Elizabeth Taylor Appears at Macy's Passport HIV/AIDS Benefit

Elizabeth Taylor took the stage at the Macy's Passport show last night in Los Angeles. Taylor lifted the HIV/AIDS benefit to a new level when she first declared her support and appeared in it in 1987.

In mid-September she made her first public appearance since reports that her health situation was dire and she had been on life support. She had a few drinks at West Hollywood gay bar The Abbey.

Even though her capacity for giving speeches is fading, she's still out there fighting. Bless her.

Watch her remarks, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Elizabeth Taylor Hits West Hollywood Gay Bar

It's good to see that reports that Elizabeth Taylor's health was failing last month have turned out to be untrue. She was healthy enough Thursday night to make a trip out to West Hollywood gay bar The Abbey.

People reports: "'She was lively. She was laughing and she was smiling,' said one onlooker. 'Even if she was not as strong as the last time she was here, she was once again the life of her small party.' Back at the Abbey, the actress held court in a corner of the bar with a sizable martini and four friends (one of whom held Daisy, her Maltese dog). Before she was wheeled outside, an assistant placed a pair of rhinestone sunglasses on the ever-stylish star. 'She needed help getting into the car,' says the witness. 'As [they] drove away in this gigantic black sedan, all you could see was those sunglasses and a big smile on her face.'"

Last month, after reports that she was on life support, her spokesman issued the following statement: "Ms. Taylor is fine. Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels."

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Report: Elizabeth Taylor's Health Deteriorating

Elizabeth Taylor suffered heart failure and was put on a life support machine Wednesday night, according to tabloids:

"Elizabeth Taylor was put on a life support machine after suffering congestive heart failure, it was reported this evening. The 76-year-old's condition was said to have deteriorated after she was initially diagnosed with pneumonia last week. Her children were at her bedside and doctors warned she might not survive, said the U.S. publication National Enquirer. But the following day she improved and the dual Oscar winner was breathing without medical help last night. A source said: 'The doctors thought they were going to lose her. She's still very sick, but she's past the crisis.' The actress, a mother of three who adopted a fourth child with Richard Burton, was taken to hospital on July 15 when flu turned into pneumonia."

UPDATE: Taylor's rep. Dick Guttman released this statement: "Ms. Taylor is fine. Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels."

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News: Elizabeth Taylor, Old Trees, Heatherette, 'Ex-Gay' Protests

Protest as hundreds gather in Mountain View, California to 'pray the gay away': " A traveling national conference billed as an event 'to provide help for those struggling - and those whose loved ones struggle - with unwanted same-sex attractions,' drew about 700 people to a Mountain View church on Saturday. The gathering at the evangelical Christian church, Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, also drew a small protest by members of the Bay Area's gay and lesbian community incensed by the conference topic, the longstanding controversy on whether gays can be 'converted' - or turned into so-called 'ex-gays' through a Christian 'step out' program."

Details beats up Ashton Kutcher.

Marilyn Monroe sex tape unearthed, sold for $1.5 million.

Hundreds protest marriage equality in Norway: "The protesters included immigrants and native Norwegians, and they came from the villages and the cities. All were firmly against marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples."

Royal blackmailers Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan head to court to face charges.

Search on for Hollywood actor to play first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong.

Gay fashion duo Heatherette out of business. "The demise of Heatherette has been months in the making. The label actually canceled their fashion week show in February, though founder Traver Rains claimed at the time that he and partner Richie Rich were simply reorganizing the company and would be back in time for next fashion week. The reorganization was supposed to involve finding a new financial backer after Rich and Rains burned through the $6 million given to them by the Weisfeld Group, owner of urban streetwear outfit FUBU; a source tells Radar that the duo's efforts were unsuccessful, and that Rains and Travers have now amicably parted ways."

Have scientists found the oldest living trees?

With opening of Chaps II, leather scene returning to San Francisco's SoMA district: "On Friday, David Morgan threw open the doors to Chaps II, the most recent indication that leather is making a comeback in SoMa. 'There's a resurgence happening,' said Morgan, 39. 'A lot of people have been saying the leather scene was dead, but there just wasn't a place for people to meet up. ... Gearing up in leather and going to a bar where you're the only one dressed is kind of like a woman going to a bar in a ball gown while everyone else is in T-shirts.' Chaps II, at 1225 Folsom St., is named for Chaps, a bar that operated from 1983-85 on 11th Street, where the DNA Lounge is now located. Appropriately enough, Chaps II hosted a meet-and-greet to open the 30th anniversary Mr. San Francisco Leather contest, which concluded Sunday. Next year, one of the contest's events might take place at another leather bar, Hole in the Wall, which Morgan says plans to reopen soon."

