If thousands of years from now our civilization becomes eradicated, much like that of the ancient Egyptians, archaeologists will sift through rock and debris and find artifacts that lead them to the logical conclusion that America had a queen and her name was Oprah. The talk show icon’s legacy will now live on forever thanks in part to sculptor Daniel Edwards, who has recently unveiled his newest piece: “Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies’ Memorial.”

Edwards created this monument in memory of Oprah’s Cocker Spaniel, Sophie, and Golden Labrador, Gracie, who both passed away this year. Why are the dogs sitting atop her golden head, you ask? Well, Edwards decided to take the road much less traveled in art and place them there for their literal significance: they are always on Oprah’s mind. His message received, I would say. Although Sophie died of natural causes, Oprah’s Labrador died from choking on a ball that she found somewhere within the vastness of the Winfrey estate; Edwards is hoping that his tribute to them will “serve as a reminder to all pet lovers to thoroughly ‘puppy-proof’ their pet’s habitat”. (A public service announcement might have been another helpful way to go about sending this message, but I won’t judge.)

This is not the first time Edwards sculpted a celebrity, or even Oprah for that matter. Back in January, he created a full body bronze sarcophagus of the TV host completely naked (and rather endowed, I might add). Edwards said he created this because he wanted to pay tribute to the closest thing we have in America to a “living deity.” I have always said that a pair of large breasts is a definite sign of godliness. … continue reading

Last fall, scribegrrrl assessed some of the most bizarre casting news ever, Drew Barrymore as Little Edie in Grey Gardens. That's the documentary-turned-musical about the relatives of Jackie Kennedy whose lives, dreams, and house decay in one of the most truly uncomfortable things I've ever seen. I wholeheartedly agree: I don't see Barrymore — whose on-screen presence is brilliantly suited for cutesy-romantic and cutesy-badass roles — playing Edith Beale without coming across as, well, just cutesy. For those of you who aren't familiar with the crazy-making documentary-turned-musical, here's some perspective.

In a more comprehensible choice, Jessica Lange, you might recall, is playing the mother. Personally, I'm still trying to understand why we need a dramatized version at all, when you can just rent the documentary. (That is, if you feel like being depressed. Or are depressed, and want to make yourself feel better by comparison.)

But Barrymore and Vogue have been working to convince the skeptics that she's up for it and, in fact, grown-up enough for it. Among other revelations, director Michael Sucsy recounts how Barrymore hunted him down, making her case accompanied by an inches-thick binder of her personal Little Edie collection. I do understand the fascination with Edie, a S-T-A-U-N-C-H woman:

For her part, in the interview Barrymore discusses the process of the film, from makeup to accent to mental readiness. Since Edie has about two decades on Drew, it took five hours of makeup, wigs, and prosthetics to transform her. She also signed on for months of dialect coaching to master the speech cadences of a Long Island debutant from the 1930s. This, she says, was the hardest part for a Valley Girl: "In those days, there were no R's. I talk out of the side of my mouth, and she talks from the back of her throat. It's really a different language." … continue reading

Election Day in 1992 was possibly my favorite political day ever. I voted in the morning, watched election returns all evening and celebrated in the streets of West Hollywood until late that night. California made history that day by electing two women to the Senate, and I had the satisfaction of having been part of the process. Two years later, lots of folks with politics different from mine had the satisfaction of shifting things in a different direction. (I was less happy about that.) What we had in common, however, was a belief that voting was important.

This Tuesday, February 5, is Super Tuesday — a big voting day in the United States. Despite the early primaries and caucuses, Tuesday is the official start of the presidential primary season. The 23 Democratic primaries and caucuses and 21 Republican primaries and caucuses will likely determine both parties' candidates. The right to vote is cool and important — arguably the single most important element of civic responsibility and participation. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Logo (AfterEllen.com's parent company) launched VisibleVote08.com in anticipation of this year's U.S. presidential election. And lots of celebrities are always yammering about the importance of voting or the candidate they want you to vote for. Let's take a look at how some celebrity women have gotten into the act.

Celebrity Endorsements

The most obvious way celebrities participate in the political process is by endorsing specific candidates. Oprah is arguably the highest profile endorser of a candidate in the 2008 race.

She endorsed Barack Obama last spring, and pundits are questioning whether she can apply the “Oprah Effect” to political candidates.

Susan Sarandon is a perennial activist who is dismissed by many (not by me) as a wacko liberal and humorless soapbox orator. (I believe this makes her an honorary lesbian!)

She tolerates this wearily, and argues that if she has to deal with the burdens of celebrity, she might as well also try to use it to do some good. And she acknowledges that even her kids laugh at her activism:

“When we have friends over, the kids always bet on how long it will take before we turn to politics. We always forget, and then they say, 'That was fast — only one minute and two seconds.'”

And, of course, there's Barbara Streisand, whom I love even though I think she takes herself too seriously. … continue reading

"What if the freedom to be yourself all came down to where you live?" That's what Oprah asked in her "Gay Around the World" episode on Oct. 24. She said gays and lesbians are in the midst of a "global civil rights revolution," citing Dumbledore's recent outing as an example of change for the better. She also provided a summary of global laws and severe punishments, such as stoning and beheading. And she touched on the state of U.S. issues, including gay marriage, adoption, workplace discrimination and "don't ask, don't tell."

The first segment of the show concerned an Indian prince, Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla. He faced family shame and public outrage when he came out. He still lives in a palace, but he has struggled with mental health issues — though he says he has no regrets. Hang in there, Prince Manvendra! Your turban is downright fabulous.

The second segment of the show focused on Staceyann Chin, who was born in Jamaica and now lives in New York City.

In Jamaica, gays and lesbians are targeted by mobs and fear for their safety daily. Staceyann described the homophobic culture of her childhood, including the brutal sexual assault she suffered. You can read more of Staceyann's story on Oprah's website. And here's her segment: … continue reading

No, this is not a lame Oprah/Gayle joke (even though those often make me giggle). On Wednesday, The Oprah Winfrey Show offers a very special live episode. Here's a press blurb:

Tune in LIVE on Wednesday, October 24 when The Oprah Winfrey Show travels the globe for a look into the lives of gays and lesbians in the U.S. and worldwide. Go behind the headlines to see the secret lives of gays in Iran. Meet an Indian prince whose coming out caused a controversy in his homeland. Plus, meet inspiring gay couples and families from around the world.

You can watch a preview on the show's official website. In that clip, you'll see that Staceyann Chin will be one of the guests. Sounds intriguing and definitely worth DVRing!

Check the blog tomorrow to see how it all plays out when Oprah says, "Thanks for the show idea, Ahmadinejad!"