Saturday night “Monster Ball” concert (7/17) in St. Louis drew more than her excited “little monsters,” as a slew of sign-yielding, anti-gay protesters from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church congregated outside the venue.

The independent church, which is not affiliated with other Baptist churches, organized the demonstration, marking the second time the Fred Phelps-founded group has picketed one of the superstar’s St. Louis performances. In January, the group released flyers stating that the “sleazy God-hater” uses art and fashion as euphemisms, “the guise under which the proud whore Lady Gaga teaches rebellion against God.”

Lady Gaga acknowledged the protesters with a simple message to fans, sent via Twitter, Facebook and posted at her website a couple hours before the set’s kick-off.

“My request to all little monsters and public authorities is to pay these hate criminals no mind,” the singer stated. “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.”

After a full and uninterrupted arena show, the seemingly unaffected pop star tweeted, “tonight love and hate met in St. Louis and love outnumbered the hate, in poetic thousands. Hate left, but love stayed. Together, we sang.”

The Westboro Baptist Church, which has been deemed a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, has a history of making headlines with their protests. Supporters have picketed veterans’ funerals, football games, and political events, as well as Michael Jackson’s funeral, some with signs that read “God hates fags” and “thank God for dead soldiers.”

Lady Gaga will continue on with her extensive “Monster Ball” tour, touching down tomorrow night (7/20) in Oklahoma City, where Westboro Baptist Church protesters are also expected to be in attendance.

Saturday night “Monster Ball” concert (7/17) in St. Louis drew more than her excited “little monsters,” as a slew of sign-yielding, anti-gay protesters from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church congregated outside the venue. The independent church, which is not affiliated with other Baptist churches, organized the demonstration, marking the second time the Fred Phelps-founded group [...]

I love you Cole, you just be yourself,’ Gaga tweets to Tennessee student.

Lady Gaga makes a point of taking care of her “little monsters.” That explains why the singer took time out from her busy touring and recording schedule on Wednesday to voice her support for 15-year-old Tennessee high school student Cole Goforth, who was sent home by officials at Greenbrier High School for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “I Heart Lady Gay Gay.”

“Thank u for wearing your tee-shirt proud at school, you make me so proud, at the monsterball, you are an inspiration to us all. I love you,” Gaga tweeted on Wednesday, explaining that she’d been in the studio “for days and hours of record after record” when she heard one of her monsters was being discriminated against by teachers.

“I love you Cole, you just be yourself,” she added early Thursday morning while on tour in Australia. “You’re perfect the way God made you.” Read the rest of this entry »

I love you Cole, you just be yourself,’ Gaga tweets to Tennessee student. Lady Gaga makes a point of taking care of her “little monsters.” That explains why the singer took time out from her busy touring and recording schedule on Wednesday to voice her support for 15-year-old Tennessee high school student Cole Goforth, who [...]

What is it with celebrity interviews lately? Must everyone take things out of context?

… the singer is responding to a fact-based mention that Boyle’s first album debuted higher than Lambert’s? Did the reporter note that Adam laughed at that moment perhaps to make it clear that the glittery one wasn’t cursing his non-competition?

You decide.

(Of course, objectively, “I’m happy for her success” is about as horrific as an attack on another human can get. We realize that brutality might sway your interpretation.)

Now let’s take a trip into the irony department, with a bit pulled from higher up in the interview, before the alleged Boyle-clubbing section. (Shock! His album comments aren’t actually the lead of the story! Which you’d never know if you did a Google news search of the two names right now!)

These are the words of Gay Times writer Jamie Taberrer; the bold emphasis is mine:

From his forgivable penchant for guyliner (don’t pretend you haven’t been there), to his opinion-polarising album cover, to his controversial performance at last year’s American Music Awards (in which he kissed and groped a male member of his band, inducing thousands of complaints to TV network ABC) it seems Adam can’t bat a mascara-clad eyelash without offending somebody. The irony being, of course, that Adam’s really not shocking underneath it all. In fact, he’s a just a normal guy who – shock, horror! – is actually WILLING to talk about his sexuality.

