Tag Archives: Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell Claims She Knew Whitney Houston Was A Lesbian

Speaking to Andy Cohen this week, Rosie O’Donnell made claims Whitney Houston was part of a secret group of famous lesbians.

She also claims she knew Houston and her personal assistant Robyn Crawford were a couple.

I knew that they were together. I was friends with a lot of very athletic older lesbian women who were in the WNBA – all these basketball playing women.

I knew that, I knew it for a very long time. Everyone sort of knew it.

So I thought it was very surprising when Clive Davis came out and said he never discussed her being gay.

I don’t believe that for one minute.”

Rumours of Houston’s sexuality have circulated for decades, and in the recent docu-film Whitney: Can I Be Me claimed the singer was bisexual, but not out to the public.

Watch a clip from the show below:

Daily Juice: Stella Maxwell And Kristen Stewart Reportedly Shacking Up Together

It sounds like things are getting serious between Kristen Stewart and Stella Maxwell. The pair have reportedly moved in together after about five months of dating, according (Us Weekly)

The Billboard Music Awards just announced the bisexual singer Halsey will perform a song from her new album Hopeless fountain kingdom at the 2017 ceremony. (Billboard)

Donald Trump has rekindled his Twitter feud with Rosie O’Donnell (LGBTQ Nation).

Backstreet Boy AJ McLean has made a bold statement, saying he hopes both of his daughters (currently four years old and two months) turn out to be gay. (Refinery29).

He told Refinery29:

I will also go on record by saying, and I told my wife this, I hope that both of my daughters are gay because that takes all p***s out of my life — I do not want to deal with boys ever. But if I do have to, they’re going to have to go through quite a lot of trials to go through me because my daughters are my life.”

Alia Shawkat talks about her bisexuality in a new interview. (Out)

I co-wrote and star in a new film called ‘Duck Butter,’ which opens later this year,” she said. “I love that it was written for a man and a woman, but we couldn’t find the right guy, so now it happens to star two women [as lovers]. I used to be less outspoken. But as a woman, an Arab-American, and a member of the LGBTQ community, I have to use whatever voice I have. There’s no more delicacy in being quiet.

Daily Juice: Fear the Walking Dead’s Mercedes Mason Talks Possible Ofelia–Alicia Romance

Fear the Walking Dead star Mercedes Mason stopped by Entertainment Weekly Radio this week, and told them she was not opposed to hooking up with Alycia Debnam-Carey.

If Ofelia were to hook up with a woman — you know, Alicia might be a little young, and there is sort of more of a sister relationship at this point — but if she were to hook up with a woman, it would really sort of color season 1. One, for me as an actress, that would be amazing. But two, it would really color how she dealt with the commander guy who she was luring in. It would really color what she was doing there and what that says about her character. Because then that’s not a crush anymore — it’s a very manipulative concept, which I think is super cool.”

https://soundcloud.com/ewradio/mercedes-mason-fear-the-walking-dead-fans-are-shipping-ofelia-with-alicia-and-nick

Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell will guest star in the upcoming LGBT history mini-series When We Rise.

The series is based on the memoir by activist Cleve Jones, and will be executive produced by Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black.

According to Deadline, Rosie will play Del Martin, co-founder of the Daughters of Bilitis and a long-time activist. Whoopi will play Pat Norman, “the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department.”

First trailer for Tulip Fever starring Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, and Cara Delevingne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puqEadT824c

Students at Niwot High School in California are upset after they claim a lesbian couple is being refused a chance to be crowned prom princesses.

https://twitter.com/rivertaylor/status/725700371994259456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

And finally, an Alabama town says it will fine or jail Trans* people who pee in the ‘wrong’ bathroom

Staceyann Chin, Rosie O’Donnell, Cynthia Nixon Team Up to Bring ‘MotherStruck!’ to the Stage

In 2011, writer/performer Staceyann Chin published an article called ‘A Single Lesbian’s Quest for Motherhood’ on the Huffington Post website.

