Birthdays: May 2008 Archives

...The Oscar winning singer-songwriter turns 47 today! The mother of four has been such an inspiration through her music, her activism and her battle over breast cancer. Who can forget when she took the stage during the Grammys one year with a completely bald head? She's articulate and thoughtful and asked tough questions during the LGBT Democratci presidential debate.

Melissa is just one of those class acts who you are so proud to have as a member of the LGBT community.

...the out actor actor turns 49 today. The star of such films as "My Best Friends Wedding," "An Ideal Husband" and "Another Country" will always have my respect for being one of the earlier male actors to come out publicly and his talent is enormous. I do hope that as he approaches 50, he will not sound as bitter in his interviews. He's got the looks, he's got the talent. A more positive point of view would be nice...

...the great actor Ian McKellen who turned 69 years old on Sunday. He's been Mr. Blockbuster in recent years with key roles in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the "X-Men" franchise. But he had been a Tony winning ("Amadeus") and Oscar nominated ("Gods and Monsters") for many decades.

He came out publicly 10 years ago, is now an outspoken gay rights activist, and has only become an even bigger star since. Of course, we love him all the more for bringing a young, hot date to the Oscars the year he was nominated for "Gods and Monsters."

The one, the only, turns 62 today...May she go on forever!

(Here are some clips from last week's appearance on Oprah):

...the great star, Lanie Kazan.

The singer-actress who first made a name for herself as Barbra Streisand's understudy in "Funny Girl" (She only subbed for two performances but the world took notice!) turns 68 years old young today. She's had an amazing life which I learned all about when we had lunch back in February, My favorite part of our chat was when the star of such films as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "My Favorite Year" talked about why gays love her so: "They love me and I love them. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am a little larger than life and I say what I feel and I sing what I feel. I have an big emotional range and I think a lot of gay men and gay women - at least more in the past and I think it's still holds true - have been caught in that inability or the fear of self expression, of really being who they are. And that's what try and do. I'm me and I'm full blown. I think a lot of gay people identify with that part of me, not afraid to express my feelings - my joy, my pain. All of it."

Related posts:
-- Exclusive: Lainie Kazan talks about singing in LA again, Greek Wedding, and going on for Streisand...

-- Part 2: Lainie Kazan talks about a career low point and how she came back...

-- Lanie Dazzles in Concert...

...Beatrice Arthur, who turns 86 today!

All that cheesecake she ate with Rue McClanahan, Betty White and Estelle Getty on "The Golden Girls" must have really helped because the Tony winner ("Mame) and two-time Emmy winner ("Maude" and "Golden Girls") is still going strong. She sure has superb comedy timing and, she can also carry a tune!

...Darren Hayes who turns 36 today!

The Australian singer-songwriter debuted in 1996 as the frontman and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden which had the hots "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back," "Truly Madly Deeply," "I Knew I Loved You" and "The Animal Song." Savage Garden sold more than 23 million albums worldwide before parting ways in 2001. Hayes released his first solo album, "Spin" in 2002 and last year released "This Delicate Thing We've Made," his most personal collection of songs - ever.

Darren entered into a civil partnership with his boyfriend of three years, Richard Cullen, on June 19, 2006 in London and announced it on his official website the next month. I interviewed him last fall and here is what he had to say about being an out singer:

"I don't see myself as a gay artist at all. I see myself as a human being. On the surface, I don't think my marriage or being gay reeally colors my music. But being out and being in a beautful relationship has made me feel better about myself. What that has done is made me brave in every area of my life. From launching my own label, making a double album. It's made me really brave and i think that kind of shows in the music that I''m making."

...Kyan Douglas, of "Queer Eye" fame! Like Paul McCartney of the Fab Four, Kyan was known as "the cute one" of the Fab Five who helped straight men clean up their acts and give them some style.

Kyan turns 38 today...and he's still the cute one!

The former member of 'NSync turns 29 today!

It was two summers ago that Lance came out publicly as a gay man and I can only imagine his life has gotten better and better both personally and professionally. Personally because he has been involved with a series of hot men (not so easy to do when you're in the closet) and professionally because he got his memoirs published ("Out on Sync") and landed a role in the current Boradway production of "Hairspray."

I think there are many good things ahead for this talented and personable young star.