Suicidal Tendencies or homosexual ones?

Orlando Bloom loves New York.

Elizabeth Taylor recently O.D.ed on prescription drugs and booze.

Lesbian couple told to "act straight" in UK pub: “We were told to make our sexuality less obvious. The landlord said there were complaints that the pub had too many dykes.”

POLL: Parents find men kissing more offensive than severed heads in video games.

Gay man arrested for using gay slur towards a police officer: "A gay man has been accused of homophobic breach of the peace - for allegedly calling an ex-police officer a p**f. Marc Sneddon, 38, clashed with former detective Stephen Whelehan while walking their dogs. He was charged and his partner Graham Spence - a police IT worker - was later arrested over claims he also shouted homophobic abuse on another occasion. The couple deny the claims and say neighbour Whelehan and his parents, James and Bridget, launched a vendetta of malicious complaints about them. Graham, 40, said: 'His dog attacked ours. Marc asked him to put it on a lead and got a torrent of abuse. Whelehan started calling him a 'wee f*****g p*****r'. Marc was provoked and asked whether he had a problem with his sexuality and did his wife know he was in the closet. Marc reported it to police but we were stunned when HE was charged."

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Hugh Grant Banks $17 Million Profit off Liz Taylor

Christie's contemporary art auction set records for 12 artists last night including Lucian Freud, Jeff Koons, and Richard Prince.

Andy Warhol's 1963 Andy Warhol portrait failed to meet its presale predictions, netting a paltry $23.5 (under its predicted sale price of $25 million) and a $17 million profit for its seller Hugh Grant (the auction house, of course, took its commission), who paid $3.6 million for it in 2001 at Sotheby's.

According to Bloomberg, "Christie's top lot last night was a sultry 1955 blue-and- orange canvas by Mark Rothko, 'Untitled,' which sold for $34.2 million, above the $30 million high estimate...Richard Prince's drippy red 'Piney Woods Nurse' (2002), from his series of masked nurses ripped from the pages of pulp fiction, sold for $6.1 million, almost triple the $2.2 million high estimate. Prince's works have been selling all week and, not coincidentally, he has a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum...Freud achieved a record for a 1992 painting of his daughter entwined with her husband. Estimated to sell for up to $20 million, it made $19.4 million. Lucian is a grandson of Sigmund Freud...Jeff Koons's 'Diamond (Blue),' a 7-foot-tall stainless- steel sculpture resembling a faceted stone in a setting, sold for $11.8 million. It was a record for the artist even though the price didn't reach the $12 million-$20 million presale estimate."

Recently
Rothko, Warhol Set Records at Christie's Art Auction Blow-out [tr]

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News: ENDA, Diane Arbus, Iraq Deaths, Elizabeth Taylor

Polling agency suggests more than 1,000,000 Iraqi citzens killed since U.S. invaded Iraq.

Wentworth Miller's Prison Break co-star Dominic Purcell gets behind actor's gay denial: "People like to jump to conclusions about him. Went is not gay. I’ve tried it on him many times and he just buffs me right back."

Will Elizabeth Taylor marry for the ninth time?

Gay soldiers react to bigoted comments by General Peter Pace. Antonio Agnone: ""I was actually shocked that he stumbled back into that area of questioning. When he talks about morality, that doesn't have any place. His personal beliefs shouldn't be what he's relying on a day-to-day basis. He broke regulations; he's not supposed to voice his personal opinion."

Democratic Leadership in the House considering dropping trans-inclusive language from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Lane Hudson: "Democrats in general have come under fire from gay activists and funders for a lack of action on legislative priorities such as ENDA and hate crimes. HRC has also come under criticism for the same lack of progress. Both are desperately in need of substantive victories to appease their constituencies. In addition, Speaker Pelosi is slated to receive a major award at HRC's National Dinner next weekend. It's unclear how she will be received in light of this development. All of this boils down to whether we should sacrifice transgender inclusion in the ENDA legislation in order to pass a bill in the immediate future. For me, the answer is simple. No one should be left behind at the convenience of others. It is a moral obligation and a defining moment in the movement for equal rights under the law."

Awards honor best science images of 2007.

Illegal immigrant loses life savings in pursuit of American Dream.

Matthew McConaughey looks awfully strange with clothes on.

Bill O'Reilly on critics of his Harlem restaurant remarks: "[I]f I could strangle these people and not go to hell and get executed ... I would -- but I can't. ... All I can do is expose them. And I will."

Remember the Diane Arbus twins? Now they're all grown up.

Iowa pastors plan October 28 rally supporting amendment to ban gay marriage: "This is not about hate but about differences of beliefs. God's word is clear to us that marriage is only between one man and woman."

