Westboro bigots outside the Lady Gaga concert in St. Louis

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Homophobic hate-monger Fred Phelps’ gang of Westboro Baptist Bigots has taken a break from picketing military funerals with its “God hates fags” message to picket the Lady Gaga concert in St. Louis on Saturday night.

“Now what type of wicked hypocrites would we be if we did not warn this little false prophetess and all of her over-indulged sycophants that they are each one, individually heading straight to hell in a gender-confused, self-loathing, tone-deaf hand basket,” said Westboro, via their website.

In response, about an hour prior to her concert, Gaga posted this message to fans, via Facebook:

“At the risk of drawing attention to a hateful organization, I would like to make my little monster fan aware of a protest being held outside the Monsterball in St.Louis tonight. Although we have had protesters before, as well as fundamentalists at the show this group of protesters are hate criminals and preach using lude and violent language and imagery that I wish I protect you all from.

Their message is of hatred and divisiveness, but inside at the Monsterball we preach love and unity.

My request to all little monsters and public authority is to pay these hate criminals no mind. Do not interact with them, or try to fight. Do not respond to any of their provocation. Don’t waste your words, or feelings, no matter what you hear or see.

You are more fortunate and blessed than they are, and in your heart just pray for them. Although I respect and do not judge anyone for their personal views on any politics or religion, this group in particular to me, is violent and dangerous. I wanted to make my fans aware of my views on how to approach, or rather not approach, these kinds of hate activists.

Be inspired to ignore their ignorant message, and feel gratitude in your heart that you are not burdened or addicted to hate, as they are. X”

And post-concert, via Twitter:

@ladygaga: Tonight love and hate met in St. Louis. And love outnumbered the hate, in poetic thousands. Hate left. But love stayed. + Together, we sang.

Westboro is a small church in Topeka, KS, and is not affiliated with the Baptist denomination or any other Baptist church. According to news reports, almost all of its members — fewer than 100 — are related to founder Fred Phelps either by blood or marriage.

Adam Lambert proves he's a glam superstar. His tour is nearly sold-out.

Adam Lambert is selling out venues across the U.S. with his Glam Nation Tour, which features fellow American Idol alumni Allison Iraheta and enough rhinestones and glitter to cover the Statue of Liberty.

Lambert’s otherwordly voice is reportedly in better shape than ever, and he brings on the outrageous Broadway-style costumes and theatrics reminiscent of the Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret”.

However, in this production, Lambert is more Liza-as-Sally Bowles than Joel Grey. Despite all the costumes, risque moments, lasers, video screens, and flashing lights, the show is all about self-empowerment and being who you want to be.

MTV says, “Lambert channeled Dr. Phil several times during the show, doling out self-help platitudes any chance he got. By sharing about his life (and perhaps oversharing about how a dance move hurt his man-parts), the glittery star brought himself down to earth.”

But make no mistake, the Golden Voice is a master of working his fans into a frenzy, and he is there solely to give them their money’s worth.  Lambert consistently delivers the goods, and brings in the crowds wherever he goes, whether it be in New York City or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he played at the House of Blues last night.  Fans at both venues came out in full force and were wowed by Lambert’s electric energy and showmanship.

Lambert, perhaps because of his stint on AI, has the uncanny ability to draw incredibly diverse audiences at every stop.  Fans who lined up for the House of Blues show included mostly women, young kids, some straight men, and gay fans, according to Out Impact.   Local writer Bambi Weavil said, “If there was any doubt that Lambert could draw a diverse crowd, all doubt can be laid to rest that he appeals to everyone.”

After seeing the concert, Weavil raved, “Do not pass up seeing Lambert if you have the opportunity to go, especially in an intimate setting like the House of Blues, for any reason – you’ll leave feeling entertained, energized and re-inspired on your own path to keep going and to always be who you are.”

Lambert is criss-crosssing the country, bringing his traveling circus to cities both large and small.  Next up, he will appear in Knoxville, TN, and then make his way west, playing the venerable Warfield in San Francisco, CA on July 23 and 25.  The tour ends September 21 in Washington state.  Then Lambert takes the show overseas.

Click here for a full schedule of Adam’s concert and TV appearances, and to buy tickets (if you’re lucky enough to get them).

Rapper Eminem, famed for his homophobic lyrics, appears to have had a change of heart and has declared his support of gay marriage — cynically anyway — saying “everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable.”

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine that will be published this weekend, the rapper said his “overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be.”

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, said: “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable.”

