Connor Cruise, in Indianapolis to DJ a pre-Super Bowl party, was apparently in mood to be teased about the New England Patriots’ loss to the New York Giants.

One of his repesentatives, Todd Krim, sent him a teasing tweet saying ‘maybe next year,’  after the game. Krim says he got a blistering text message from the son of Tom Cruise.

It read: ‘That was a gay ass [bleeping] tweet . . . U don’t say [bleep] like that about my team the second they lose. Low.’

Through a publicist, he released this statement to The New York Post: ‘What I texted was unacceptable. It is not a reflection of who I am and what I feel, and it certainly won’t happen again.’

See the complete story at Gay Star News!

CNN commentator Roland Martin has been taken off the air ‘for the time being’ in the wake of a Twitter controversy that occurred on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has been calling for Martin’s firing for tweets he wrote during the Super Bowl about an H&M advertisement featuring soccer star David Beckham.

They included: ‘Ain’t no real bruhs going to H&M to buy some damn David Beckham underwear.’

He also tweeted to his more than 95,000 followers: ‘If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!’

CNN said in a statement today: “‘Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.’

GLAAD applauded CNN’s action: ‘CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community,’ spokesperson Rich Ferraro said. “We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing anti-LGBT violence as well as the language that contributes to.’

Earlier this week, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s largest black LGBT civil rights organization, also spoke out: “Even if he meant it in a jovial manner, Roland Martin’s words carry a real impact on the everyday lives of Black LGBT people, especially our youth. Given the number of rash murders, attacks and violent acts involving LGBT people of color, we cannot let statements such as this go unchecked. Silence is a form of acceptance and only perpetuates the problem.”

Go to Gay Star News to read my full story on the controversy.

Last week, an online group called One Million Moms called for a boycott of JC Penney for hiring the “openly homosexual” Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson.

JC Penney, which had dropped sponsorship of Ellen’s ABC sitcom in 1997 after she and her sitcom character came out, stood firmly by DeGeneres this time.

On today’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she talks about the controversy:

“Normally, I try not to pay attention to my haters—but this time I’d like to talk about it, because my haters are my motivators. This organization doesn’t think I should be the spokesperson because I’m gay,” Ellen said. “They wanted to get me fired, and I’m proud and happy to say that JCPenney stuck by their decision to make me their spokesperson. Which is great news for me because I also need some new crew socks. I’m really going to clean up with this discount.”

DeGeneres is grateful for the many people who had her back.

“I usually don’t talk about stuff like this on my show, but I really want to thank everyone who is supporting me,” she added. “Here are the values I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you’d want to be treated and helping those in need.To me, those are traditional values. That’s what I stand for…I also believe in dance.”

Nearly 25,000 people have signed a Change.org petition in support of Ellen and an LA Times poll shows that nearly 95 percent of respondents think JC Penney should keep her on.

The company said Friday that it ‘stands behind our partnership’ with Ellen.

You can read more about this and get to the petition by going over to my story at Gay Star News.

But she got herself into a bit of mess when instead of simply saying she is bisexual, Nixon said that for her being gay is a choice.

She has released a statement to The Advocate in which she clarifies it all. It seems sufficiently clear so that we can all move on with our lives and continue to appreciate the artistry of this very fine actress who is currently on Broadway in Wit.

‘While I don’t often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual,’ Nixon said in a statement to The Advocate. ‘I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have ‘chosen’ is to be in a gay relationship.’

I’ve written more about this over at Gay Star News so hop on over there to read the rest!

I’m talking about the absolutely silly feud that erupted between Elton John, his hubby David Furnish and Madonna at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

After Madonna  won the best original song Globe over Elton for best original song, Furnish wrote on Facebook: ‘Madonna. Best song???? Fuck off!!!

He added: “Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit,” Furnish wrote on his Facebook page. “Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism. And her critisism of Gaga shows how desperate she really is.”

And before the show, Elton said to a television interviewer: ‘Mary J [Blige] might win it for “The Help”. Madonna doesn’t have a fucking chance.’

