SINGER CYNDI LAUPER INHALES HELIUM

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper inhales helium before she performs live. The 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' singer, famed for high-pitched voice, was spotted sucking the voice-distorting gas out of balloons back stage at the Hetrick-Martin Institute benefit gala, in New York, last week. A source told the New York Daily News newspaper: "Cyndi sucked the gas out of two helium balloons before going on stage to belt out 'Time After Time' and some of her other hits." The 54-year-old singer also managed to upset her teenage backup singers at the charity concert - which raised money for the Harvey Milk High School for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youths - when she introduced them to the audience as her "transgender choir". One of the young singers fumed: "She keeps calling us transgender! We're not f***ing trannies!" The Scissor Sisters also performed at the Institutes gala dinner.

GENDER BENDER MIKA TEASED AT SCHOOL

Sexy singer Mika

Mika was bullied by his teacher when he was at school. The 'Grace Kelly' singer, who was ridiculed by fellow pupils throughout his childhood, claims he was shocked when his "nasty" teacher began picking on him. He told Seven magazine: "The bullying was out of control. I was even picked on by one of my teachers, a female teacher. "I don't know why she did it. I didn't provoke her. I wasn't the first and I imagine I wasn't the last she picked on. She was just a nasty piece of work. I wasn't brave. I was not a fighter in the classroom. I lost I was lame. I admit it. I saw myself more as the slow and stubborn turtle who quietly got on with what he was doing, knowing I would one day win the race." The 23-year-old flamboyant star believes the bullying he suffered as a child caused his dyslexia to spiral out of control. He said: "They used to throw things at me and call me a f***ing poof. I stopped talking and then I stopped reading and writing. That was bad. I couldn't even write the name of my school. It was weird because at seven I could sight-read, then all my problems with dyslexia started. To this day I cannot sight-read. I cannot spell properly. My verbal IQ is high but not my written IQ!"

GEORGE MICHAEL WILL WRITE TELL ALL

Will George Michael really tell all ?

George Michael is set to write a revealing book about his arrests and drug use. The 'Fast Love' singer is planning to tell-all about his UK and US arrests in the tome due to be released in October. A source said: "It's expected to sell really well. George has millions of fans." The biography will include a "warts and all" chapter on his arrest for engaging in a lewd act in a Beverly Hills public toilet in 1998. Michael, who was arrested by an undercover police officer, was fined $810 and sentenced to 80 hours of community service for the offence. The 43-year-old singer is also set to write about being found "slumped and drooling" at the wheel of his car at a set of London traffic lights last October. Michael - who had taken anti-depressants and sleeping pills - escaped jail, but was sentenced to 100 hours community service and banned from driving for one year. The book, which will be ghostwritten by music journalist Rob Jovanovich, is also expected to talk about his "sexual freedom" and drug taking. Earlier this year, Michael claimed smoking cannabis keeps him "sane". He said: "This stuff keeps me sane and happy. I could write without it if I were sane and happy. I'd say it's a great drug - but obviously it's not very healthy." Earlier this week, it was claimed Michael was too scared to take a HIV test. TV producer Ross Wilson said: "George says he does not believe in tests. "He says he finds the wait for results too harrowing and that he hasn't had a test since at least 2004 due to his fears it might be positive."
More on George Michael at WWW.TimesSquareGossip.Com

WALT DISNEY TO DO GAY WEDDING'S

The Walt Disney Company has changed its policy to allow same-sex couples to participate in a popular Fairy Tale Wedding program it runs mainly at its two U.S. resorts and cruise line, a Disney spokesman said on Thursday. Disney previously had allowed gay couples to organize their own weddings or commitment ceremonies at rented meeting rooms at the resorts, but had barred them from purchasing its Fairy Tale Wedding package and holding the event at locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World that are set aside specifically for weddings. "We are updating our Fairy Tale Wedding guidelines to include commitment ceremonies," Disney Parks and Resorts spokesman Donn Walker said. "This is consistent with our policy of creating a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment for all of our guests." Walker said the change was prompted by "an inquiry from a guest that asked about this service." Disney had allowed gay couples to take part in its vow renewals program but excluded them from buying wedding packages by requiring a valid marriage license from California or Florida, which do not permit or recognize gay marriages. Last month, gay Web site AfterElton.com criticized Disney for not allowing same-sex couples to participate in the Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons program.
Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding packages start at $8,000 and include a wedding planner, the ceremony, food and beverages, flowers and table decorations.The Lavish Wedding Option also includes a ride to the ceremony in the Cinderella coach, costumed trumpeters heralding the couple's arrival, and attendance by Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters dressed in formal attire. Disney has come under fire from religious conservatives, including the Southern Baptist convention, which have accused the company of promoting a gay agenda.
The groups, which lifted an eight-year boycott of Disney in 2005, had criticized the company for such corporate policies as giving health benefits to same-sex partners of employees, allowing "Gay Day" celebrations at its theme parks and airing a prime time television show on its ABC network featuring openly gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres. "We are not in the business of making judgments about the lifestyle of our guests. We are in the hospitality business and our parks and resorts are open to everyone," Walker said.