Detailing Chin’s decision to dive into motherhood as well as the trials, tribulations and (sometimes comic) mishaps of the process, the article was soon spun off into a series of articles about her experience.

As wonderfully written as all of those pieces are, though, readers and theatre goers alike now have the opportunity to experience them on stage as Chin (with the help of Cynthia Nixon as director and Rosie O’Donnell as a producer) has turned it into a solo show called ‘MotherStruck!’.

The 100 minute (plus the intermission) show covers much of Chin’s life including her childhood in Jamaica, growing up without a mother, Chin’s realisation that she’s a lesbian, the hunt for a sperm donor and even the birth of her daughter.

Of her decision to take MotherStruck from the page to the stage, Chin tells AfterEllen that:

I have always done one-person shows at the Culture Project and so when Allen Buchman [the artistic director] said, “What are you working on?” I said, “Oh, there’s this play”—and it wasn’t really a play yet; it was just a bunch of things that I had written and I was reading aloud. I started doing readings at the Culture Project, and people loved them so much that we started kind of trying to craft a narrative.”

But do people love the show as much as they loved those readings? For the most part, yes.

David Spencer at The Village Voice says that “Chin’s script is well structured, funny, and moving” and that “her comic delivery exhibits veteran game”, while Charles Isherwood at The New York Times adds that “Chin’s easygoing radiance helps keep you hooked, even when the writing grows slightly slack” and that her story “has plenty of hairpin curves and alarming surprises — no shortage of drama”.

MotherStruck! is now on at The Lynn Redgrave Theatre until January 29, 2016. Head to Culture Project to find out more.

Watch: Rosie O’Donnell It Gets Better Video

Last year, the It Gets Better Project had out celebrities like Jane Lynch and duo Tegan and Sara, sharing their stories about how “It Got Better” for them as they grew older. Now the series has returned with a new selection of videos, which will include six stories from public figures like Rosie O’Donnell, and Portia de Rossi.

Below is Rosie O’Donnell journey. In it, O’Donnell has made a career out of making us laugh. But her past heartbreaks are no laughing matter. In the video she discusses losing her mother and how becoming a mother herself inspired her to advocate for gay parents everywhere.

She also discusses growing up in New Jersey, her first crush on a female friend, being a tomboy, and coming out to herself at 17. Then she discusses why she came out publicly in the 2002 and advice she offers to LGBT youth.

Rosie O’Donnell Strikes Out Anti-gay Pizzeria in Indiana

Rosie O’Donnell has spoke out against the family who run Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, which plans to use the state’s ‘religious freedom’ law to refuse to serve same-sex weddings.

The pizzeria says they will deny service to same-sex weddings after Governor Mike Pence signed into law the controversial ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’, which gives people the right to discriminate against gay people on the grounds of religion.

Comedian Rose O’Donnell joked about the shop in an interview with SiriusXM.

Remember the pizza lady was saying that gays were going to cater their wedding with pizza? Not even lesbians would do that. We might have a potluck, we have bring your own chilli… but that’s only if financial situations are tough.”

Incredibly, a GoFundMe page set up in support of the anti-gay business has so far raised over $840,000 in donations from 29,000 people.

The donation page states:

Religious liberty is under assault in Indiana and that’s never been clearer than with the O’Connor family. When asked by local press the hypothetical question of whether or not they’d prefer to have their family owned business, Memories Pizza, cater a gay wedding, the owner said no citing their own religious beliefs as the reason.

Rather than allowing this family to simply have their opinion, which they were asked to give, outraged people grabbed the torches and began a campaign to destroy this small business in small town Indiana. All for having an opinion that is rooted in faith.”

Rumour Round-Up | Ellen Page in Court, Kristen Stewart Hires U-Haul, Rosie O’donell In Cougar Town & Queen Latifah’s Getaway

WTF – Ellen Page in Court?!

Ellen Page and her lawyers found themselves in court this week, after police arrested a stranger crashing in her front yard. WTF?!