Wright's "Lifted off the Ground" cover

Country music singer Richell Rene “Chely” Wright has come out.

In an interview with People magazine, the “Shut Up and Drive” singer revealed her sexual orientation, and said she had previously resisted the urge to publicly address her homosexuality because she didn’t want to be the first country star to do so.

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

But now Wright has changed her tune.

“Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out.”

The singer-songwriter, who has won both an Academy of Country Music and a Country Music award, will later this week release her memoir, Like Me, as well as her first album in five years, Lifted off the Ground.

Image: TMZ.com

Klein and Pfeiffer were featured on “Extra” a few days ago, and during the interview Pfeiffer claimed to have had a romantic relationship with Jackson.

On Friday, Klein told TMZ that Jackson was gay and Pfeiffer was “the love of his life.”

Pfeiffer says, “Michael was not ashamed of his sexuality.”

Since their statements became widely public this week, Klein and Pfeiffer said they have received numerous “horrible death threats.”

They have both been in touch with the FBI and now say they have bodyguards.

Knapp

Jennifer Knapp, the former Christian music singer, whose last album “Way I Am” was released in 2001, has come out as a lesbian.

According to CNN:

After selling about a million records and winning at Christian music’s prestigious Dove Awards in 1999, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter simply vanished in 2003 — leaving fans wondering where she had gone. There were countless theories as to why Knapp checked out, including the possibility of illness.

But this week Knapp burst back onto the music scene with news of a comeback and a coming out. Her new album will be released in May, and she has revealed that she has been in a same-sex relationship for the past eight years.

Knapp said she realizes that some fans will now view her earlier work with lyrics about inner turmoil as evidence of the struggle between her beliefs and her sexuality. But she says she has always struggled as a person of faith to be the person she wants to be, and her sexuality was only a part of that, she said.

“I would rather be judged before God as being an honest human being,” Kanpp said. “If I am in any way unpleasing in his sight, I can only hope and pray that he gives me the opportunity to find who I am supposed to be.”

There’s been a lot of commotion regarding Ricky Martin’s recent coming out statement on his official website. As with most things in life these days, I learned about the news on Facebook.

So, I immediately posted about the news as well and quickly joined in the jubilee of queerness and pranced about the office like a middle school-aged boy who accidently touched hands with his classroom crush. I even committed the blasphemy of comparing the news to that of Health Care Reform and the release of Apple’s iPad (insert sound of angel choir here).

And then, of course, there was the storm of cattiness that followed the news. As a queer Xicano, I admit that sarcasm is built into my genetic code. The survivor of four Christian-themed religions and 500+ years of white supremacist occupation, I find humor, irony and disbelief in most things. Still, yesterday I just wanted to celebrate.

I agree that the fact that Ricky is gay is not all that shocking. Queer men and not long speculated or asserted that he shook his bon bon far too well to be straight. Plus, for us jotos/maricones/patos, there was the added benefit of dreaming him up queer, which somehow put us that much closer to his arms.

Still, as the catty remarks continue, as people boast about how they knew and think he should have done this 10 years ago, or sassy queens dismiss the news as inconsequential, I say, look beyond our borders (geographic, cultural, and age-based) and take a minute to honor the fact that for many, Ricky’s coming out is groundbreaking, perhaps even life-saving.

So Ricky was doing more than living la vida loca; he was, in fact, a loca. To the trained eye, this is just confirmation that our gaydar runs on more than hormones and dreams.

Hormones, dreams and cattiness aside, I challenge the ungleeful remarks about Ricky’s coming out.

As with most performers who began as Spanish-language artists, Ricky began over 10 years ago. The Barbara Walters interview (assuming it was Barbara, I can never tell who is behind that cloud of light) did have me on the edge of my teenage self, hoping he’d come out and proclaim his gayness, but it wasn’t his beginning. Ricky’s career began decades ago.

Long before the Latin Explosion, which was more of a Latin Spark, Ricky had left his imprint on the Spanish pop scene of the late 80’s and early to mid-90’s. Back when Thalía and Paulina were still artists and relevant, before Gloria Trevi’s traumatic (for her and her fans) imprisonment in Brazil, and before Alejandra Guzmán would be hospitalized for too much botox on her behind, there was a cultural movement in Latin America.

