A writer who revamped Batman for DC Comics has said that the character is “very, very gay.”

Grant Morrison, the leading writer of superhero comic books today, spoke about the comic book superhero in a recent interview with Playboy magazine.

Morrison who became interested in the class element of Batman – “He’s a rich man who beats up poor people,” described Batman as being very plutonian – he’s wealthy and sexually deviant.

“Gayness is built into Batman,” he said, adding, “I’m not using gay in the pejorative sense, but Batman is very, very gay. There’s just no denying it. Obviously as a fictional character he’s intended to be heterosexual, but the basis of the whole concept is utterly gay. I think that’s why people like it.”

As well as Batman, Morrison has also had successful runs on a number of titles including The Invisibles, New X-Men and the Fantastic Four.

Anna Paquin

Despite often being dismissed by people as a cop-out, bisexuality is actually real. So says True Blood actress Anna Paquin in a recent interview with Zooey magazine.

Paquin, who is currently married to co-star Stephen Moyer, came out as bisexual in 2010. Currently featured as Zooey’s May cover girl, Paquin told the magazine in an interview, “I’m sure for some people saying they’re bisexual feels less scary than making a statement that they’re gay. For me, it’s not really an issue because I’m someone who believes being bisexual is actually a thing. It’s not made up. It’s not a lack of decision. It’s not being greedy or numerous other ignorant things I’ve heard at this point.”

Paquin continued, “For a bisexual, it’s not about gender. That’s not the deciding factor for who they’re attracted to.”

Be sure to read Tom Andrew’s review in Top Highlights and Section 4a

(The following is edited promotional copy)

After her critically acclaimed debut as Roxie Hart on Broadway and in London’s West End, Christie Brinkley, one of the most successful supermodels in history, will make her Broadway tour debut this spring as she reprises her “killer role” in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit “Chicago.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Christie and her incredible dedication, focus and determination that she exhibits..,” said producer Barry Weissler. “I’m excited to share with audiences the stellar performance that she delivers.”

During her career as one of the world’s most successful and recognizable fashion models, Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. But the supermodel also excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist environmentalist and political activist, according to a press release issued by the show’s production company.

Christie Brinkley\Credit: Andrew Eccles

Now in its 16th year of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical “Chicago” is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.

With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, “Chicago” is also the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. The show also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

Set amid the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, “Chicago” is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Directed by Tony Award winner, Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, “Chicago” features set design by John Lee Beatty; costume design by Tony Award winner, William Ivey Long; lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington; and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

A Ford model for more than thirty years, Christie Brinkley was discovered by a photographer in Paris at the age of eighteen. Since then, she has become the first model to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated for three consecutive years, and appeared in the publication’s annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow.

In 1976, CoverGirl gave Brinkley her first “big break” in modeling with a contract, which launched the start of a 20-year partnership that marks the longest-running cosmetics contract of any model in history.

Christie Brinkley is known for her commitment to health and fitness. She wrote and illustrated a health and beauty book entitled, “Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Guide” which topped The New York Times bestseller list.

On the big screen, she made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the hit feature film National Lampoon’s Vacation and its 1997 sequel, Vegas Vacation. She has also famously appeared in Billy Joel’s classic music videos “Uptown Girl,” “Keeping the Faith” and “All About Soul,” as well as Mick Jones’ music video “Just Wanna Hold.”

On television, Christie has appeared on NBC’s “Mad About You” and hosted Lifetime Television’s “InStyle Celebrity Weddings,” which became the highest rated special in Lifetime’s history. She has also been featured in Vh1′s “Pop Culture Icons” series. Christie has been the subject of many documentaries including the HBO program “Beautiful Baby, Beautiful,” Lifetime’s “Intimate Portrait” and “Barbara Walters’ Oscar Night Special.”

Christie is an active member and dedicated supporter/activist for many organizations including UNICEF’s Art and Entertainment Support Committee, Handgun Control, Ovarian Cancer, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Cousteau Society, Southern Poverty Law, The Wilderness Society and stopglobalwarming.org.