The guy had set up camp and made himself cosy with all the necessities – bedding, a cell phone, a laptop, iPod, a pot pipe, and for some reason, one PlayStation game controller (why just one… we have no idea).

Ms Page was unaware of her intruder, until he repeatedly knocked on her window and tried to bust in through her front door.

Ellen says the guy told police she’s a “nice” person who wouldn’t mind him squatting on her property – I think she did mind.

A restraining order was issued against the man for trespassing, with a judge ordering him to stay 100-yards away for Ellen and her pad.

Where’s the U-Haul at?

The saga continues with the is-she-isn’t-she Kristen Stewart. This week it has been all over the papers that Ms Stewart and her rumored BF/GF, Alicia Cargile, are taking the next big step in their relationship – they’re renting an U-Haul people!

“Kristen recently bought a huge loft in downtown LA and she asked Alicia to move in. It seemed pointless to live apart, since they were with each other every day.”

Anonymous insider

For months now, rumours have been flying that the two are in a lesbian relationship. But Ms Stewart has yet to confirm their romance or living arrangements, despite the continued media hounding.

Welcome to Cougar Town

Rosie O’Donnell recently announced that she was splitting from wife Michelle Rounds, and then went on to shock the nation by quitting her job on The View.

However, Rosie appears to be looking on the bright side of life. Speaking at a recent film festival in New York City, the 52-year-old comedienne joked that she now feels like a ‘lesbian cougar’ when meeting young pretty fans – Grrrrrrr!

Ms O’Donnell went on to say temptation is everywhere now that she’s single … especially when she’s face to face with some obsequious students from Barnard College – huba huba

Queen Latifah Hits Carnival City

Queen Latifah looked to be having a ball Rio de Janeiro with her girlfriend, Eboni Nichols, as the two enjoyed a romantic getaway in the South American.

The couple headed to the Paul Landowski, Christ the Redeemer, and lapped up the incredible sight alongside a host of equally impressed tourists.

Can we just say they make a great couple – we just love it when celebrities just acted normal.

Rosie O’Donnell Posts Video To Explain Her Reasons For Leaving The View

Over the weekend, we learned that Rosie O’Donnell was leaving The View, and today she has posted a video to explain her reasons for leaving, and her reasons for not discuss her departure on The View this Monday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJEIOC36S8

The talk show host previously confirmed via her publicist that she had split from her wife of nearly three years, Michelle Rounds.

“I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November. Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first.

ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave The View. Next week will be her last.”

Via the recent video, Rosie confirmed that the decision for her leaving has everything to do with her health and lowering her stress level.

“The truth is I had a heart attack two years ago and stress is very bad for heart attack survivors. You should minimize your stress, maximize your exercise and control your diet. That’s what you need to do for a healthy heart. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m minimizing my stress by leaving The View.

There’s lots of stuff going on at home and there’s lots of stuff going on at work. And the only thing I can really control is the work, by leaving. I can turn that volume all the way down to zero and just focus on what I need to focus on, which is my health and my family.”

Rosie O’Donnell

Her final day as full-time co-host will be on Thursday.

So Did Naya Rivera Come Out As Bisexual or Not?

If you spent any amount of time in Glee’s bubble of rabid Tumblr fans circa 2011 then you would have been treated to plenty of speculation about Naya Rivera’s sexuality. It has often been suggested that the actress, who plays lesbian Santana Lopez on the cult TV series, isn’t just a straight ally but is a member of the queer community herself.

There were once suggestions that she was secretly dating her Glee co-star Heather Morris (who plays Santana’s fiancée Brittany). While it may have been a case of overexcited fans with overzealous imaginations, they were backed up by Naya’s own Facebook posts that hinted that they were together, the famous kiss from the Glee tour and the fact that the two actresses just look adorable together.

But after those rumours fizzled out and Naya dated men – including rapper Big Sean and her recent marriage to actor Ryan Dorsey – could Naya have been queer after all? During a recent appearance on daytime talk show The View, the Glee actress possibly came out as bisexual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw9wLDfcn8E

On the episode of The View that aired on the 14th of January, out, gay presenter Rosie O’Donnell explained that “new research found that women who are bisexual are more likely to suffer mental health problems than lesbians”. To which Naya replied “No wonder, Rosie! No wonder I’m crazy, this just solves it all”.

