2011 will be known, in large part, for the Arab Spring. From my Los Angeles home, I felt such camaraderie with those brave, ordinary people who, as if on cue, came together to oust dictators and call for democracy.

I had meant to write about serious LGBT news this week, but I accidently fell down the sinkhole of celebrity gossip – in particular, the goings on of one Alan Osmond (yes, those Osmonds). It started with a video of the former star discussing how Chuck Norris was consulted to help make the...