Cher takes to Twitter to defend transgender son Chaz Bono on 'Dancing With the Stars'

By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Cher is taking to Twitter to defend her son Chaz Bono.

The superstar posted several tweets Wednesday defending his participation on the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars." Bono is the first transgender competitor on the hit ABC show.

Cher says her son, who was born female and underwent surgery to become a man, is being "viciously attacked" on blogs and message boards since the new cast was announced Monday.

"This is Still America right? It took guts 2 do it," Cher wrote, adding that she supports him no matter what he chooses to do.

"Mothers don't stop Getting angry with stupid bigots who (mess) with their children!" the 65-year-old singer wrote.

Bono, 42, is paired with pro dancer Lacey Schwimmer on the reality show, where celebrities and their professional partners perform various ballroom dances for judges' scores and viewer votes.

"Dancing" fans have posted both angry and supportive comments on the show's message boards. One called the casting choice "disgusting" and said "ABC should be ashamed of theirselves for harassing mainstream Americans and Christains."

Another wrote: "I never and mean NEVER watch DWTS but will this season to support/vote for (Chaz)."

On his own Twitter page, Bono described himself as "the luckiest guy around" and thanked his fans for their support. He also thanked Cher.

"Thanks for all your support mom," he wrote. "The haters are just motivating me to work harder and stay on DWTS as long as I possibly can."

The 13th season of "Dancing With the Stars" is set to premiere Sept. 19.

Berkeley professor confirmed to California high court; gay marriage ban arguments to be heard Tuesday

By PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- A U.C. Berkeley law professor whose nomination to a federal appeals court was blocked by Senate Republicans was unanimously approved Wednesday for the California Supreme Court.

The state's three-member Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously voted for Goodwin Liu's nomination, and Gov. Jerry Brown was scheduled to swear Liu in on Thursday.

"This has to be the most peaceful and enjoyable judicial appointment conference in the country," Liu said to laughter from about 100 spectators who filled the state Supreme Court chamber to watch the hearing.

Several influential Republican senators who took exception to Liu's outspoken opposition to Samuel Alito's 2006 appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court prevented Liu from becoming a member of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after President Barack Obama nominated him for that post last year.

Liu came to Brown's attention during the bruising confirmation process for the appeals court. Brown said he began discussing the state Supreme Court vacancy with the law professor after Liu withdrew from consideration in May.

The governor nominated Liu in July to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Carlos Moreno, the high court's only Latino.

Of the 1,500 letters the judicial commission received, only about two dozen opposed Liu's appointment, and all speakers at Wednesday's hearing spoke in support of him. The three members voted after just a few questions.

Liu will be put to work immediately. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday on whether the financial backers of the measure that banned gay marriage can appeal a federal judge's decision striking down the ban.

Liu signed onto a 2008 legal brief with other law professors arguing that same-sex couples were legally entitled to marry.

That position was a source of criticism in Washington during his unsuccessful bid for the federal appeals court. Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based legal advocacy group, brought it up again in a letter to the California commission as one example of several that he was an "activist" judge unfit for the bench.

The Commission on Judicial Nominees, which is tasked with vetting state judicial nominees, reported to Brown that Liu was "exceptionally well qualified."

Liu, 40, is the son of Taiwanese immigrant doctors, He was born in Georgia, grew up in Sacramento and earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Yale University. He later clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Liu was Brown's first judicial appointment since becoming governor in January.

During Brown's first tenure as governor between 1975 and 1983, he appointed Rose Bird as California's first female appointment to the high court. But she was voted out of office in 1986 along with two other colleagues who opposed the death penalty.

'As Bees in Honey Drown' runs Sept. 9-Oct. 9 at Rising Action Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

News release from Rising Action Theatre:

Rising Action Theatre presents Douglas Carter Beane's Obie award winning hit comedy, As Bees In Honey Drown, directed by Avi Hoffman

Bees opens Sept 9 and runs through Oct 9.  Performances are Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at  www.risingactiontheatre.tix.com or by calling 1-800-595-4849. Group sales or questions: 954 561-2225  Tickets are $35  Dinner and Show Packages are $60 at a choice of  Tropics on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors or Old Heidelberg Restaurant on State Road 84.

