US Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack had already given a very moving tribute to stepson Chaz Bono at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday (21 April).

She talked about how Chaz 'meant the world' to his dad, the late Sonny Bono, who she said was 'watching from heaven.'

'Chaz had the courage to follow his heart and his convictions and that's what true leaders do,' Bono Mack said.

Then, after a video presentation about Chaz, a woman wearing a dramatic afro wig  a wig came onto the stage unannounced.

The 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles were a star-studded affair on Saturday (21 April) night with appearances by Ellen DeGeneres, Betty White, Benicio del Toro, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Josh Hutcherson.

But no star shined brighter than Cher who shocked the audience when she walked onto the stage at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel to present her son, Chaz Bono, with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. [See related story].

Chaz Bono joined thousands celebrating at the fourth annual Miami Beach Gay Pride parade yesterday (15 April).

The transgender son of Cher and Sonny Bono, who shot to fame starring in hit US TV show Dancing With The Stars, was this year's grand marshal in the procession.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced Tuesday (10 April) that Chaz Bono will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at its Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards Ceremony later this month.

Bono, the only child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, was a popular contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars last fall and in a pair of recent documentaries chronicled his transition from a female named Chastity to a man named Chaz.

It has often been joked that in the aftermath of a nuclear war, only two things would survive: cockroaches and Cher.

But plenty of folks - including Kim Kardashian - believed a death rumor on Twitter Thursday night about the 65-year-old gay icon. Cher is quite active on Twitter but has not posted any tweets since Jan. 22.

Helping to propel the hoax was when Kardashian sent out this tweet to her 12.8 million followers on Twitter: 'Did I just hear Cher has passed away? Is this real? OMG.'

Earlier this week, one of Newt Gingrich's ex- wives revealed he requested an open marriage. When asked about this on Thursday night's Republican debate, the former Speaker of the House denied the allegation and went after the media.

Dr Keith Ablow, a frequent guest on shows for Fox News, wrote an editorial arguing Gingrich's marriage histories might be a good thing for the United States.

Television viewers saw them get engaged just last month on the documentary Being Chaz but it was confirmed today that Chaz Bono and Jennifer Elia have split up.

Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ.com: 'They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection toward one another. No further amplification will be forthcoming and they ask that you respect their privacy at this time.'