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May 23, 2013
Los Angeles gets its first gay city controller and another gay councilman

Ron Galperin elected controller and Mitch O’Farrell wins council seat

Ron Galperin made some LGBT history when he was elected city controller of Los Angeles on Tuesday (21 May) - he became the first openly gay person ever elected to citywide office.

Galperin's win was something of a surprise since he was not very well known and was running against three-term councilman Dennis Zine. But he managed to win his first political office by to garning 56% of the vote compared with 44% for Zine.

May 20, 2013
Gay soccer pro Robbie Rogers hopes to be back playing soon - in Los Angeles

Tells GSN: 'Hopefully it works out ... it should be sorted out in the next few weeks'

Looking dapper in a tuxedo, soccer pro Robbie Rogers greeted the crowd at the 2013 Voice Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (19 May) and thanked them for their support which he said inspired him to return to his sport.

Rogers, 25, announced his retirement in February when he came out publicly as a gay man. But in recent weeks, he has been practicing with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.

Rogers spoke with Gay Star News about possible return which, at this point, is a bit out of his hands.

May 17, 2013
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick resigns after just over a year in office

Had been conspicuously absent from recent events, does not give reason for departure

After just 13 months on the job, GLAAD president Herndon Graddick has resigned.

'I'm proud to leave GLAAD with a stronger, more efficient organization and an incredibly talented and experienced Board and staff,' Graddick said in a statement. 'I'm happy the role I was able to play in advancing the need for our community to fully support the rights of our transgender brothers and sisters.'

May 17, 2013
LA pride honors allies and servants of the West Coast gay community

USA's first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl are among the award winners honored in this year's pride parade

Los Angeles Pride has announced 2013’s honor award winners and Grand Marshal for this year’s pride march.

Straight allies of the LA gay community have been honoured along with several LGBT organisations for their community service, pride organizers Christopher Street West told GSN.

Among the honourees are a Super Bowl champion, USA’s first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl who fought for identity in school.

May 15, 2013
Shane Bitney Crone on how Bridegroom documentary is helping him heal after death of his partner

'It's good that something so tragic led to something that's positive'

The documentary Bridegroom tells the story of Shane Bitney Crone and what happened after his partner of six years, Tom Bridegroom, was killed in an accidental fall off of a building in their Los Angeles neighborhood.

Crone shared with Gay Star News in a recent interview how his life has taken unexpected turns since he made a YouTube video about how his grief was compounded by the heartless actions of Tom’s homophobic family.

May 7, 2013
NBA legend Magic Johnson talks gay topics with Jay Leno

He hopes Jason Collins lands on a team and is proud of his own gay son

NBA legend Magic Johnson appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Monday (6 May) to promote his new Aspire TV network but there were some gay topics to discuss first.

Leno asked the retired Los Angeles Lakers star to weigh in on the coming out of Jason Collins last week. Collins is the first openly gay NBA player in history.

‘It’s great now that he’s out,’ Johnson said. ‘He can be free and just be himself. We in the NBA, we all support him. I’m happy for him because he seems now happy.'

May 2, 2013
Seth Rogen confesses to having a crush on 'incredibly handsome' Zac Efron

'He's the sexiest [expletive] on the planet!'

Zac Efron's good looks are not lost on his Townies co-star Seth Rogen.

Rogen was asked about Efron recently at the second annual Hilarity For Charity House Party in Los Angeles and he didn't hold back.

'Zac Efron is incredibly handsome,' Rogen said. 'He's the sexiest [expletive] on the planet!'

At 31, Rogen is only six years older than Efron but that was of little help when it came to filming certain scenes of the comedy.

May 1, 2013
Jane Fonda reflects on her friendship with the late gay activist Harvey Milk

'He was the most wonderful, loveable ... huge generous heart and spirit'

In video released Wednesday (1 May), Jane Fonda reflects warmly on her friendship with slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Fonda, speaking at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's Conversations With Coco event, worked with Milk in 1978 to fight the Briggs Initiative, a ballot measure seeking to ban gay teachers in California.

'We were friends,' Fonda told drag performer Coco Peru. 'He was the most wonderful, loveable.'

She added that Milk had a 'huge generous heart (and) spirit.'