As Bees in Honey Drown will be performed at Rising Action Theatre located on the Sunshine Cathedral Campus at 1480 SW 9th Ave, Fort Lauderdale 33315.

Groups tickets are available at 954 561-2225

(Please no press before Sept 10)

As Bees in Honey Drown is a comedy about the pitfalls of the unquenchable hunger for fame.

A gay writer meets his perceived meal ticket in this delicious and breezy comedy.

This 'wry confectionery, extremely entertaining fable' (NY Times) comes to Rising Action to kick-off our fifth season. Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Sister Act, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar) spins a sexy and very funny tale of a young gay writer caught in the excitement of finding a rich socialite patron, Alexa Vere de Vere. An eccentric diva, inspired by the likes of Auntie Mame, Sally Bowles, Holly Go Lightly and Tallulah Bankhead, Alexa is a self-described promoter of British rock stars, and is now in the market for an even greater dose of fame. When she sees a near naked photo of a young gay novelist named Evan Wyler, Alexa is certain she's found the right man to do the job. And Evan thinks he's found his destiny fulfilled...

"A delicious souffle of a satire" - NY Times
"A gleeful bon mot-filled eclair" - The New Yorker

The play opened in New York City  on June 19, 1997 at The Drama Department  but four weeks later, moved to the Lucille Lortel Theatre Off Broadway in the West Village, where it played for a year and earned Beane the prestigious Outer Critics Circle John Gassner playwriting award (1998) and a nomination for the Drama Desk Best Play. Most critics concur that As Bees in Honey Drown is Beane's best play to date.

As Bees in Honey Drown is directed by world renowned performer-director Avi Hoffman. Mr Hoffman's  award winning shows have been broadcast nationally on PBS. Avi recently directed the hit production of The Irish Curse and as Artistic Director of the New Vista Theatre, directed and performed in Fiddler on the Roof, The Rise of David Levinsky, Jacques Brel and more.

Amy McKenna and Andrew Wind head the Cast.  Rising Action Theatre's first Actors Equity Association Contract has been granted to Amy McKenna.  Her Florida credits include: Actors' Playhouse (August: Osage County): Zoetic Stage (South Beach Babylon); Mad Cat Theatre (Shepherd's Pie at the South Beach Comedy Festival);   Andrew Wind  has appeared in Caldwell Theatre's Clydeborne Park.

As Bees in Honey Drown also features Sahid Arnaud-Pabon, Peter Librach (National Tour Godspell) Clelia Myers (Killng Of Sister George) and Breeza Zeller (City Theatre Signature Shorts)

Amy McKenna and Andrew Wind in As Bees in Honey Drown

Photos by Sahid Arnaud-Pabon

HLN video | Accused killer of gay teen: Fate in jury's hands

On YouTube:

Chris Jacobs talks with Judy Shepard (Mother of Matthew Shepard), Lisa Bloom (Attorney) & Neal Broverman (The Advocate) about the Brandon McInerney trial.

Gay former Army Lt. Dan Choi testifies in federal court on White House protest that led to arrest

By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- A gay former Army officer arrested outside the White House for protesting the government's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military testified at his trial Tuesday that he was proud and willing to go to jail.

Dan Choi is accused in federal court of ignoring police orders to vacate an area in front of the White House after he handcuffed himself to the fence outside the landmark building during a protest last November. He told the court he believed in his cause and drew inspiration from the civil rights movement decades ago.

"The right to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves is more than a privilege," said Choi, his voice rising with emotion during a cross-examination that turned confrontational at times. "It's a moral responsibility and I take that seriously."

Choi said he could not recall details of his arrest, but likened the scene to a "combat zone" and recalled being struck by what he considered to be aggressive and demeaning tactics by the U.S. Park Police officers who showed up.

"I do not recall a lot of what happened, but I also do not recall if I blacked out," said Choi, a 30-year-old West Point graduate who served in the Iraq war as an infantry officer.