As a pre-teen growing up in a rural town of 300 in northern México, Thalía, Paulina, Gloria, Alejandra and Ricky were my window into another world. Their performances pushed, albeit at times gently and censured, the boundaries of repressive cultural norms. From flowers wrapped around a microphone to songs about teen pregnancy and abortion, these young performers were resisting and embodying another realm of cultural possibilities. Ricky gave boys the excuse (and perhaps reason) to shake our hips in ways that would otherwise be condemned as obscene.

The dismissal of Ricky’s coming out seems to be rooted in an U.S.-centric perspective where we have the opportunity to stop celebrating any queer image on TV and offer our critique. There is so much gayness these days that we can spend our days and dissertations balking at how a character isn’t gay enough, is too gay, is too white, etc. And although we don’t actually have the type of representation GLAAD and I would like to see, we have a whole lot more than we did in México in 1992 (except, of course, Ricky gently caressing his long hair on stage… oh, and Locomía).

I am not critiquing the fact that we spend so much time criticizing queer portrayals in the media. To the contrary, I am celebrating the fact that we can. In fact, I’d go further and ask why queer people of color media performance and productions are so weak, lame and superficial. Having once curating a queer people of color cultural arts program, I know we can do better.

What I am critiquing is that our criticisms of Ricky’s coming out has us falling into the pitfall of imagining and defining all things queer through a U.S. lens. I even joked about the fact that he used the term “homosexual” to define himself. And now, in retrospect I find that identifying as a “fortunate homosexual” was much more powerful than a simple “gay.”

Perhaps for the jaded queen living in urban U.S., the oversaturation of gayness in the media has deemed Ricky insignificant and worthy of our dismissal. For that frightened and confused 12 year old in rural Chihuahua, it’s monumental.

My coming out process was stumped by the fact that I could not even imagine my queerness, let alone live it. At the time, the saturation of gayness was mostly strictly white. It wasn’t until queer brown men like Jaime Cortez and Emanuel Xavier fearlessly (or perhaps fearfully) exposed their work and their bodies to the sun of public criticism, that I was able to imagine myself.

Whether U.S. fags approve or not, Ricky is a prominent figure here, and more importantly, in Latino América. Ricky’s coming out makes it possible for young boys in countless homes to imagine themselves as something other than confused.

For this, I say to Ricky: gracias. And, you know where to find me.

“Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”

Martin ends his post with, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

Following is the full text of Martin’s post:

A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life. From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating.

For many years, there has been only one place where I am in touch with my emotions fearlessly and that’s the stage. Being on stage fills my soul in many ways, almost completely. It’s my vice. The music, the lights and the roar of the audience are elements that make me feel capable of anything. This rush of adrenaline is incredibly addictive. I don’t ever want to stop feeling these emotions. But it is serenity that brings me to where I’m at right now. An amazing emotional place of comprehension, reflection and enlightenment. At this moment I’m feeling the same freedom I usually feel only on stage, without a doubt, I need to share.

Many people told me: “Ricky it’s not important”, “it’s not worth it”, “all the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse”, “many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature”. Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth. Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.

If someone asked me today, “Ricky, what are you afraid of?” I would answer “the blood that runs through the streets of countries at war…child slavery, terrorism…the cynicism of some people in positions of power, the misinterpretation of faith.” But fear of my truth? Not at all! On the contrary, It fills me with strength and courage. This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.

These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.

What will happen from now on? It doesn’t matter. I can only focus on what’s happening to me in this moment. The word “happiness” takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.

I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.

– Ricky Martin, March 29, 2010

From The New Gay, here’s video of an impromptu, roof-top jam session:

Banton

Gay rights activists have called the recording artists academy to use Sunday night’s Grammy Awards telecast to denounce music that promotes or celebrates violence against any group of people and the artists who perform such music.

In a full-age ad in Friday’s Grammy-edition of Variety, more than 20 progressive organizations, lead by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, posted an open letter to the Recording Academy’s President Neil Portnow in response to anti-gay reggae singer Buju Banton’s nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category.

Click the image below for a larger version:

Click this image to read a larger version of the Variety ad.

Throughout his career Banton has performed music that glorifies the violent murder of LGBT people, and as recently as three months ago he refused to stop performing such music, according to a statement by GLAAD. Last October he was quoted in news reports saying, “This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, ‘There is no end to the war between me and fa**ots.’”

The Recording Academy has said that the Grammy Awards honor musical achievement “regardless of politics” and that artists from many different political and cultural perspectives have been nominated over the years.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in custody since Thursday and will soon be transferred to Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney is charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine.

