NY government to gays: We love you and your $$!

Queer history is made in New York City every day. If you didn't grow up here, but plunked down later in your life then you know the youthful, fluttering dreams that come true upon learning such a mythical place exists. Little gay kids all over the world dream of the big city in hopes of one day living on an island where kissing the one you love is actually OK -- where boys can be boys or girls, and girls can be girls or boys, or anything in between, and that's just the morning commute to work. Ah, NYC, we love you so.

And the NY government is finally, formally letting everyone know that they love us, too. Well, at least our money, anyway (hmm, where’s our marriage bill?). With the 40th anniversary of the Stone Wall riots, the political act that began the gay rights movement, coming up in June and the acknowledgment of the almighty power of the gay dollar, nyc.gov has just launched the "Rainbow Pilgrimage."

Our favorite former Pink Lady, Olivia Newton John, comes to Carnegie Hall

Photo: Getty Images

Last night at Carnegie Hall, Aussie actor Simon Burke hosted "G'Day USA: Australia Plays Broadway," part of a week of shameless and celebratory self-promotion for Australian tourism (did anyone see their longest advertisement ever, directed by Baz Luhrmann, earlier this winter?) including crooner David Campbell, rocker Jimmy Barnes, twin cellists Pei-Jee and Pei-Sian Ng, and the 70-member Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

But the reason we here at Popnography were super juiced is we got to see Grease star and 80's pop sensation Olivia Newton John! Appearing with her (third) husband, Amazon Herb Co. owner John Easterling, Olivia looked stunning with her expertly dyed blond tresses cascading over her impressively tasteful stage makeup (who knew that was even possible?) and a sparkly black sequin blouse worn over an equally dark pencil skirt. She came across as delighted and fresh, whether backstage (where she refused all questions -- for shame Ms. Newton John! How are we supposed to confirm that "Physical" truly is the best song to get down to -- or at least the hottest video to ... um ... er ... watch alone before bed?) or center stage.

Olivia ended the the first act of the show by telling us, in her adorable Aussie drawl, about the multi-million dollar cancer hospital she is raising money to build in Melbourne. We knew she was still sexy and chic -- but philanthropic too? Then, after 18 acts, Olivia retook the stage to perform "I Love You, I Honestly Love You," and part of the "Peter Allen Medley" and it was clear the Pink Lady still has what it takes to bring a crowd to its feet -- and a homo to his knees.

-- JOSEPH ALEXIOU

Previously > Give 'em L!

Scene: Matt Dallas

Photo: Getty Images

I'm not at all clear what qualified some of the attendees at the Golden Globes' "Young Hollywood" party -- most people were one or the other, but rarely both -- but I approve of whatever angle Matt Dallas is working here. (Sort of a naughty older brother to Harry Potter, perhaps.)

Is Kyle XY even still on? Yes! Apparently there will be new episodes starting in January. Good thing Matt's out working the red carpets so we even think to wonder such things.

Scene: Valkyrie premiere after party

Photo: Getty Images

One of these things is not like the other: Tom Cruise, Bryan Singer and Eddie Izzard (left to right).

Scene: Lady GaGa wearing Siriano on the Today Show

The newest queen of pop radio flashed her puh-puh-poker face on the Today Show yesterday morning wearing a one of a kind Christian Siriano dress. Lady GaGa met the Project Runway alum earlier this year at Logo's NewNowNext Awards and the rest is fashion history.

Previously > Lady GaGa rules the dancefloor with a sequined fist

Scene: Salma Hayek at amfAR's Dubai gala

Photo: Getty Images

As usual Salma Hayek looked stunning at the 2nd Annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Dubai Gala. You know a city has landed on the must-visit list for international film festivals when amfAR has a benefit there. Too bad that despite their cosmopolitan affectations it's still illegal to actually be queer there!

Scene: Pete Wentz art show

Photo: Kristin Baker

Pete "Petenut Butter" Wentz crouched down to tag the walls at his gallery opening with Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy, a joint exhibit of their mixed-media work, "Without You I'm Just Me." The Los Angeles hipster scene soiree also drew the pair's bold-name babes (Ashlee Simpson and Katy Perry, respectively) as well as Wentz-crush John Mayer and his ex Jessica Simpson (no doubt why John came early in the night, long before the VIP reception), Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden, Solange Knowles and Clark Duke (sadly not together) -- a fitting guest list for an impressively Warholian collection of pieces touching on fame, depression and mass-produced politics. I especially liked the rendering of Mickey Mouse as an American flag-waving hawk who proclaims, "I love war!"

Scene: Tilda Swinton

Photo: Getty Images

The less said about the mustache sported by Brad Pitt at last night's premiere for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button the better. (Please say it's for a role. Please say it's for a role.)

Instead let's cast our gaze upon the luminous Tilda Swinton, Oscar winner and April '08 Out cover girl. No sign of boyfriend Sandro Kopp, her usual red carpet eye candy. Maybe he was holding her purse and meeting her at the far end, though, as the British papers maintain they're still very much a happy, "boring" family.

My favorite of her quotes on the subject, and not just because she continues to refer to herself as a man in these kinds of conversations:

"One man's polyamory - is that the word? - is another man's being really, really good friends with the co-parent of one's children while we're both in other relationships. I don't think that's so strange."

Previously > The dream life of Tilda Swinton