She currently lives in New York with two of her three children, Sailor Lee and Jack Paris. Her daughter, actress/singer Alexa Ray Joel, lives in New York City.

Hulu launches LGBT offerings/Source: Hulu

Hulu has launched its new LGBT category heading on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus. Implemented as a navigational tool to facilitate easier access to Hulu’s substantial offerings of LGBT films, this new category heading arises out of an initiative spearheaded by LGBT film distributor Wolfe Video. Hulu.com’s LGBT genre category can be accessed at hulu.com/genres/Gay-and-Lesbian.

The new Hulu category highlights LGBT content much more prominently on the platform, helping users locate that content more efficiently, including dozens of new titles from an array of content partners. Visitors can currently access nearly 100 films in the LGBT category with new titles being added weekly. Notable movies include last year’s acclaimed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell drama A Marine Story and the anti-bullying musical Were The World Mine, as well as LGBT classics such as the documentary Paris Is Burning and the acclaimed independent drama Frida.

“Wolfe has been working with content providers and retailers for more than twenty years on this simple but important distinction. Creating a visible category for gay and lesbian films continues to be a vitally important reflection of LGBT equality in our culture,” said Wolfe VP, Linda Voutour. “We’re extremely grateful to our colleagues at Hulu for taking such leadership in the digital delivery space.”

The Scissor Sisters have announced that they will launch their North American tour, June 15, at the Las Vegas House of Blues in support of their forthcoming album, Magic Hour. The outing will include a show at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, June 16, and conclude with a two-night stand at Terminal 5 in the band’s hometown of New York City, July 6 and 7.

Set for U.S. release May 29 on Casablanca Records, Magic Hour is the follow-up to 2010’s Night Work, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums Chart and was hailed as “dirty fun” by The New York Times.

“It was a pretty collaborative effort,” says frontman Jake Shears. “It’s really different from Night Work. That was almost a concept album. This one is a bit more of a grab-bag of music – it’s closest to our first record in terms of variety, and that board-game aspect where you’re not quite sure where you’re going to land next.”

The first single from the album, “Only The Horses,” which will be available at all digital retailers beginning May 15, was co-produced with Calvin Harris. “When we wrote ‘Horses,’ I immediately knew that he’d help knock it out of the park,” says Jake.

The official video for “Only The Horses” can be viewed at youtu.be/E3m-XH1Kij0.

Drink & Drag opens in Las Vegas on May 5, 2012

The aptly named Drink & Drag is the nation’s first drag queen staffed venue for gaming, bowling, cocktails and outrageous entertainment; and on May 5^th, 2012, the Las Vegas bar will celebrate its Grand Opening and welcome the LGBT community and straight clientele alike.

Developed by the owner of Krave Nightclub, Drink & Drag will feature a 22,000-square-foot space decked out with 12 bowling lanes, pool tables and gaming in a luxurious lounge setting complete with VIP service and specialty cocktails.

Drink & Drag is located on the second level of the Neonopolis entertainment complex, at 450 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. To learn more, visit www.drinkanddrag.com.

Jason Mraz

(CNN) The break-up theme is front-and-center on “I Won’t Give Up,” the lead single off of Jason Mraz’s fourth studio album, Love is a Four Letter Word.

“It’s not a break-up album. It was certainly written at a time when I wasn’t certain what was going to happen inside of a relationship,” he told CNN.

Mraz was referring to his broken engagement to fellow singer-songwriter Tristan Prettyman. But the two-time Grammy winner says the message is more figurative than literal.

“It’s an album of love songs, but not just through the filter of romanticism. It’s also through compassion and empathy and love of our natural world. At the end of the project, I still didn’t feel like these 12 songs summed up what love is. I was like, ‘I don’t know. Love is a four letter word.’”

And so is the word “tour.”

