the marriage question.
"Of course, it's easy to understand the confusion. This White House has done everything it can to promote homosexual 'marriage'--short of announcing its support. And the only reason the President hesitates to do so is the same reason the cosponsors of Maryland's bill walked away. Endorsing same-sex 'marriage' is political suicide. It puts you on the wrong side of an overwhelming number of American voters." - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, via press release.
A coalition of openly gay celebrities and their allies have issued a public letter to the president, asking that he complete his "evolution" and come out publicly in support of same-sex marriage. The letter reads, in part:
Like so many Americans, you have spoken of your personal journey toward support for the freedom to marry. You have talked about the gay and lesbian people in your life, their commitment to each other and care for their kids, and their families that aren’t so different from any other family.Among those signing the letter: Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Hathaway, David Geffen, Martin Sheen, Eric McCormack, Lily Tomlin, Scott Fujita, and Julian Bond.
We ask you now for your leadership on ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, an exclusion that harms millions of Americans each day. Whether to end discrimination in marriage is a question America has faced before, and faces again today. With so many Americans talking it through in heartfelt conversations, it is a question that calls for clarity from the President.
Last night I went to Cabana Club in Hollywood. I've low key always wanted to check it out, but never had the opportunity, unless last night of course. First of all, ladies have to pay $20 to get in! I'm not sure if it was because it was already past 11, but what the heck! NOT COOL...
Upon entering the place, there was a backdrop and a few photographers taking pictures of people. They even asked my friend and I to stand there to take some pictures, like they were coaching us on what to do. This one photographer in particular was like "Look like you're having fun!" "Look flirty, like you don't know we're taking a picture of you!" Obviously an awkward situation when these bright lights are blasted at you, and people are watching.
Not to be blunt, but the place was filled with black people, that were kind of hood,
I can definitely see this club being a hot spot because the decor was pretty nice. It had palm trees, many cabanas, and different bars to prevent overcrowding. There was also another room you can go into if you want to escape the hectic nature of the main space. Maybe this is the usual scene for a Friday night here at Cabana Club, but I suggest you not go if you're like me. What this club needs is a different, more sophisticated type atmosphere that attracts a more diverse crowd and a better DJ that plays songs people want to hear when they go out.
You Just Do You, Imma Do Me
Camille
Jane Russell, voluptuous pin-up model and star of dozens of Westerns and musicals, has died at the age of 89. While her "scandalous" movies and photo shoots at times created controversies over censorship, in her later years Russell embraced far-right conservative Christian politics and openly accepted the label of "bigot." Perhaps best known politically for her anti-feminism and battles against abortion rights (including for rape and incest), in 2003 she told Australia's Daily Mail: "These days I’m a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist." Russell was an occasional guest on the anti-gay Praise The Lord show hosted by Jan and Paul Crouch, although I'm not finding any examples of her commenting on gay rights issues. For now, let's remember her from before the crazy years.
Best Picture - The King's Speech.
Best Leading Actor - Colin Firth, The King's Speech.
Best Leading Actress - Natalie Portman, Black Swan.
Best Director- Tom Hooper, The King's Speech.
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale, The Fighter.
Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo, The Fighter.
Best Foreign Language Film - In A Better World.
Best Animated Film - Toy Story 3.
Best Song - Randy Newman, Toy Story 3.
There were others, but you've already forgotten them. Not the gayest Oscar night ever, but I did note at least two shout-outs to gay partners, including from one of the Best Picture producers, who thanked his "boyfriend."