April 30, 2013
US union takes on Asian LGBT activists fight against Brunei

Union in California takes on Asian fight against anti-gay practices in Brunei, by picketing Brunei-owned Beverly Hills Hotel

A union on the other side of the world has taken on the fight of LGBT activists in Asia who were excluded from a meeting in Brunei last week.

US-based hospitality union Unite Here were alerted to the exclusion of LGBT groups from an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) conference by a Gay Star News report.

April 26, 2013
What do seniors think about gay sex?

A video of a series of interviews with elder LGBT people is going viral as they show they're 'not dead yet'

What do senior citizens think about having sex?

Well, correction, what do senior citizens at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center think about gay sex?

In a video filmed by YouTuber and noted exhibitionist Davey Wavey, LGBT people of their later years sound off on their favorite things about it.

A few of the best lines:

‘I’d rather do it than think about it for one thing.’

‘I know when I was young I was chasing after all the little dykes around.

‘Bring it on! I’m waiting for it, even though I’m a senior...’

April 24, 2013
Bill Clinton shows up at Tribeca Film Festival to introduce documentary about gay marriage

Bridegroom directed by longtime Clinton friend Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

Just three days after receiving the Advocate for Change prize at the GLAAD Media Award in Los Angeles, Bill Clinton turned up in New York to introduce the film Bridegroom at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The former president, close friends with the film's director Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, spoke highly of the documentary that shines a light on how a lack of marital rights can compound the grief of a surviving spouse when the other one dies.

April 22, 2013
NZ 'big gay rainbow' MP invited to appear on Ellen show

Overnight gay rights hero, New Zealand's minister for customs Maurice Williamson, invited to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson, who spoke about a 'big gay rainbow' in parliament last week, has been invited to Los Angeles to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Prime Minister John Key gave permission for Williamson to travel to the US for the show after concerns that accepting the flights and payment for the show would be against ministerial rules.

April 21, 2013
Former US President Bill Clinton praises LGBT leaders at GLAAD Media Awards in LA

'You have made this a better, a more interesting and a more well-prepared country for the future'

As the recipient of the Advocate for Change Award, Bill Clinton was the star attraction at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday (20 April).

In a speech short by Clinton standards, the former US president gave much of the credit to his evolution on LGBT equality to his daughter, Chelsea Clinton who made a surprise appearance after his speech to present him the award.

He said his daughter 'had a profound impact on the way I see the world. Chelsea and her gay friends and her wonderful husband have modeled to me the way we all should treat each other.'

April 21, 2013
Perks of Being a Wallflower, The New Normal, Days of Our Lives win GLAAD Media Awards

Cloris Leachman also bids $8,000 to kiss Betty White during live auction

The Perks of Being a Wallflower  won best film and Raising Hope, American Horror Story and Days of Our Lives took home television prizes at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles Saturday (20 April)..

Wallflower writer-director Stephen Chbosky told the star-studded crowd, which included Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Evans, that he wanted to make a movie that would make kids who felt different feel less alone.

April 17, 2013
In wake of gay West Hollywood man's death from meningitis, two more deaths revealed

AIDS Health Foundation and LA County health officials disagrees on whether it's an outbreak

Since the death of West Hollywood attorney Brett Shaad last weekend from Meningococcal meningitis, it has been revealed that two other men in Southern California had died from the same disease in recent months.

But health officials and community leaders are at odds over whether this can qualify as an outbreak among gay and bisexual men.

April 16, 2013
Magic Johnson's gay son says he is ready for the spotlight

EJ Johnson: 'I'm reveling in it and I'm making it work to my advantage'

The gay son of NBA legend Magic Johnson is ready for his close-up.

EJ Johnson, 2o, says he is surprised at the level of reaction since TMZ cameras captured him walking down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles last month holding hands with a male friend.

April 14, 2013
Bisexual actress Drew Barrymore to host GLAAD Media Awards

This year’s GLAAD awards to include guests like gay icon Betty White and a performance by recording artist Kelly Rowland.

Actress Drew Barrymore is set to host the annual awards for the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a watchdog group that promotes the image of LGBT people in the media.

Barrymore, who in 2010 was honored with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award, will host an evening to honor various branches in media for their representation of the LGBT community.