While legions of dancehall reggae enthusiasts view Banton as one of the most prolific voices of Jamaica’s poor masses, critics say he’s a gay basher whose lyrics incite violence by calling for attacking and torturing homosexuals.

His song Boom Bye Bye, a dancehall hit released in the 1990s, advocates shooting gays in the head and setting them on fire.

Such lyrics have made Banton the target of angry gay activists, who this this fall forced the cancellation of a string of concerts by the artist during a U.S. tour that included a Halloween night concert in Miami.

The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center recently issued this statement, referring to Banton’s Grammy award nomination for the album Rasta Got Soul, “It’s an affront to LGBT people, and to all fair-minded people around the world.”

Throughout his career, Banton has performed music that promotes a culture of violence against lesbian and gay people; he sings in “Boom, Bye Bye” that “faggots get up and run” when he comes, that “they have to die,” and that he will shoot them in the head or “burn them up bad.”

Banton is completely unrepentant, refuses to stop performing the song, and recently said, “There is no end to the war between me and faggots.”

“It’s an affront to LGBT people, and to all fair-minded people around the world, that Buju Banton was nominated,” says Center Chief Public Affairs Officer Jim Key. “We certainly hope the members of the Recording Academy will not bestow the prestigious honor of a Grammy on someone whose music promotes murder.”

- L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

ABC canceled Lambert’s scheduled appearances on “Good Morning America” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and stopped considering him for “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which drew thousands of complaints from viewers and gay advocates who believed the network was retaliating against him because he is gay.

On Friday night, Lambert took to Twitter, where he first announced the cancellations, to tell his fans that he will appear on “The View” next Thursday.

“Hey friends! I will be performing and hanging w the ladies of ABC’s The View Thursday the 10th!” he tweeted.

Lambert will be interviewed by “The View” hosts and will perform. Both will be pre-taped because Lambert has a scheduling conflict and cannot be in New York on Thursday, sources said.

Lambert will appear on “The View” the morning after his interview with Barbara Walters for her “10 Most Fascinating People” special on ABC.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which earlier accused ABC of subjecting Lambert to a double standard, applauded ABC’s invitation.

Lambert made headlines with his provocative performance last month at the American Music Awards in which he kissed a male musician.

GLAAD’s previous two statements regarding ABC’s cancellations of Lambert’s performances on the network after his sexually charged American Music Awards appearance have drawn criticism and caused confusion.

In the first statement, GLAAD seemed to give ABC a free pass: “It would appear that the kiss between Adam Lambert and his keyboardist did not factor into ABC’s decision.”

In the second statement, GLADD said “ABC confirmed this is not about a same-sex kiss or his sexual orientation but about being ‘caught off guard.’ GLAAD asked ABC and calls on them for clarification on ‘caught off guard’ so that the community knows why Lambert is being denied the opportunity to perform on the network.”

On Friday afternoon, GLAAD issued its strongest statement yet, saying that the organization does, in fact, believe that ABC canceled Lambert’s appearances on “Good Morning America” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and stopped considering him for “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” because he is an “openly gay performer.”

Appearing on CBS’ “Early Show” Wednesday morning to discuss his controversial performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards, where he kissed a man and simulated oral sex, Lambert said that he thinks the controversy shows a double standard and that it wouldn’t be a story if he wasn’t a gay male.

Lending credibility to Lambert’s statement, CBS itself blurred footage of Lambert’s male-on-male kiss in the segment narrating the controversy, but seconds later did not blur the footage of Madonna kissing Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards, a move many are seeing as hypocritical.

See for yourself… the “blurred” footage of Lambert appears 1:02 minutes into the clip; the un-blurred kiss between Madonna and Spears follows 18 seconds later.

CBS defended its decision, releasing the following statement:

“We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences.”

Double standard? Share your comments below, or on our Facebook page.
Catch our earlier story with Lambert’s interview and performances on Wednesday’s “Early Show.”

Lambert said he understands why some people were offended by his sexually charged performance, but he offered no apology.

The “American Idol” runner-up, who kissed a male keyboard player and had a dancer simulate oral sex on him while performing at the awards ceremony Sunday night, called the controversy a double standard, and said his performance would not have caused as much controversy if he weren’t openly gay.

Lambert said there was lot of “very adult” content on the AMAs that night, and that stars like Eminem and Janet Jackson also performed material that could have been viewed by some as inappropriate for younger viewers, adding that the broadcast came at nearly 11 p.m. when children should be in bed.

When asked if he should apologize, Lambert responded: “I’m not a babysitter, I’m a performer.”