Choi became a public face of the gay rights movement after television interviews in 2009 in which he revealed that he was gay. He said he was honorably discharged last year under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

He previously was arrested outside the White House during protests in March and April 2010. He said he was motivated partly by his disappointment in President Barack Obama, who subsequently put an end to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" police in July.

As of Sept. 20, gay service members will be able to acknowledge their sexual orientation openly. Previously, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy had barred gays from serving openly in the military since 1993.

Choi also said he was inspired by acts of civil disobedience, such as a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's department store lunch counter in North Carolina during the civil rights movement.

A dozen other protesters were arrested along with Choi at the November protest. The others have accepted plea deals that spare them jail time if they go several months without being re-arrested. Choi has rejected a similar offer, said his lawyer, Robert Feldman. Prosecutors say the police gave the protesters three separate warnings in intervals of three minutes to clear the fence.

The non-jury trial opened Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Facciola.

Choi and his lawyer have complained that he is being selectively prosecuted because of his vocal gay rights activism and insist his case belongs in local court. He faces a fine and up to six months in jail if convicted in federal court.

Prosecutors have denied Choi's claim of selective prosecution. They say his actions violate a federal regulation requiring him to obey a lawful order from authorities.

Choi sparred repeatedly with prosecutor Angela George. She suggested Choi deliberately chose to get arrested to draw attention to himself and could have opted for less provocative methods - such as marching and holding signs - to convey the same message.

But Choi strongly disagreed. He said was flabbergasted he was on trial in the first place when people went to the White House to cheer the U.S. military raid that led to the death of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. He said those people gathered at the same fence but never faced any sanctions.

"What's the difference?" Choi demanded of George at one point. "You have not given me a reason why my free speech should be curtailed and their free speech should be amplified."

Christopher Donahue leaves Care Resource; Cindy Brown succeeded by Paolo Pincente at Miami Beach Gay Pride

A few recent goings and comings. ...

Christopher Donahue on Tuesday announced he has resigned as PR/Marketing Manager at Care Resource, South Florida's largest HIV/AIDS service agency:

Good afternoon,

I am writing to inform you that I resigned last Monday from my position as PR/Marketing Manager at Care Resource. My last day will be this coming Friday September 2^nd.  I am very excited to begin this new chapter in my life.

It really isn’t part of my job or in my job description but I loved being able to help clients and it is what has kept me here. I am happy that I was able to help the community by bringing 8 clients into care over the past three years; some of which were newly diagnosed and some that had fallen out of care and were very sick.

Thank you for all of your help and your support over the years, and all that you have done for me personally and professionally.  Please stay in touch and if you haven’t done so friend me on Facebook. Facebook.com/ChristophDonahue

Your contact at Care Resource regarding PR, Media or Marketing once I leave will be Wade Patterson, the Director of Finance.  He can be reached at wpatterson@careresource.org He has a full update on any open items.

Also officially announced Tuesday: Longtime South Florida activist Cindy Brown -- a onetime Care Resource/Health Crisis Network employee -- is no longer heading up Miami Beach Gay Pride.

(Weeks ago, Brown sent friends and contacts an email saying she was going back into the job market.)

From Bridget Pietsch at The Murry Agency in South Beach:

PAOLO PINCENTE NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE 2012

MIAMI BEACH, FL – August 30, 2011 – Veteran event director and producer Paolo Pincente has been named executive producer of the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival for 2012, announced Babak Movahedi, president of the Pride Board of Directors.  In his new role, Pincente will help plan and oversee all elements of next year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride event as well as related activities leading up to Pride.  Now in its fourth year, Miami Beach Gay Pride will take place Sunday, April 15, 2012, along Miami Beach’s famed Ocean Drive.

In addition to his responsibilities for Pride, Pincente currently works and produces events for top-tier venues and well-known brands including, Space Nightclub, Miami, as general manager; Mova Lounge, Miami Beach, as operations and marketing consultant; Svedka Vodka, throughout Florida, as event producer; Source Events, Miami, as event manager; and the Surfcomber Hotel, Miami Beach, as event producer.  His previous experience in the hospitality industry has also included Crobar Nightclubs in New York City, Chicago and Miami Beach; Mia Biscayne, Miami; Exit 66 Nightclub, Ft. Lauderdale; and Cameo Nightclub in Miami Beach, where he has served in diverse operations, management, marketing, training and event-related capacities.

