Making good on a promise broadcast just this morning on Good Morning America, former talk show host and Broadway producer Rosie O'Donnell married her longtime parter, Kelli Carpenter, in San Francisco today, asserting what she called a proud stand for gay civil rights. Inarguably the most famous of the now 3,300 couples to wed in San Francisco since the city started issuing licenses for gay marriage, O'Donnell and Carpenter marched hand in hand down the stairs of San Francisco's city hall to thunderous applause after a brief ceremony in Mayor Gavin Newsom's office. O'Donnell told crowds after her wedding, "I want to thank the city of San Francisco for this amazing stance the mayor has taken for all the people here, not just us but all the thousands and thousands of loving, law-abiding couples." On Good Morning America, she cited both President Bush's backing of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages and her recent magazine trial, during which she and Carpenter were denied spousal privilege, as inspiration for the marriage -- along with, we presume, their six year relationship and four children, three of whom are adopted. Carpenter gave birth to their fourth child last year, via artificial insemination. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Troubled pop superstar Michael Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe have agreed to let a retired judge mediate in an "unspecified family dispute". Former nurse Rowe, who mothered Jackson's oldest children Prince Michael and Paris, is reportedly seeking custody of them after Jackson was arrested on child abuse charges last year. Los Angeles Superior Court judge Stephen Lachs will oversee the undisclosed matter between the couple, whose three year marriage ended in 1999. Jackson is currently on bail awaiting trial to fight seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent".

Courtney Love's former lawyer William Genego has denied the troubled rocker's claims she fired him from her current drugs trial. The former Hole star told Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday she had made Genego redundant because, "He wanted me to plead guilty to something I didn't do." However, Genego denied Love's allegations on Tuesday, but declined to explain why he left her case. Love, 39, will now face trial on a misdemeanor drug charge on 16 March - under the guidance of new lawyer Michael Rosenstein.

Mel Gibson has come under attack again - this time from animal rights activists who are furious he's raising animals for meat at his beef cattle ranch in Columbus, Montana. The Passion Of The Christ director - whose movie has sparked a flurry of controversy among religious groups who fear it will create anti-Semitism - has angered the People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA), who claim it's immoral for Christians to raise and kill "God's creatures" for food. Peta, who on Tuesday staged a day-long demonstration outside his Beartooth Ranch, picketed a screening of the movie at the UA Union Square Theatre in New York last night. The protest featured a 10-foot "Jesus On Stilts", and a stash of leaflets about "Christianity and Vegetarianism". The rep says, "We're saying 'Thou shalt not kill' to Mel Gibson. We're just saying people who oppose violence and injustice should extend that compassion to all God's creatures, and adopting a vegetarian diet is the best way to do that."

Wild actress Tara Reid is showing no signs of tempering her penchant for partying - she was so drunk on Saturday she had to be carried out of a club. The American Pie beauty - who was spotted downing vodka during a glitzy recording industry bash at Miami hotspot Mansion - was so inebriated by the early hours, bouncers had to assist her out of the venue. Reid's boyfriend Wayne Boich, who the actress has previously credited with helping her stop living a wild life, was not present at the party - they reportedly had a nasty row earlier that evening. A source tells New York website Page Six, "She was at a table, drinking straight vodka out of a water glass. She passed out on the couch and we all watched her slide slowly to the floor the bouncers had to come get her."

Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has been granted access to the high- security interpreters booth at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York city. The Oscar-winner sat inside the room in preparation for her role as a UN translator in forthcoming movie The Interpreter, which also stars Sean Penn. Kidman listened in as the UN Security Council held a meeting about the situation in Iraq. A UN spokesman says, "She was here this morning doing work with the interpreters as part of preparation for The Interpreter." Last month senior diplomats gave director Sydney Pollack permission to shoot inside the highly-guarded building, the first movie ever to be allowed to do so.

Hollywood star Jennifer Lopez's role in new Ben Affleck movie Jersey Girl has been ignored in the trailer - because studio bosses are worried cinema- goers will avoid another film starring the Gigli pair. Jersey Girl is being released in America on March 26 and although Lopez makes an appearance, she is absent from the movie's poster campaign and only appears for a split second in the trailer. The Kevin Smith comedy stars Affleck as a publicist married to Lopez, who dies early in the film. But Miramax, the studio releasing Jersey Girl, insists the decision to cut J.Lo out of the marketing campaign is consistent with her tiny role in the movie, and has nothing to do with last year's mega-flop Gigli. Miramax's Amanda Lundberg tells website Pagesix, "She's not the star of the movie and the marketing materials reflect her role in the film."

Irish hunk Colin Farrell embarked on a romance with Thai soap star Orravin Ngernyuang, while shooting scenes of his movie Alexander in the actress' native country. The Phone Booth star, who has been linked to Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie, met the 21-year-old actress and college student in Bangkok in early February when she was hired as an interpreter and liaison for the cast. And sparks between the pair flew when they went out for drinks one night. A source says, "All she admitted to was kissing Colin. But her friends were all very jealous. She's really beautiful. Everyone was coming on to her."

Busty beauty Pamela Anderson insists she's still single - even though she was spotted smooching with ex-boyfriend Marcus Schenkenberg on Thursday. The former Baywatch star, 36, had assured fans she was going celibate after parting ways with former fiance Kid Rock and ex-husband Tommy Lee - but she was in the arms of model Schenkenberg, 35, at Miami, Florida's Sagarmore Hotel just days after making her announcement. She says, "I'm not dating anyone right now." Schenkenberg, on the other hand, has a different view of their relationship. He says, "I dropped everything to go and see her. We're not officially dating... yet."

Star Wars beauty Natalie Portman and Mexican hunk Gael Garcia Bernal enjoyed a romantic Valentine's Day meal together - and didn't care who spotted them getting intimate. Portman, 22, and the 25-year-old Y Tu Mama Tambien star made no secret of their mutual affection as they sat holding hands and frequently shared passionate kisses during their date at east London's trendy Real Greek restaurant. Prompt Portman waited patiently at the bar for Bernal to arrive for a double date, which they spent with another equally loved-up couple. An onlooker says, "Natalie and Gael were very intimate - touching each other and kissing in full view of everyone. They're definitely an item. Natalie arrived first and was at the bar by herself for a while waiting for the others to turn up - they had a double date with another couple. They all ended up having a few bottles or red wine and stayed late." Portman and Bernal met at an Academy Awards after party in March last year and they have since been spotted together, but have refused to comment on any possible relationship.

Hollywood heart-throb Josh Hartnett is single once again after parting ways with his childhood sweetheart Ellen Fenster. The pair, both 25, had been together for a number of years and about a year ago, they bought a $2.5 million mansion together in their native Minneapolis, Minnesota. But a source now tells American magazine the Star, "They just broke up. He seems okay." Pals are staying tight-lipped on why the two decided to go their separate ways after so many years.