In both Lady Gaga’s live appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America and in the version sung on Glee the following lyrics to “Born This Way” are omitted:

No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I’m on the right track baby
I was born to survive

One could argue time restraints on GMA caused the singer to shorten the tune. But Glee? Really?! Mmmm.

Meanwhile, two months ago in Malaysia, Born This Way was edited to remove the same verse for radio airplay. NME reports

Chiefs for Malaysia’s top private radio operator AMP Radio Networks made a statement about their edit. They explained that the edit had been commissioned as there are government restrictions against songs that might violate “good taste or decency or are offensive to public feeling”.

The statement continued: “The particular lyrics in ‘Born This Way’ may be considered as offensive when viewed against Malaysia’s social and religious observances. The issue of being gay, lesbian or bisexual is still considered as a ‘taboo’ by general Malaysians.”

And Wednesday from the Philippines:

Why is Channel V Philippines censoring the lyrics of Lady Gaga’s pro-gay song “Born This Way?”

The music channel removed the controversial line “No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track, baby” from the Lady Gaga music video.

Lady Gaga, in her official Twitter account, said last week that the point with ‘Born This Way ‘is to “fight for something that not everyone believes in. To overcome adversity with a message.”

Google placed this ad, featuring author activist Dan Savage, during Glee. Yes it’s an ad for Google Chrome and its marvels. But the hugest marvel the Google commercial’s integration and support of the “It Gets Better” campaign. It Gets Better was created in

In September 2010 Savage created a YouTube video with his partner Terry to inspire hope for young people facing harassment. Since then over 10,000 user created videos have been posted, as well as PSAs featuring  President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Lambert, Anne Hathaway, Colin Farrell, Matthew Morrison, Joe Jonas, Joel Madden, Ke$ha, Sarah Silverman, Tim Gunn, Ellen DeGeneres, Suze Orman, along with the staffs of The Gap, Google, Facebook, Pixar and many more. From ItGetsBetter.org:

Many LGBT youth can’t picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can’t imagine a future for themselves. So let’s show them what our lives are like, let’s show them what the future may hold in store for them.

It was awesome to see something like this sponsored by a major corporation on national television during sweeps month. HUGE!

Today Fox-TV’s award-winning series Glee begins shooting an episode featuring comedian Kathy Griffin as

a character named Tammy Jean, a middle-aged “recent Tea Party candidate and home schooler — a Sarah Palin type.”

according to MovieLine.

I guess Michele Bachmann and Christine O’Donnell aren’t famous–or ambitious–enough to reference  in a casting breakdown.

Last year Glee’s creator Ryan Murphy told TV Guide that the show would be adding a Christian character to the glee club:

We’ve taken a couple jabs at the right wing this year, so what I want to do with this character is have someone who Christian kids and parents can recognize and say, ‘Oh, look—I’m represented there, too!’ If we’re trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we’ve got to include that point of view as well.

However, Griffin’s character is definitely not going to be joining the singing students of New Directions. I wonder if she’ll go up against Sue Sylvester or bond with the maniacal cheerleading coach.

[photo: i heart him, creative commons]

Last night I went to the American Foundation for Equal Rights benefit concert. Full disclosure, I paid for my ticket. AMFR is the sole sponsor of the federal court challenge of California’s Proposition 8, known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

Elton John was awesome (more on that later), and it was kinda thrilling to see Theodore Olson and David Boies take the stage together. Olsen said  their plan was for him get to the four Supreme Court Justices that voted his way and the five that voted Boies’ way re: Florida, and that way they’d have all nine. Laughs form the audience. Chairman Rob Reiner said the whole point was being non-partisan. Both John Podesta and the Cato Institute are involved with AFER.

Okay done with the speechifications and on to Elton John: Sir Elton, once he realized the difference between UK civil unions and state civil unions, got involved in the battle against Prop 8. He told the audience of 300 at the start of the 90 minute show that he

would always be there for you standing at the forefront to help you guys

and while he realized he had everything, he didn’t have the right to be married to his partner of 17 years. Midway through the set which included several new songs plus “Levon,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Candle in the Wind,” “I’m Still Standing,’ “crocodile Rock,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” and Benny and the Jets,” plus some awesome jazz, boogey-woogey and barrelhouse  piano improv, Sir Elton, who looked like he was having a ton of fun, got serious with a speech ending with the full force of righteous anger toward the churches, the people and politicians who deny equal marriage rights:

Fuck you! Fuck you!

Celebrity spotting was not the purpose of the evening, though  Adam Lambert,  Golden Globe winner/Glee star Jane Lynch and Bruce Vilanch–who our cat Mr Bruce is partially named for (see photo below)–were two rows in front of me.

The event was held at Ron Burkle’s estate in the benefit section of the vast grounds, with one tent for the concert and another for enormous and elegant buffet, with an open bar. The passed hors d’oeuvres included mini-burgers, brie and pear tarts, shrimp and wee pizzas, plus tables loaded with salads, green beans, vegan mousaka, braised short ribs on puff pastry and some amazing desserts including homemade s’mores.

But Elton, OMG! It was incredible to see him up close like that and for such a good cause.