“Miami Beach Pride is fortunate to have someone of Paolo’s diverse background and experience as next year’s executive producer,” Movahedi said.  “In three short years, Miami Beach Pride has grown from a hometown celebration to one that captures national, if not international, attention.  For the fourth event, we look forward to having Paolo add his distinctive touch and take Pride to a whole new level.”

Born in Toronto and raised in Chicago, Pincente has spent the last 12 years in South Florida and currently resides in Miami Beach.

After a highly successful event in 2011 that attracted more than 40,000 people, Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade and Festival has become the largest, single-day event of the year in Miami Beach.  Last year’s Pride Parade and Festival was an extraordinary all-day event that featured a parade with 66 entries and 1,200 participants, followed by an enormous festival with exciting celebrities and musical performances, 125 LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, refreshments and a family-friendly play area.

Paola Pincente was hired by the board of directors that puts these remarkable events together, which consists of 10 key members: Babak Movahedi, president, Chad Richter, vice president, Daniel Spring, treasurer, Laura Veitia, secretary, Chip Arndt, Thomas Barker, Ivan Cano, Michael Larkin, Monica Mataloni and Joel Stedman. As a committed team, they all work together year-round to ensure the success of the Miami Beach Gay Pride.

The mission of Miami Beach Gay Pride is to bring together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their friends, allies, and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBT community by producing free, safe, quality mass-appeal events that are open to all, including the Parade, Festival and allied Miami Beach Pride sanctioned events. www.miamibeachgaypride.com.

Attorney Al Cardenas: Wife Diana 'goaded' into making antigay comments on Facebook

This month, Diana Cardenas, wife of Miami attorney Al Cardenas, made national news after we published her views on gay rights following a public Facebook wall conversation she had with GOP activist Ana Navarro and others.

Diana Cardenas : I am just tired of this topic being shoved in our face continually by all these gay activists and I have to ventilate my feelings.... You know I always wondered why homosexuals are referred to as 'gay', kind of an oxymoron? Nothing really 'gay' about them or their movement......I am all for intellectual honesty too!!

Cardenas wrote that gays "are in our faces with public display of affection, gay parades, gay rallies, non-stop bombardment!!!"

Today, The Daily Business View profiled Cardenas -- head of the American Conservative Union -- and released a video interview with reporter Julie Kay. Here's their conversation about Diana Cardenas' views on gay rights and Facebook:

Reporter Julie Kay: It was in the news, your wife drew some heat for her views on Facebook recently, and I just wanted to ask you what you think of what she posted. Does she regret it at all? You know, Facebook's gotten people in trouble.

Al Cardenas: Well, look, I love my wife more than life. She's a strong believer, she's very religious and a strong believer in traditional marriage. And she thought she was having a very private conversation with someone. And she felt she was goaded into an answer which she may have worded differently in retrospect, but it is what it is.

She's not going to want to talk about it and I don't either.

Click here to read Diana Cardenas complete Facebook exchange:

Chaz Bono, Carson Kressley, Ricki Lake among new cast of 'Dancing With the Stars' season 13

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The new cast of "Dancing With the Stars" has been revealed.

ABC says the 13th season of the hit show will feature a mix of actors, athletes and TV personalities. Set to tango and quickstep with professional dance partners will be basketball star Ron Artest; World Cup soccer player Hope Solo; reality stars Robert Kardashian, Kristin Cavallari and Chaz Bono; TV personalities Nancy Grace, Carson Kressley and Ricki Lake; singer-actress Chynna Phillips; actors David Arquette and J.R. Martinez; and Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis, who may be better known in the United States for being George Clooney's ex-girlfriend.

Ryan O'Neal was set to join the cast, but his publicist said the actor had not yet fully recovered from recent knee-replacement surgery.