Now Furnish is trying to make peace.

He took to Facebook on Thursday and posted this message: “Wow! What a tempest in a teapot. My comments regarding The Golden Globes have been blown way out of proportion. My passion for our film ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’ and belief in Elton’s song really got my emotional juices going. But I must say for the record that I do believe Madonna is a great artist, and that Elton and I wish her all the best for next week’s premiere of the film ‘W.E.’”

Nice of him to try and make peace. I just don’t see this trio hanging out together anytime soon!

Her greatest rival throughout the 60s and early 70s was an Australian player named Margaret Court.

Flash-forward 40 years and they are still on opposite sides of the court – so to speak – with King a lesbian and advocate for LGBT equality and Court a preacher who is one of the most vocal opponents against gay marriage becoming legal Down Under.

“I totally respect her opinion, but I don’t agree with her at all. We have a rising problem with homophobia globally,” King said in an exclusive interview with The Desert Sun. “This is about civil rights. It’s about equality, having equal opportunities and rights. Everyone gets too wigged out on it. I guess because it’s sexual, people get funny. But it’s just about equal rights. That’s all it is. And I don’t know what they’re trying to make it into. It’s just equal rights.”

Last month, Court said: “Politically correct education has masterfully escorted homosexuality out from behind closed doors, into the community openly and now is aggressively demanding marriage rights that is not theirs to take.”

Court’s outspoken views have led to protests against the winner of a record 24 grand slam singles titles and people calling to have her name removed from one of the stadium courts at Melbourne Park where the Australian Open is currently being played.

King thinks that’s taking things too far.

“No, no, no, get rid of her for that? Because you don’t agree with her? Are you kidding? Just because you don’t agree with someone? Please. She deserves it. She’s a great player,” she said.

The bitch is back!

According to Gay Star News, after Madonna (pictured with Elton in happier times) won the best original song Globe over Elton, Mary J. Blige and Glenn Close, among others, Furnish wrote on Facebook: ‘Madonna. Best song???? Fuck off!!!

And before the show, Elton said: ‘Mary J [Blige] might win it for “The Help”. Madonna doesn’t have a fucking chance.’

OMG.

What are we? Kindergarteners?

After her win, Madonna was asked backstage how it felt to beat Elton.

“I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years,” she said. “He’s been known to not speak to me. He’ll win for another award. I don’t feel bad.”

GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have stepped-up pressure on the network to yank the sitcom about two men who decide to impersonate women to land jobs in pharmaceutical sales.

It is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 3. I’ve just posted a story on Gay Star News about the controversy and an ad the groups have placed in today’s Daily Variety.

Check it out!

Hulk Hogan is suing his former wife for defamation because she says he physically abused her and had an affair with a fellow wrestler named Brutus Beefcake.

Linda Bollea was divorced from the 58-year-old wrestling icon in 2009 and makes the abuse claims in her new book Wrestling the Hulk – My Life Against the Ropes. She spoke of an alleged gay affair during a promotional interview.

‘After the four-year crazy divorce I thought I’d heard everything I could hear in the courtroom,’ Hogan told US Weekly. ‘Then, all of a sudden she says I abused her, that I was violent. She told everybody that I was a homosexual.’

While Hogan, whose real name is Terrance Gene Bollea, has been a well-known wrestling star for decades, his former wife and their children became celebrities of their own when they starred with him in the U.S. reality show Hogan Knows Best from 2005-07.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Hogan last week filed an 18-page defamation lawsuit in Florida.

He tells US Weekly: ‘If any of that was true, I would admit it, and (if) I was a homosexual I would embrace it. It’s just so crazy to hear, so I have a real problem with it… If you’re going to say I’m something that I’m not to try to ruin my career and my livelihood… I have to answer her back. It’s so ridiculous. I don’t mean to laugh about it, because it’s not funny. But it’s insane. It doesn’t make any sense to me.’

But I don’t know that she’s ever had two going on at the same time.

