Buzz Flashes

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Observer Update) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist is getting married next month and the Gay group Impact Florida plans to be there to peacefully protest the recent passage of Amendment 2, which bans same-sex marriage in the state, and the governor's endorsement of it:

The Suncoast News reports: "The group Impact-Florida has called on its members to gather in pink T-shirts outside First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg on Dec.12 to "congratulate" Crist and Rome while their wedding takes place inside. The demonstration will continue outside the wedding reception at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg. 'After the positive congratulatory observance, there will be a candlelight vigil close to the [Vinoy] in downtown St. Pete to mourn the loss of Gays right to get married,' the group's Web site states, referring to a Gay marriage ban that passed by ballot initiative in November. Crist endorsed Amendment 2 prior to its passage by 61.9 percent of state voters; it needed 60 percent to become part of the state Constitution."

Said Impact Florida spokesperson Lorna Bracewell to GaySoFla: “Our objective will be to celebrate the Governor’s fundamental right to marry. The demonstration will be peaceful and respectful. Governor Crist, an outspoken proponent of Amendment 2, is getting married. He is exercising the same fundamental right millions of Floridians are now denied because of the passage of Amendment 2. Perhaps it will inspire him and the many Floridians that voted for Amendment 2 to rethink their positions on the question of what constitutes a marriage." ...

NEW YORK CITY (Observer Update) - Liza Minnelli ending the opening number seated in host Rosie O’Donnell’s lap and a much-talked about strip tease from 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski couldn’t help the one-off Rosie Live limp across the finish line. The out Lesbian’s much publicized variety show landed with a thud Wednesday night (November 26) to dismal ratings, advocate.com reported.

Just five million people watched Rosie sing and interact with a slew of star including Clay Aiken, Ne-Yo, Gloria Estefan and Alec Baldwin. NBC tested the how the night before Thanksgiving to see if fans of the outspoken O’Donnell were interested in the variety show format.

They weren’t. After dismal reviews and lackluster ratings, O’Donnell announced herself in a blog that there wouldn’t be a second show. She wrote: "there will b no moreno ratings?bad reviews yet still - a thrill 4 me" Whether it was O’Donnell or the format that kept audiences away remains to be seen. The Osbournes will test out the format next year with a similar special, scheduled to air on Fox. ...

LONDON, UK (Observer Update) - Jurors heard that Boy George chained male model/escort Auden Carlsen to his bed because he thought Carlsen had stolen photos from his computer to use on his website:

“'I absolutely admit I had him in the handcuffs, so he wouldn't go anywhere while I checked the computer. I certainly wasn't going to kill him, that's hardly going to do my career any good is it?'” he told police. O'Dowd, 47, met Norwegian male escort Auden Carlsen over the Internet and the pair arranged to meet for a pornographic photo shoot...Carlsen has accused O'Dowd of chaining him up on their second meeting at the singer's east London flat and beating him with a chain.

O'Dowd admitted to police that he had hit Carlsen before, but only through choice. 'You can't spank anyone if they don't want you to,' he said, asserting that on the occasion in question he had not punched or assaulted the escort. 'Those are serious handcuffs, there was no reason to beat him up when I'd put him in those,' he said. 'I was just so angry. It wasn't about me doing anything, I just wanted to make sure he did not leave my house.'"