The new cast members will perform their first dance routines on the season premiere on Sept. 19. The first celebrity contestant will be eliminated on Sept. 20.

ABC News' 'Primetime Nightline' Wednesday night to feature families of three transgender youths

From ABC News media relations:

“Primetime Nightline” goes on a remarkable journey inside three families, struggling to do the right thing for their transgender kids.  One biological boy who at age ten is now going to school as a girl and who will soon be given medicine to stop him from going through male puberty; a15 year old biological girl who is taking testosterone to make her more masculine; a 19 year old biological male who goes to Mexico to have six surgeries in two hours to make him more feminine.

Nightline's Cynthia McFadden looks at the challenges that these children confront, the difficult decisions they and their parents have to make and, at times, the risks they have to take in order to become the person they feel they were born as.

We look at the social, medical, and surgical changes, as well as the emotional journey on which these children are embarking.  We talk to the leading experts.  And find a grim reality:  transgender kids often are rejected by their families.  One estimate has over 33% of them attempting suicide.

We also profile Kim Petras, a burgeoning pop sensation who became the world’s youngest person to have a complete sex change operation at the age of 16.

We also interview Charles Kane perhaps the only person in the world to have sexual reassignment surgery twice…going from man to woman and back again…he regrets his decision to have sexual reassignment surgery and believes children should not be given these therapies.

Meet some of those we follow:  

Jackie is a 10 year old from Ohio who was originally born as Jack.  As a toddler, Jack was drawn to his sister's dolls and clothes, and enjoyed dressing up in tutus. At 10 years old, with tears in his eyes, he told his parents “I’m a girl on the inside.” Within months, with his parents help, Jack becomes Jackie. She now attends school as a girl, wearing girl’s clothing, heels, and makeup.  We watch as Jackie navigates her transition and meets relatives for the first time as a girl.  Soon Jackie will begin taking puberty blockers, a controversial treatment, which will prevent her from going through male puberty.

Nathan is a 15 year old living in Arizona and was originally born Natalie.  Always feeling out of place as a girl, he came home from his first day of pre-school to tell his mother, “I’m a boy.”  He started

dressing in gender neutral clothing in pre-school.  As Natalie grew up, her parents became convinced this wasn't a phase and are now helping him transition.  We watch as Natalie changes his name to Nathan in court and prepares to start testosterone treatment, which will give

him physical attributes of a boy.  Harassed into home schooling, Nathan has no friends his own age.  Cynthia McFadden introduces him to his transgender idol Chaz Bono, who offers him and his family a few words of advice and hope.

Vanessa is 19 years old living and working in New York City. Vanessa was born as Pierry.  At first, her immigrant family had a difficult time accepting their son as their daughter, but now that she has decided on surgery, they have come to support her.  But neither the family nor Vanessa can afford the transition, so she has turned to prostitution to pay for the body she feels she should’ve been born with in the first place.  We go along with her to Guadalajara, Mexico, where a wad of $6500 cash will buy her six surgeries in two hours as she struggles to become the woman she’s always wanted to be.

GLAAD criticizes Tyler the Creator's VMA win; says album contains '213 occurrences of the word fa**ot'

From Rich Ferraro, communications director for GLAAD:

GLAAD just posted a blog that criticizes Tyler the Creator’s VMA win last night for Best New Artist.

We highlight Tyler’s history of remarks against gay people and women. According to NME magazine,  Tyler’s sophomore album features 213 occurrences of the word fa**ot and it’s variations. The album also contains numerous references to rape and domestic abuse against women.

GLAAD SPEAKS OUT:

“Rather than providing simply a larger platform, MTV and other networks should educate viewers about why anti-gay and misogynistic language has no place in the music industry today,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. “Given Tyler’s history of such remarks, viewers and potential sponsors should refrain from honoring homophobia and in the future look to a more deserving artist.”

MTV didn’t choose the winner of the Best New Artist category (that’s chosen by public vote) on last night’s show, but they did decide to nominate Tyler in the first place and put him onstage.   We hope in the future they will think more carefully about the message they’re sending to their young audience before giving him another platform.