Boyle and Lambert were both pop-culture sensations on their respective continents and beyond, and were both runners-up in high-profile singing competitions — so bringing up the comparison isn’t shocking. And even if, like me, you have no problem with SuBo, giggling at her take on the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” is hardly out-of-the-box thinking.

Today’s flurry sounds suspiciously like widely repeated reports of Adam putting “one of his own fans on blast” for talking on a cellphone during his performance (If what Adam actually said was an attack, a lot of what’s on the Ministry probably violates Geneva Conventions). Despite the American Music Awards uproar, Lambert has a track record of good manners and general decency toward others. So of course the search is on for the story or headline that “reveals” some heretofore unseen mean and nasty “real Adam” lurking under the surface.

“Adam’s not really shocking at all” doesn’t drive Internet traffic like “Adam’s picking on poor sweet Susan Boyle” does.

Context, people. It’s all about the context. Call me when there’s video of Adam clubbing a baby seal, and then maybe I’ll believe he’s a jerk.

Maybe.

– Christie D’Zurilla

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

What is it with celebrity interviews lately? Must everyone take things out of context? Adam Lambert spoke with U.K. magazine Gay Times for its March issue, in an interview excerpted here. Yes, he criticizes Susan Boyle‘s album. But does he “slam Susan Boyle“? Was the point of the interview to trash her album and extend [...]

Elton John has never been a big fan of religion.

“Religion promotes hatred and spite against gays,” the openly gay performer told the Observer’s Music Monthly magazine in 2006. “From my point of view, I would ban religion completely.”

So it comes as a surprise that in Parade magazine this week, John claims that one of the central figures of Christianity is in fact a homosexual.

“I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems,” he tells Parade. “On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him.”

In the same breath, John renounces celebrity. The man who at the Grammys wore soot on his face and performed opposite the ultimate exhibitionist, Lady Gaga, says he is done with fame.

“Fame attracts lunatics,” he tells the magazine. “I never had a bodyguard, ever, until Gianni Versace died. I don’t like celebrity anymore.”

John made headlines at the beginning of the year when it was announced he staged an intervention to help designer Donatella Versace kick her drug habit. Prior to that he had revealed he was also supporting rapper Eminem in his fight against substance abuse.

Read more: www.nydailynews.com

Elton John has never been a big fan of religion. “Religion promotes hatred and spite against gays,” the openly gay performer told the Observer’s Music Monthly magazine in 2006. “From my point of view, I would ban religion completely.” So it comes as a surprise that in Parade magazine this week, John claims that one [...]

EYELINER and outrageous outfits unite LADY GAGA and BOY GEORGE. And they’ve both been mistaken for the opposite sex too.

Now though, the pair are planning to team up – and GaGa will make a childhood dream come true by getting George to join her on stage at London’s O2 Arena in February.

The singer has spoken in the past about George’s influence on her when she was growing up.

A source said: “GaGa has always been a fan and now he’s got his life back on track it’s the perfect opportunity to do something with him.”

She is also casting the video for single Alejandro – and is eyeing DAVID WALLIAMS‘ girlfriend LARA STONE.

EYELINER and outrageous outfits unite LADY GAGA and BOY GEORGE. And they’ve both been mistaken for the opposite sex too. Now though, the pair are planning to team up – and GaGa will make a childhood dream come true by getting George to join her on stage at London’s O2 Arena in February. The singer [...]

Queen Elizabeth II greets a variety of performers at the Royal Variety Performance, including Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus

Queen Elizabeth II greets a variety of performers at the Royal Variety Performance, including Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus

Watch Lady Gaga Interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and get to know her a lil’ better.

And Lady Gaga on Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009

Watch Lady Gaga Interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and get to know her a lil’ better. And Lady Gaga on Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009