Catch the full CBS interview and clips from today’s performances here:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

In the next clip, Lambert performs What Do You Want From Me, a single on his debut album For Your Entertainment, live on The Early Show.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Continuing his appearance on CBS, Lambert performs Music Again from his debut album.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Our thanks to CBS’ Early Show for the clips.

Two days after Adam Lambert’s hip thrusting, man-on-man make-out, show-closing performance on the “American Music Awards,” people are still talking.

More than 1,500 complaints were leveled at ABC, according to The Associated Press. ABC officials deemed that a “moderate” response when compared to other events that have prompted viewer complaints.

Though it’s doubtful that anyone at the network thought the controversy would go on this long, Lambert’s show-stopping number is still fodder for morning TV debates over the artistic merits of what happened during Sunday night’s performance.

Chatting up the performance on The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck siad, “Does anyone remember what he sounded like? Because, let me tell you this. This is the mistake Adam Lambert will make time and time again. We will not remember him as a performer or someone with a voice if he continues to do things like this. So smarten up, and sing.”

The broadcast was “nothing short of tasteless and vulgar” and ABC buried their heads in the sand when Lambert promised to put on a “sexy” show, said Tim Winter of the Parents Television Council.

Meanwhile, ABC announced that Good Morning America has canceled a scheduled concert by Lambert, citing his “controversial” behavior at the award show.

A spokesperson for ABC said, “Given his controversial American Music Awards performance, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning.”

Update: On Tuesday afternoon, hours after ABC’s said that it canceled Lambert’s appearance on GMA, comes an announcement from CBS that Lambert would appear on its “Early Show.” In a statement, CBS said that Lambert will appear live on “The Early Show” on Wednesday and discuss his recent performance on the American Music Awards.

Lambert is also scheduled to perform Wednesday on “Late Show With David Letterman,” also on CBS.

The 25-year-old singer didn’t hold back from delivering a provocative show filled with leather-clad and fishnet-wearing backup dancers during his closing performance of his debut single, “For Your Entertainment,” reports the New York Daily News.

In addition to dragging a female dancer around by the ankles, pushing a male dancer’s head into his crotch and simulating oral sex, walking a pair of male hoofers around like dogs on a leash, and furiously thrusting his hips at every opportunity, Lambert took a moment mid-song to fervently make out with (an allegedly straight) male keyboard player.

Watch the performance here:

After the jaw-dropping performance, Lambert told CNN that the forceful smooch was “in the moment” and was not a planned part of his routine.

With a look of defiance on his face, the singer proceeded to end his jaw-dropping set with the high-pitched wail he became most known for during his “Idol” days.

Marking his satisfaction from his performance, Lambert tweeted after the show, “All hail freedom of expression and artistic integrity. :) fans: I adore u.”

More from the New York Daily News.

Here’s Adam Lambert’s exclusive new interview with Billboard on Glam, Lady Ga Ga, 2012, & touring. Includes official “Time For Miracles” music video in HD.

Brannan appeared in the 2006 movie Shortbus, which included one of his songs in its soundtrack, and began to build a fan base by performing on YouTube.

He released an EP and acted in Holding Trevor in 2007 and has since toured and released two albums, Goddamned in 2008, and In Living Color in 2009.

Jay Brannan’s official website.

Jay Brannan on Facebook.

One of our new favorites, here’s Jay’s music video “Can’ Have It all” from the album Goddamned.

His aptly-titled “My Turn” is Yehonathan’s first, full-length English album, and his video of “Just Another Summer” received its worldwide premiere on Logo.

Yehonathan is rapidly making a name for himself in the music industry on his own terms as an out, gay artist.

Here’s the video, “Just Another Summer.”

Yehonathan’s official website. | Yehonathan on Facebook.

With the January 2008 release of his second CD, Rise, Tom demonstrates just how far he’s come. The six songs showcase his stylistic flexibility, from the urgent growl of “Morning Sun” to the sweet and unadorned “King of Something Right.” The recent music video for “Rise” barreled its way to #2 on MTV’s LOGO and stuck around 8 weeks.

On April 7, 2009, Tom released his latest album Back to Love. The album continues to build on themes of rebirth and renewal, of love and loss and what lies beyond. Tom’s music remains a playlist for anyone on a journey from darkness to light.

This is one of our favorites – Witness 162 years of combined love, in “Till the End.”

Tom Goss’ website. | Tom Goss on Facebook.