First of all, she’s royally pissed at David Letterman for calling her a tow truck driver in his monologue.

She let him have it on her own show the other night saying, among other things: “Dave, when you had that heart surgery, you shouldn’t have told the doctors to take out that whole thing, I remember when you had one, Dave, you were nice then.” [See full story HERE]

Then she went on The Joy Behar Show last night and had some choice words about Donald Trump with whom she famously tussled with while she was on The View.

She called The Donald “Lord Voldemort,” and said “let’s just ignore that he exists.”

Her reaction to Trump moderating the next GOP debate?

“To me, he’s the perfect person to moderate the Republican debate, because what he is about who he is, is pretty much representative in all of those candidates as well … It’s become like the party of comedy of jokes … I don`t even believe it’s real any more.”

She also took jabs at:

Michele Bachmann: “Well, you know Michele Bachmann needs to pray the gay away every day, starting with her husband.”

Rick Perry and his anti-gay political ad: “It’s wrong, it’s sinful and it’s destroying the nation. It really is. Gay people are part of the fabric of America, they have been in every country and every animal species and kingdom. People have to wake up and get with the program. This is not the 1950s. So Rick Perry, shame on you.”

And finally, while Rosie would not consider marrying fiance Michelle Rounds on her show to boost ratings, she did say “Maybe I’ll do a Starr Jones and I’ll get a lot of free stuff.”

Bachmann just said: “Bye bye” to the poor kid.

Hey, it’s clear the kid was put up to it and was a bit shy about saying it. But Bachmann could have been kinder to the kid and that is something staunch Republican Elisabeth Hasselbeck made on The View this morning.

I almost never agree with Hasselbeck and find her annoying 99 percent of the time but she made perfect sense as you will see.

“I’ve never sounded more like a tranny in my life,” Neil said.

Of course he should have known better. But while the show was still airing on the West Coast, Neil was quick to take to Twitter to apologize: Truly sorry for saying the word ‘tranny’ on Live this week. Twice! Should have been more thoughtful. Didn’t at all mean to offend.

Ironically, when I spoke with Neil and his partner David Burtka at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center gala last month, he said something that foreshadows today’s reaction to his unfortunate choice of words: “… This [LGBT] community, unique to most, is filled with scrutiny when it comes to what you say and how you say it. So you find yourself having to be very hyper-aware of how you say things lest you ostracize yourself even further.”

GLAAD has this to say about the incident: “It’s heartening to see a celebrity of Harris’ stature recognize and apologize for using the slur in such a timely manner, and for greater media attention being paid to its use.  Many people do not realize that the word “tr*nny” is one of the most hurtful and dehumanizing slurs that transgender people hear.  Most transgender people associate that word with personal experiences of violence, hatred and derision.”

He was among the screenwriters and potential award nominees who participated in a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter. It’s an interesting conversation that also includes Pedro Almodovar, 62 (The Skin I Live In), Oren Moverman, 45 (Rampart), Eric Roth, 66 (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close), Aaron Sorkin, 50 (Moneyball) and Steven Zaillian, 58 (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Moneyball).

Black was asked if he was offended by then-Oscars producer Brett Ratner’s remark that “rehearsal’s for fags.” (He resigned days after the remark became public).

Black, who is also a well-known LGBT equality activist, said: “Absolutely. Of course. I think a lot of people were, not just gay people. But I also read the letter he put out [to apologize] and I found it incredibly moving. So, I’ll go on record: I absolutely forgave him. I hope he does the things he said he’s doing in that letter. Those are learning experiences. We all mess up. It’s what you do on the other side that counts.”

There has been a very interesting situation brewing in recent days involving the transgender offspring of four very famous parents including two who are Oscar winners.

Chaz Bono, the only child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, has come under fire from Stephen Ira Beatty, the transgender son of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.

Beatty is an 18-year-old freshman at Sarah Lawrence College and has made clear that he doesn’t want Chaz to be a spokesperson for transgender people. He wrote in a blog post this fall that Bono has said “misogynistic and prescriptivist things about gender. I take particular issue with his comments on trans embodiment and on women.”