While it could have been a case of Naya just wanting to chime in with her two cents on the state of female mental health, the fact that Naya pointed out her own mental health issues after the study (and Rosie’s words) directly referred to the mental health problems of bisexual women seems to suggest that Naya herself is bisexual.

Cynics have suggested that it may just be a ploy from the actress to drum up attention. During another appearance on The View Naya also made the outlandish claim that “ethnics” do not shower as often as white people, comparing her own shower habits to her husband’s, saying that she only showers a few times a week but he showers several times a day.

Of course she may have just accidentally put her foot in it (she has since apologised and explained that her comments were a joke) but as it got so many people talking about her in the last week, many people believe that she is just doing it for attention.

Attention seeking or not, many Glee fans are positively giddy at the prospect that the actress behind one of their favourite queer TV ladies may be queer in real life too. There hasn’t been a confirmation or a denial from Naya or her representatives just yet though, but we’ll keep you posted.

Rosie O’Donnell Talks About The Importance of Family to Aspiring LGBT Parents

GaysWithKids.com recently caught up with Rosie O’Donnell at Cyndi Lauper’s fundraiser for LGBTI youth homeless, in New York, and the TV Star took the opportunity to share her thoughts on gay parenting.

O’Donnell, who is a mother to five children (aged 19, 17, 15, 12 and 2 years), gave advice to aspiring LGBT parents.

“I would tell them what I would tell any one; that it’s the best thing that you can ever do for yourself, to become a parent.”

Rosie O’Donnell

In the video below, O’Donnell acknowledged that adoption and fostering are often the ways in which gay people create their families. She felt this was something that some gay people were particularly attuned to because, historically, some had been turned away by their own families and forced to create their own.

“So many gay people are kicked out of their families, at least in our history, that we learned how to make our own. I mean, so many Thanksgivings it was all the peoples whose parents wouldn’t allow their partners to come with them; we’d have the gathering of all the people rejected from their actual home, and we learned how to make our families.

Blood doesn’t make a family; love makes a family. I would say to everyone out there, there are so many kids needing homes, and it’s the best thing you can ever do for yourself.”

Rosie O’Donnell

Watch:

Cyndi Lauper Recruits 50 Cent to Perform at Her Annual Charity Concert to Support LGBT Homeless Youth

Cyndi Lauper’s annual ‘Home for the Holidays’ charity concert has helped gain awareness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness as well as raise money for the singer’s True Colors Fund.

This year her star-studded concert will be held at New York City’s Beacon Theatre and co-hosted by Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell.

“For the fourth year in a row, Home for the Holidays will feature an amazing night of performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth experiencing homelessness.

I am astounded by the artists who continue to give of their time and talent each and every year and I am so excited by the line-up who are joining us in December. The concert plays such an important role in supporting the True Colors Fund’s work to ensure that no young person is homeless again because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Cyndi Lauper

What is interesting about this news piece, is 50 Cent set to perform – a rapper who has not always been a fan of the LGBT community.

Back in 2005, 50 Cent said:

“Being gay isn’t cool – it’s not what the music is based on. There’s always been conflict at the centre of hip-hop, because it’s all about which guy has the competitive edge, and you can’t be that aggressive if you’re gay.”

In 2010, 50 Cent he also suggested that men who do not sleep with women should “just kill” themselves. It is not clear whether he was referring to gay men or straight men who don’t like oral sex.

However, he says President Obama’s endorsement of marriage equality as an influence on his own opinion, saying:

“Obama is for same-sex marriage. If the president is saying that, then who am I to go the other way?”

He has also attempted to make amends for his anti-gay remarks. In an interview with Perez Hilton, 50 Cent spoke about growing up with a lesbian mother and how he came to understand her sexuality.