Grammy Award-winning singer Kelly Rowland will perform at the awards for guests to include Leonardo DiCaprio, Betty White, Chris Evans, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, Matt Bomer and Naya Rivera to name a few.

April 13, 2013
White Party attendees urged to get meningitis vaccine after West Hollywood lawyer dies

People who attended Palm Springs’ annual White Party in California this year have been urged to get vaccinated against meningitis after a young gay West Hollywood lawyer died of meningococcal disease just weeks after attending the party

West Hollywood city councilor John Duran is urging people who attended California's Palm Springs’ White Party over the Easter weekend to get vaccinated against meningitis after one of his constituents died from the disease.

Gay lawyer Brett Shaad, 31, (pictured) died at around 4.45pm yesterday after being taken off life support.

Shaad had fallen into a coma and become brain dead from the disease earlier in the week.

He had been one of around 10,000 people who had attended the popular gay circuit party which attracts party goers from across the US.

April 12, 2013
Republican party reaffirms its opposition to gay marriage

Despite shifting opinion and election losses, party passes new resolution

The Republican National Committee today voted to reaffirm the party's opposition to gay marriage during a three-day meeting in Los Angeles.

The vote comes as public opinion polls show more than half of Americans support marriage equality. It also comes as the US Supreme Court is deciding whether or not the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 are constitutional.

Meeting at Loews Hollywood Hotel, party leaders unanimously approved 12 resolutions in all, including one affirming that marriage is 'a union between one man and one woman.'

April 5, 2013
Kickstarter funded documentary Bridegroom to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival

Movie looks at how even in death, a grieving spouse can be cruelly shut out by a homophobic family

Last summer, the heart-wrenching video It Could Happen to You went viral on YouTube.

It has since been expanded into a feature film called Bridegroom and will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on 23 April.

It tells the story of Shane Bitney Crone and what happened after his partner of six years, Tom Bridegroom, was killed in an accidental fall off of a building in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.

April 5, 2013
Stars talk to GSN about why the legend of gay icon Judy Garland endures

Wilson Cruz: 'We recognize ourselves in her’

Judy Garland may have died in 1969, but her legend has endured - especially among the gay fans who continue to cherish her memory and her music.

Gay Star News recently chatted with various celebrities about the legend of Garland at opening night of the musical End of the Rainbow at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in which Tony nominee Tracie Bennett pays Garland in the final months of her life.

‘She was a great and dear friend,' said Betty White who at 91, is the same age as Garland would be if she were still alive.

April 4, 2013
Magic Johnson speaks movingly about his now out and proud gay son

'I love EJ so much, that’s my main man. I told him nothing has changed'

Retired NBA superstar Magic Johnson is proud of his 20 year old son's decision to come out publicly by strolling down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles hand in hand with his boyfriend in front of TMZ cameras. 

'Actually I would have to say that TMZ really helped him,' Johnson says in an interview with TMZ's Harvey Levin who is also gay. 'This was a good moment for us as a family and a greater moment for him. I think now he’s just a bubbly kid … and he’s just happy that it is out.'

April 3, 2013
GLAAD to present former US President Bill Clinton with Advocate for Change Award

Clinton now calling for demise of DOMA which he signed into law in 1996

Former US President Bill Clinton will be presented with the Advocate for Change Award at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles later this month for his recent work on behalf of marriage equality.

The award, to be presented at a star-studded gala on 20 April, could be seen as controversial to some since it is Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996. He has since called for the law to be struck down.

April 2, 2013
Magic Johnson's gay son steps out with boyfriend in LA, speaks to TMZ

NBA legend says 'we support him in every way ... We're very proud of him'

The son of NBA legend Magic Johnson came out publicly when TMZ cameras captured he and his boyfriend holding hands as they walked down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Earvin Johnson III (aka EJ), is a 20-year-old student at NYU and is in Los Angeles on spring break.

March 6, 2013
Gay man elected to Los Angeles City Council

Mike Bonin to replace old boss Bill Rosendahl who was first gay councilman in city history

Openly gay candidate Mike Bonin was elected to the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday (5 March).

He replaces his boss, Bill Rosendahl, who was the first openly gay council member in the city's history. Rosendahl is retiring after two terms and had endorsed his longtime chief of staff Bonin.

On his campaign website today, Bonin described himself as 'grateful, relieved and thrilled.'