The blog post was made in September but it is in recent days that it gained widespread media attention. That has resulted in Beatty writing in a new post that “I bear the guy no ill will. I just don’t want anyone thinking that he’s qualified to offer Trans 101, you know?”

“He’s in a difficult position and he’s chosen to deal with it in a certain way,” Beatty writes. “I disagree with the way he’s dealing with it. I think he’s got serious issues with women, and I think he’s needlessly prescriptive in the way he chooses to talk about trans identity. But Chaz already gets so much shit, and you know what? Just a couple of years after I came out, I was saying prescriptivist misogynistic nonsense too. I read a lot, I learned a lot, I spent time living as a trans guy in the world, and I came out the other side of that worldview. I didn’t have a huge amount of fame or exposure when I came out, though, the way Chaz did, and didn’t feel obligated to make myself a spokesman.”

“I would be more than happy to sit down with Chaz, have a drink, and talk with him about how he can think and talk about gender in a way that’s more inclusive. He seems like an all right guy, his questionable views aside,” Beatty continued, adding, “And from what I’ve seen, he’s really remarkably good at the cha cha.”

So far Chaz, who returns to Dancing With the Stars this week for the finale, has had no comment.

So it was a bit surprising recently when Kelly used anti-transgender words during a recent interview with Glamour UK.

In a post published on GLAAD’s blog and The Transadvocate, Kelly apologizes for her the anti-transgender slurs and writes: “As a lifelong LGBT ally and friend, I feel it is my duty to not only apologize for my wrong but to also correct it. The word “tr*nny” is a derogatory and hurtful word. I was completely ignorant to this and soon came to realize most of my peers and LGBT friends are too. This is a word I will no longer use or allow.

She added: “Transgender people are some of the bravest people on Earth and among the LGBT community. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to live your life openly and honestly, reflecting who you truly are, or the hurt that comes from having to hide who you are because others may not support and accept you.”

Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD, had this to say about Kelly’s apology: “Kelly is taking the right step by using this as an opportunity to express her support of the transgender community and educate her fans about the hardships that they face for being who they are. We hope she inspires more allies of the LGBT community to speak out and have their own voices heard.”

Marti Abernathey of The Transadvocate also weighed in: “With this post Kelly has proven she is a responsible ally to the transgender community. She made a mistake that was borne of ignorance, not malice. This post is will go far in healing that mistake. It will also serve to educate and inform others within the LGBT community and beyond about transgender people’s lives. As I said to Kelly on Twitter, “You get to speak about it [the mistake], and trans people are seen as people and not things. Besides hatred, who’s the loser in this?” I’m grateful to Kelly for taking the time to learn and educate others. In the process she’s turned a mistake into a teachable moment. That is what an ally does. Thank you Kelly!”

In the post, Osbourne also urged people to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, writing that “it is a day to remember those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence and speak out against the fact that transgender people face disproportionate amounts of discrimination and harassment every day. The lack of knowledge about transgender people contributes to the unparalleled number of violent acts against them every day.”

Since I know Jason is not without opinions, I was curious to find out what this hard-working openly gay actor thought about all the controversy surrounding former Oscar producer Brett Ratner who stepped down when a gay slur he made at a screening surfaced publicly.

When asked if there was much rehearsing for his film Tower Heist, Ratner replied that “rehearsal is for faggots.”

“He said ‘All the fags want to rehearse’ and it just makes me want to rehearse,” Jason said. “I just wish he would ask me to be in one of his movie and maybe that could be what he could do to apologize – he could actually cast gay people in his next movie. So, Brett, Jason Stuart here – S-T-U-A-R-T. Please cast me in your next film and then everything is completely forgiven.”

Such a kidder. He also had some thoughts on Ratner’s replacement, Brian Grazer.

Jason, whose most recent films roles are Finding Mr. Wright and BearCity 2, added: “I just think it’s a shame that he couldn’t apologize and not lose his job and lose Eddie Murphy. But we did get Brian Grazer which is pretty good. If someone could just do something with that hair. I want to call Brian and say, ‘Love you. The 80s are over.’”