The rapper said:

“My mom was a lesbian. Yeah, she liked women. My whole childhood was like that. It’s two different things too – from a female perspective, when you see two females together, you think, oh, they’re just girlfriends, they’re close. But, with my mom, the male was missing. When you’re that small you don’t see things that would indicate there are other things going on. [My] grandmother would say things like ‘That kiss was little different from all the other kisses you saw’.”

50 Cent

Other stars set to play at the concert include Laverne Cox, Salt-n-Pepa, Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines and Sufjan Stevens.

The Growing Number of Lesbian & Bi Celebrities – Here are Our Top 20

Coming out can be tough enough when its too a few, but coming out to millions… Takes time. In the past it was considered a potentially career-ending acknowledgment, now growing number of celebrities have come out with relatively little fanfare.

Here is a list of 20 Out and Proud Lesbians Celebrities…

1. Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster ended years of rampant media speculation when she casually came out of the closet while accepting her Cecil B. Demille award at the 2013 Golden Globes.

“I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, coworkers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her.”

2. Gillian Anderson

The “X-Files” actress revealed she’s had numerous relationships with women in a 2012 interview with Out magazine. The 43-year-old mother of three, who’s long enjoyed a sizeable lesbian fan-base, told Out that she first had a relationship with a woman while still in high school, after moving from her native England to suburban Michigan.

3. Raven-Symone

Raven Symone came out via Twitter in early August 2013 after long-term speculation surrounding the actress’ sexuality. She confirmed the subtle coming out by retweeting of her followers congratulating the star.

“I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted. I was excited to hear today that more states legalized gay marriage. I, however am not currently getting married, but it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.”

4. Meredith Baxter

In December 2009 Baxter, most famous for playing Elyse Keaton on ’80s sitcom “Family Ties,” went on the “Today Show” and told Matt Lauer that she was a lesbian. Baxter said,

“Some people would say, well, you’re living a lie and, you know, the truth is — not at all. This has only been for the past seven years.”

Meredith Baxter

5. Cynthia Nixon

Star of ‘Sex And The City’ was out-ed in 2004 when the NY Daily News and the New York Post reported she was living with another woman in September 2004. Nixon half-heartedly confirmed the rumours…

“My private life is private… But at the same time, I have nothing to hide. So what I will say is that I am very happy.”

Cynthia Nixon

6. Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis, known as who starred opposite Tom Cruise in “Top Gun,” revealed she’s gay on lesbian website SheWired.com.

McGillis, who was married twice to men and has two daughters, said…

“It’s a part of being true to yourself. That’s been a challenge for me personally.”

7. Sara Gilbert

Sara Gilbert, who’s best known for her role on “Roseanne,” officially came out in 2010. At that time, she was getting ready to launch “The Talk,” a daytime talk show which focuses on parenthood and families, so Gilbert felt compelled to acknowledge her sexuality.

“I don’t ever really think of things as out or in. I just think I am who I am, and when topics come up that are appropriate, I’ll talk about them and share when it seems right.”

8. Joanna Johnson

“Bold and the Beautiful” star Joanna Johnson became daytime soap opera’s only active “out” actor when she said she was a lesbian in May. Johnson said she feared coming out would prohibit her from getting acting roles. Johnson is now married to L.A. club promoter Michelle Agnew, with whom she has two children with.

9. Lady Sovereign

In May 2010 the British rapper came out in Diva magazine.

“Magazines would always ask about it but [questions about my sexuality] would get stopped by my publicists. It was my choice, too, because I was a bit worried about it but now I don’t really give a shit. You can’t hide away forever. It’s just stupid and now I’ve come out I feel a lot more comfortable with myself. But it was a bit scary back then because some people do have horrible opinions.”

10. Kristy McNichol

In January 2012 Kristy McNichol, who was beloved for playing Buddy Lawrence in the ’70s show ‘Family’, for which she won an Emmy, and later Barbara Weston on the “Golden Girls” spin-off “Empty Nest,” revealed she is a lesbian because she is “approaching 50” and wants to “be open about who I am.”

