Screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor mourned by gay community

By Andrew John.

Among the many mourning the loss of screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor, who has died aged 79, are members of the international gay community.

To many gay men and women, Taylor – who died of congestive heart failure – was seen as an icon.

London-born Taylor had been suffering from the heart condition since 2004.

The Pink News website carries a story today, and among the comments is one from a reader signed in as Emma, who writes: "Rest in peace you lovely lady. Absolute legend."

Another commenter, Valsky, says: "She was an advocate and a friend to us as well as an amazing talent. RIP."

And Lord Gaga writes: "An amazing, lovely woman – and a truly loyal friend to us. This is a real loss to the world."

USA Today quotes Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, as confirming her death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and adding: "All her children were with her."

The paper's report says: "Taylor won three Oscars, including a special one for her humanitarian work, but was tortured by ill health, failed romances and personal tragedy."

It goes on to recall her saying in 1989: "I think I'm becoming fatalistic. Too much has happened in my life for me not to be fatalistic."

The paper speaks of the actress's eight marriages – including two to Welsh actor Richard Burton – and "a lifelong battle with substance abuse, physical ailments and overeating [that] made Taylor as popular in supermarket tabloids as in classic film festivals."