If Ratner had not been replaced, Stuart felt the show could have gone on.

“I think it would have made us all want to watch,” he said. “I think we’ve moved to the point now that once in awhile, someone’s going to say something, that’s just the way it is. Look, Brett Ratner gave Gabourey Sidibe a major part in a movie – that’s gay enough. She hasn’t gotten a part in any other motion picture after getting nominated for an Oscar! To me, that says something about him. He made a mistake and he was sorry about it. I’m not so sensitive. I think it’s better for us to learn from the mistakes and not crush people so much.”

So who did he want to see replace Murphy (we spoke before Billy Crystal was announced as host) and he said: “Oh Barbra Streisand. Maybe Bette Midler. Or Neil Patrick Harris. I think whoever it is, they need to get a host that’s actually funny. I thought that last year it just didn’t work. I think we’ve had so many brilliant comedians that were actors, it was really hard to go back to mumblecore.”

All kidding aside, Jason does believe some good will come of the Ratner controversy.

“I think it’s great that it happened because people say things very off the cuff in private before we had internet and video and all those things. Now, he’s getting in trouble for it and he’s learning about it and he’s being educated. He may have thought he was being prejudiced. I don’t think they should have fired him but I think it’s great that he goes on what you call the apology tour.”

The move does not come as a shock since his Tower Heist director, Brett Ratner, resigned as Oscar producer in the wake of a homophobic slur he made last week at a screening of the film at The ArcLight.

“First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,” Murphy said in a statement sent out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

Academy President Tom Sherak said earlier today: “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well.”

I’ve already gone on the record with the suggestion that Neil Patrick Harris, the multi-talented and openly gay star of television, stage and screen, would be a most excellent choice – especially considering the circumstances of Ratner’s departure.

NPH, who has hosted the Emmys and twice hosted the Tonys, was recently quoted as saying he would not ever campaign to be Oscar host but conceded: “I’d love to do it.”

But that will be largely up to Brian Grazer who has agreed to step in and replace Ratner. He will join co-producer Don Mischer, who was named producer alongside Ratner in August.

Grazer won the best picture Oscar in 2001 for A Beautiful Mind. He also produced J. Edgar, one of this awards season’s potential Oscar contenders.

The Academy Awards will air Feb. 26 on ABC.

Brett Ratner’s public redemption tour has already begun.

The Tower Heist director announced his resignation as producer of the Academy Awards earlier today due to a storm of controversy over a gay slur he made at a screening last weekend.

Like Tracy Morgan and Isaiah Washington before him, Ratner has began a “dialogue” with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

“I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them,” Ratner said in a statement. “I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience.”

GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced plans for a series of public discussions on LGBT images in Hollywood following Ratner’s resignation as a producer of the 84^th Annual Academy Awards.

During a question and answer session about his film ‘Tower Heist,’ Ratner was asked whether he rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene. He replied, “Rehearsing is for f*gs,” according to New York Magazine‘s Vulture blog.

GLAAD and Ratner are working to convene public discussions featuring leaders in the entertainment industry about promoting fair and accurate inclusions of LGBT people and stories. The discussions will address anti-LGBT jokes and slurs in films and on television today as well as their trickle-down effect into popular culture.

The first event will take place in coming weeks with additional discussions to take place over the next three years. Additional details to follow.

“When we sat down with Brett today, he seemed very sincere in his desire to use this experience as a way to begin speaking out against anti-gay language in popular culture,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD. “We believe his resignation is just the first step and will be announcing a series of concrete actions with Brett in coming days and weeks.”

Added GLAAD Acting President Mike Thompson: “Hollywood has the power and responsibility to grow acceptance of all communities. We look forward to working with Brett and the industry in promoting positive, culture-changing images of our community and sending a message that such slurs, used to belittle gay and lesbian youth and adults every day, have no place in mainstream popular culture or the industry that creates it.”