McNichol also cited the wave of antigay bullying stories for coming out, hoping to help bullied LGBT youth who need support.

11. Chely Wright

Country singer Chely Wright came out in May 2010.

“There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality… I wasn’t going to be the first.”

But she changed her mind and said of her decision, “Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out.”

12. Amber Heard

Amber Heard, 26, came out while attending GLAAD’s 25th anniversary party. She has starred in movies like as “Pineapple Express” and “Zombieland.”

“I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you’re inadvertently admitting it’s wrong. I don’t feel like I’m wrong.”

Amber Heard

13. Denise Ho

Hong Kong’s fourth annual LGBT Pride Parade in November saw beloved Cantonese pop star Denise Ho come out as a lesbian. This announcement made her the first mainstream female singer in Hong Kong to say she’s gay, according to several Hong Kong media outlets.

“As a celebrity, I think I have an obligation, a duty to stand forward for the sake of love and equality.”

14. Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi had been out to friends for quite some time, but she told the entire world in the fall of 2005 in interviews with Details magazine and The Advocate.

“I’ve had my years of being not open, many years of it… It’s an honor for me to do this; it’s just nice to be asked.”

Portia de Rossi

15. Heather Matarazzo

The actress, perhaps best known for her role as tormented teen Dawn Wiener in the film “Welcome To The Dollhouse,” came out in August 2004 by telling the NY Daily News about falling in love with Caroline Murphy:

“I met the person I’m so madly crazy in love with…She’s not famous yet. She will be. She wants to do musical theater and stage, which is not as demoralizing as the movie business is.”

16. Rosie O’Donnell

The comedian and talk show host came out by revealing “I’m a dyke!” during her stand up act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Carolines Comedy Club in February 2002.

17. Ellen DeGeneres

DeGeneres came out in 1997, both in real life and on TV in 1997, on her sitcom Ellen. The ‘Puppy’ Episode, featured a who’s who of Hollywood, including Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton, and Laura Dern as Ellen’s love interest. DeGeneres’s character became the first openly gay prime time lead character on television.

18 . Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge came out in January 1993 during the Triangle ball, the first ever ball thrown for the LGBT community during a president’s inauguration, in this case Clinton’s.

“I didn’t even think, Oh, I’m going to come out here…It was, ‘Gee, I’m really excited to be here, and I’m really proud to have been a lesbian all my life.’ And a big cheer went up through the whole hall, and k.d. [lang] came out and hugged me. I remember walking back, and my friend said, ‘I think you came out!'”

19. Maria Bello

Maria Bello recently revealed that she is in a longtime relationship with a woman named Clare. The actress, who officially came out in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, wrote about her experience telling her son about the relationship.

“Whomever I love, however I love them, whether they sleep in my bed or not, or whether I do homework with them or share a child with them, ‘love is love.'”

20. Wanda Sykes

Comedian Wanda Sykes revealed her sexual orientation at a Prop. 8 rally in Las Vegas in November 2008, telling the crowd…

“You know, I don’t really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn’t feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life. Everybody that knows me personally they know I’m gay. But that’s the way people should be able to live their lives. I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman, and I’m proud to be gay.”

Rosie O’Donnell Returning to TV

Comedian, actor and lesbian icon Rosie O’Donnell has made a deal with ABC to return to The View, TMZ is reporting. The celebrity news source announced O’Donnell will be a co-host on the daytime show she left in 2007.

O’Donnell previously co-hosted The View from September 2006 until May 2007 and left after an on-air feud with former co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Both returned, along with the nine other current and former co-hosts, to salute Barbara Walters, who retired in May.

O’Donnell will now join Whoopi Goldberg on the program, who is the last host standing after several co-hosts left the program for various reasons over the past two months. In addition to Walters’ retirement, Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy also recently announced their departures from The View.

According to TMZ, the show is also looking to add a Latina and a conservative co-host. Sarah Palin has thrown her name in the hat as a potential co-host and Mario Cantone has reportedly been offered a position on the panel, which would make him the show’s first male co-host.