In honor of its 40th Anniversary, the Advocate has selected 40 LGBT people as heroes. I think they really got it right for the most part. Here is the list:
1. Ellen DeGeneres 2. Barney Frank 3. Harvey Milk 4. Matthew Shepard 5. Melissa Etheridge 6. Billie Jean King 7. Harvey Fierstein 8. Elton John 9. Margarethe Cammermeyer 10. Rosie O'Donnell 11. Martina Navratilova 12. Troy Perry 13. Greg Louganis 14. Mel White 15. V. Gene Robinson 16. Ian McKellen 17. Betsy Berzon 18. Larry Kramer
19. k.d. lang 20. Rita Mae Brown 21. Mark Bingham 22. Armistead Maupin 23. Harry Hay 24. Tammy Baldwin 25. Tony Kushner 26. Pedro Zamora 27. Malcom Boyd 28. Cleve Jones 29. John Waters 30. Indigo Girls 31. Randy Shilts 32. Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon 33. Elizabeth Birch 34. Bayard Rustin 35. Audre Lorde 36. Leonard Matlovich 37. Tim Gill 38. John Amaechi 39. Roberta Achtenberg 40. Barbara Gittings.

Congratulations to all the heroes, and thanks...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kathy Griffin was on "The Ellen DeGenres Show" yesterday and Ellen wondered what would happen if the D-lister would do if she ever ran into any of her targets. AfterElton.com has posted a transcript of the exchange which includes Ellen saying: "After I came out, I was the butt of everybody's joke. So I know what it feels like to be talked about all the time."
Repiled Kathy: "... I don't make fun of people who have a sense of humor about themselves, I don't make fun of people — honestly, what I do is I make fun of people who created a situation. I don't say about Star Jones, 'Uhm, she's fat. Goodnight everybody!' I say 'I worked with her and my experience was she was a [censored].' That's my experience with her, we all know it. Don't act like I'm the first one to say that ... but, also, if you were puking all over in nightclubs or get out of the car without the panties that's a different story because that's something you're controlling ... and it's fun. Honestly, I make fun of people's behavior more than I make fun of how they look. And I've been that person too, I've had the nasty pictures and had the 'worst dressed' and all that too."

Click over to AfterElton.com for some YouTube clips of the appearance...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's been four years since Deborah Gibson co-starred with Neil Patrick Harris in the Broadway production of "Cabaret." But the teen pop princess turned stage star still feels warmly toward the "How I Met Your Mother Star" who is up for the outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series Emmy on Sunday.
We gabbed last night at the Los Angeles Confidential magazine party and she told me how proud she is of the way NPH came out publicly came out last fall.
"I was really happy about that. I think his nomination proves that it doesn't pigeon-hole you like it may have in the past. He plays a womanizer on his show and he's nominated. So, good for him - he's made it all work. He's been able to be candid about who he is personally and still thrive professionally so that's a good message to send out."
Gibson also had plenty to say about the current situation with such young stars like Britney Spears whose train-wreck of a career hit a new low on Sunday with a disastrous performance at the VMAs in Las Vegas...
Keep reading after the jump....

"I can recall very specific moments of having meltdowns. But I had people around me that took that very seriously and said, 'Let's pull the plug for a minute.' Sometimes, stopping the machinery for even three months feels like 'Oh my God, will the people be there for me when I come back?' You learn that you have to pace yourself if you're going to be here for a long time. You can't be afraid to disappear awhile then re-emerge. That's when the best comebacks happen."
"It seems like the media is demanding that these young girls be seen, seen seen. God forbid if you're not at the hot club every weekend, as if being in the business is related to going clubbing. Thank God it wasn't that way when I was a kid. That's what this generation is up against."
"I also didn't live in Hollywood and I think that's key... Also the problem now is that people want to be famous for being famous and they don't have a love of a craft that keeps them grounded and keeps them going. If you don't have that center, I don't know what you have to grab onto in tougher times."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My pal Trevor Daley (far left) and me pose with some of the cast members of the LA production of "Avenue Q" backstage on opening night last weekend. It was one of the funnest evenings at the theater that I have ever had! The show is at the Ahmanson...get your tickets now!

Earlier post:
GREG'S NIGHT ON AVENUE Q

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In the last three days alone, I've interviewed dozens of stars after three consecutive nights of party coverage. I'd like to think I was calm and cool during all of it.
I'd like to think.
When Natalie Cole walked up to me on the red carpet of last night's Los Angeles Confidential Party at One Sunset in West Hollywood, I greeted her with a big ol' gush.
Me: "It's so great to meet you! I've loved you ever since "This Will Be" came out!"
Natalie was very gracious ("That's so sweet!") and appreciative but I am now cringing a bit at the memory. Still, we had a terrific chat and here are some of the highlights:
Natalie guest-starred on "Grey's Anatomy" last season and would like to do more acting: "I've had some really wonderful experiences with television and I'm really looking forward to making the jump to film and that's whart I'm working on right now. [Music] does take up a lot of my time so I have to put the music thing aside to do the acting like if I want to do a movie, I'm going to have to basically be down for 3-4 months which isn't a problem, it's just a matter of planning."