Mraz’s Tour is a Four Letter Word kicks off June 8 in Pusan, South Korea, and hits the United States the following month in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In the meantime, he’s devoting much of his passion to the newly launched Jason Mraz Foundation.

“‘Jason,’ in Greek history, means ‘healer,’” he pointed out. “So I really wanted to take that on, not only in my music, but in my work in the world.”

The foundation supports a variety of causes, from education and the environment to addiction assistance and human rights. He’s also been outspoken about his support for marriage equality.

“Traditional marriage between a man and a woman, and trying to put that into a law or a rule, is basically saying that gay people aren’t real. Well, gay people are very real. It is treating our gay and lesbian citizens like second-class citizens. I think it is the final step in the civil rights movement,” he said.

For Mraz, that’s what his song, “I Won’t Give Up,” is all about.

“It’s about not giving up on a dream, or the integrity of who you are,” the singer said.

Rosie O’Donnell

Video footage has emerged of Rosie O’Donnell involved in a strongly-worded exchange with a street preacher who calls her a ‘lesbian pig’.

Pinknews.co.uk reported that the footage, posted to YouTube in March, surfaced this week and shows O’Donnell becoming embroiled in the spat as her family watches on.

The preacher tells her, “You are an ungodly, wicked woman on your way to hell, you need to get saved.”

O’Donnell says she hopes he enjoys his life “behind the megaphone.”

Challenged to quote a Bible verse she says, “Jesus wept. At you. Because you didn’t get the whole meaning of what he was about.”

The preacher tells her, “Go home and do the dishes, that’s your job.”

Walking away, O’Donnell replies, “I’m going home to fuck my wife.”

The man calls out to her, “You’re a pig, a lesbian pig.”

The video footage can be viewed at, youtube.com/watch?v=PpETuftobwg.

Justin Bieber

(CNN) – The Weinstein Company’s documentary on bullying in schools has received another show of support from teen pop star Justin Bieber.

The 18-year-old singer has provided the soundtrack for a new TV spot for the Bully documentary with his song “Born to Be Somebody.” The clip, premiered on Fandango.com, and began airing last week.

“I was bullied,” Bieber told Showbiz Tonight’s Kareen Wynter in an exclusive interview. “Most people in their lifetime have been bullied at some point. I think that it’s about time that people start making a change.”

“A lot of the time,” he went on, “principals let it go, or teachers let it go, or other students just let it go, but I think this movie’s really powerful and can help change a lot of lives.”

Directed by Lee Hirsch, Bully explores the difficult topic of school bullying through the eyes of five students, and was at the center of the controversy when the MPAA denied it a PG-13 rating and gave it an R, thereby restricting access to the age group most affected by the film’s subject.

Following a fervent campaign to change the film’s rating, which had support from several high-profile celebs including Bieber, the MPAA did grant Bully a PG-13 assignation.

The important thing, Bieber continued, is to call attention to the problem. “If you’re a bystander, too, tell somebody – because a lot of times, it’s just not spoken of, and you ended up – you end up keeping it all inside, and then it just hurts even more.”

According to a statement from the Weinstein Company, Bieber was “one of the dozens of stars who helped #BullyMovie trend on Twitter recently raising further awareness as the film approached its release in theaters,” and the superstar himself says he’s been more than happy to offer support.

Chaz Bono

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), has announced it will honor LGBT equality advocate, author and speaker Chaz Bono at the 23rd annual GLAAD Media Awards presented nationally by Ketel One and Wells Fargo. Bono will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the Los Angeles ceremony April 21 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, presented locally by Delta Air Lines. The Stephen F. Kolzak Award is presented to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality. Chaz Bono has consistently advocated for LGBT equality. In 2009, Bono revealed that he is transgender, and in 2011 he shared his life in the documentary Becoming Chaz, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and three Emmy Awards. Also in 2011, Bono competed on the thirteenth season of ABC’s hit show, Dancing With The Stars.