Three women in Chicago accuse off-duty police officer of threatening them and roughing them up after this year's pride parade: "According to the lawsuit, a vehicle driven by Fuery came upon a car moving at 30 mph on Interstate 55 after the June 24 parade. Fuery beeped her horn, and Szura responded by slamming on his brakes, speeding up and switching lanes, making it impossible for Fuery to pass, the lawsuit said. Fuery was forced to the shoulder, where Szura screamed words such as 'dyke' and spit at her, according to the lawsuit. The women claim he stuck a gun in Fuery's abdomen, 'causing her to fear for her life.'"

Rosie O'Donnell hangs with her Nip/Tuck castmates.

Meet Project Runway 4's Jack Mackenroth...

A look at at John Edwards' proposed HIV/AIDS program.

Anti-gay lawyer Jack Thompson may be brought down for presenting a judge with graphic gay porn photos as evidence in a suit against gay publisher Norm Kent.

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News: Hawaii Gay Marriage, Liposuction Speedboat, Helen Mirren

Hawaii lawmakers kill civil union bill by refusing to vote on it: "More than 100 people packed the House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, many waving pink signs reading, 'Civil Unions. Equal protection, justice for all.' At least 400 people submitted extensive written or oral testimony. After five hours of testimony, though, the committee declined to vote. Representatives offered little explanation to the public, but it was a sign that the bill lacked enough support to become law."

"Aching adolescence" explored in new film Wild Tigers I Have Known: "Newly aware of his homosexual urges, Logan is too naïve to camouflage his desires by putting up a front. And the film captures his vulnerability and dismay when his classmates reject him and spread the word that he’s gay, even though his explorations haven’t gone beyond the point of staring at other boys in the locker room. Even his straight best friend, Joey (Max Paradise), a science nerd who has made an amusing list of 'ways to be cool,' begins to withdraw after Logan insists on putting on lipstick for a snapshot."

Speedboat runs on liposuctioned body fat (watch video).

Paparazzi fascinated by Helen Mirren's eating habits.

"Ex-gay" leader Randy Thomas on newly out financial guru Suze Orman: gays haven't suffered enough to deserve civil rights. "From another angle, this also does not help some in the gay activist community with their attempts to make this battle, over redefining marriage, a 'civil rights' issue. Suze and her partner worrying over their 'millions' doesn't have the same ring or impact as watching young black people being knocked down by fully opened fire hoses and mauled by tax payer funded police dogs. I don't think Suze or Tammy would ever make that comparison but some in the activist community do equate the marriage battle with the civil rights battle of the African American community and that is tragic."

Rupert Everett to be "chief of parade" at Sydney Mardi Gras. Everett: "Like JFK, but without the assassination."

Cristiano Ronaldo to be joined on Manchester United by a pair of identical twins: "When we were negotiating, Cristiano Ronaldo phoned us saying that Manchester United was a tremendous club and it was a wonderful place to play football."

Judith Light to be honored for her work for HIV/AIDS. David Mixner: "In just over a decade, Judith Light has participated in near 400 events relating to HIV/AIDS. I think it would be almost impossible to find a leading actress who has done more in the battle. Not only has she allowed her celebrity to be used to raise funds and create awareness, she personally has been a caretaker to people with HIV/AIDS. Judith Light was an activist and caregiver when few others were willing to even lend their names."

Two new drugs introduced in HIV battle.

Liz Taylor turns 75: "Taylor's voice was soft and she seemed frail as she chatted briefly with reporters, telling them her secret to making it to 75 was 'just living a very healthy, clean life.'" (photos)

Katherine Heigl leaving Grey's Anatomy? Money is the reason, not a bigoted co-star.

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Elizabeth Taylor Swims with Sharks, Retains Glamour

I'd seen reports of this recently, but this was the first shot I'd seen of the 74-year-old Dame in the water.

"Wearing a baggy white t-shirt over an all-in-one swimming costume, she maintained a modicum of glamour with perfectly manicured red nails and several sparkly bangles. After spitting into her mask - to prevent the plastic eye area from misting up - she enthusiastically clambered into the cage, albeit with the help of two aides. From here the double Oscar winner tried the snorkel on for size before tentatively dipping her head into the water and looking for her first shark. Having paddled around for thirty minutes, a clearly exhausted - but happy - Miss Taylor came up for fresh air. In a departure from her usual lady-like elegance, she emerged dripping wet, with her dark hair slicked down in a rather unflattering side parting. After being helped back on board the Kainani boat, she towelled herself down and slipped on a kaftan-style nightdress over navy blue slipper socks."

Liz Taylor is nothing if not fearless. Steve Irwin would be proud.

Elizabeth Taylor Fed to the Sharks [daily mail]

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