Her most recent CD, "Leavin" was all cover songs of such artists as Sting, Fionna Apple and others. This is the latest in a career that began with her debut album "Inseparable" which won her the best new artist Grammy followed by the hits "Mr. Melody," "I've Got Love On My Mind," "Miss You Like Crazy," "Someone that I Used to Love." There were some tough times battling drugs in the early 80s but Cole was back in good form by the time of her classic album "Unforgettable" in 1991. It featured a few duets with her late father, Nat King Cole, and won many Grammys including record of the year and album of the year.
"I think God has been really good to me," Natalie said. "I have a great faith and I am very aware that I'm still here for a reason. I work very hard at keeping myself together, giving my best at whatever I do. I still love what I do which is a blessing in itself, and I still get hired! It's really important to stay fresh, stay current, but also to keep your integrity intact. It's really hard to do in a business like this."
For somone who has been a star for more than three decades, Natalie Cole looks sensational and much the same as she did 20 years ago. Looks like doing what you love has paid off for this bright and shining star...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic didn't win the U.S. Open on Sunday but the number three player in the world won a lot of fans not only for himself, but for tennis as well. He's fun and appealing and cute. He received a hero's welcome this week at the Belgrade airport. Meanwhile, the man who beat Djokovic, Roger Federer, posted with his fourth U.S. Open trophy on a street in Manhattan. He looks terrific in tennis attire butr cleans up pretty damned well too.
Hopefully, we'll see lots more head-to-head matches between these two...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Love this! The 2007 Kennedy Center honorees were announced today and it is thrilling to see that among the recipients of one of the most prestigious awards our country can bestow upon an artist will be Diana Ross. This is a singing legend who has never even won a Grammy (c'mon, Milli Vanilli won a Grammy) or really properly gotten her due for what has been an extraordnary 45 years-plus career.
All the hits with the Supremes like "Can't Hurry Love," "Reflections," "I Hear a Symphony," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," "Love Child," and "Someday We'll Be Together" then all the solo smashes: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Touch Me in the Morning," "Love Hangover," "Do You Know Where You're Going To," "Upside Down," "I'm Coming Out," "Endless Love" and dance faves "Chain Reaction," "The Boss," and Ross' remake of "I Will Survive."

Add to that the soundtracks from her films "Lady Sings the Blues" and the "Wiz" (I'm not gonna even mention 'Double Platinum") and you have a singular career.
It's ironic that I came across this sight on the Kennethinthe212.com site since a few weeks ago, Kenneth and I were sharing with each other our love for Diana Ross and experiences at her concerts over the years.
Silly things like the WMAs might get more attention, but the Kennedy Center Honors are a big deal. The honors recognize a lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts. Ross will be honored along with pianist Leon Fleisher, actor Steve Martin, singer Brian Wilson and film director Martin Scorsese.
"With their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honorees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts," Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman said Tuesday in announcing the honorees. "We will forever be thankful for the great gift they have shared with us."
The Kennedy Center honors will be recorded and broadcast Dec. 26 for the 30th consecutive year on CBS as a two-hour prime-time special.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Ewan McGregor tries to smooch Colin Farrell and now I come across a picture of Tommy Lee trying to mack on magician Criss Angel backstage at the VMAs. I find all this unexpected man-love very interesting...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...but to me, this posting by GuyTVBlog sums up the highlights best...

And if you still care, the final three have been decided: Zach, Dick and Daniele with Jameka being eliminated on Tuesday night. She took it well, acknowledging that not winning the veto competition sealed her fate. Meanwhile the final HOH competition began and Dick was in full a**hole mode. He is taunting Zach who really is showing strength and restraint.

Dick seems to feel that Zach doesn't have a chance against either he or Daniele when it comes time for the jury vote? Why not? Zach alienated far fewer people and played a good game by lying low as long as he did and winning HOH twice late in the game when it was most crucial. Look at the jury(above) ! Do any of those faces look like Daniele or Dick votes if they have the option of Zach?
Anyway, HOH competition is in three parts. Part one started last night and ended early this morning. If you cannot wait until Thursday, keep reading past the jump to see who won part one...

It's Zach! Now Daddy and Daniele will compete in part two for the opportunity to compete against Zach in part three. Here is a brief video of the end of part one and Dick's drenched demise...(I do believe he's crying)...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lance Bass might have bitched a little about New York's apartment situation, but the former NSYNC member seems to have settled in. Bass is appearing in the Broadway production of "Hairspray" and yesterday, Nasdaq invited him to close trading for the day.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who needs her on "Hot Topics" when we have Rosie O'Donnell's memoir "Celebrity Dextox."
Yesterday, I posted about her and Trump with much glee but I'm disappointed in some of the things Rosie wrote about Barbara Walters.
“At some point, a person gets tired. It’s inevitable,” O’Donnell writes, "Barbara Walters is almost twice my age ... at some point it becomes necessary to step back....Everyone has to go. Going is part of the gig.”
Walters may be 77, but she is a pro. She looks terrific, she shows up and she has much to contribute not just to "The View" but as part of ABC News where she has worked for 30 years. Walters report on transgendered children earlier this year was one of the most important pieces of journalism on the topic - ever.
So Rosie, I don't agree and think what you wrote was off-the-mark. I'm still a fan, but maybe a little less.
Walters, who has read the book, expressed her reaction to it in a statement to “Access Hollywood”:
“Rosie has written a sad book, but I choose to focus on the happier times that we had and the happy times that we hope to have in the future.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Colin Farell looked so fetching at the premiere of "Cassandra's Dream" at the Toronto Film Festival that co-star Ewan McGregor laid one on him. Well, almost. There is no photo after this of him actually making contact...dammit.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)