Wow, maybe some of the stereotypes of the South being racists and sexists are not so inaccurate. An Arkansas Supermarket in Mountain View, AK has placed a “family shield” over the Us Weekly cover of Elton John with his partner David Furnish and their new baby.

Gawker reports the move was done by the Harps food chain to “protect innocent children.” However the chain has recently removed the cover. Harps President explained in a statement that it was not their intention to offend anybody, but the shield was placed after the store manager received some complaints.

We wonder what those store patrons think when they see an interracial married couple on the front of a magazine?

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After a plethora of speculation and rumors, PopEater is confirming Elton John is the biological father of his new son who was mothered by a surrogate. There was a question whether it was Elton or his husband David Furnish who was the father.

“Elton really wanted the child to have his genes,” a friend of the singer tells PopEater. “He has a god-given talent and wanted to pass that one to a child. And after years of discussion and thought, Elton and David decided together that Elton’s sperm would be used.”

Zachary was born weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz. via a surrogate mother in California on Christmas Day. This is the first child for John, 62, and Furnish, 48. The couple married in 2005 after being together for 12 years.

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Stephen Gately of the Irish boy band Boyzone died suddenly Saturday while on vacation in Spain with his partner Andrew Cowles, reports CBC. He was 33.

“At present we don’t have too many details,” said a statement on the band’s web site.

Gately’s band mates – Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch – said they were completely devastated by the loss of their friend and brother, Stephen. “We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more. Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world.”

Boyzone originally formed in 1993 and reunited in 2008. Gately also had a solo career and appeared in a number of stage musicals including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

“Boyzone and Stephen, they’ve all been part of Irish life and far wider than that, the last 15 years, and so successful, so it’s a huge, huge, tragedy,” said former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern. “It’s so sad.”

Elton John and his partner, Canadian David Furnish, also gave their condolences. “David and I are stunned by this tragedy,” said John. “Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul. We send our love and condolences to his partner, Andy, and to all his friends everywhere.”

Officials are awaiting autopsy results before a cause of death can be determined.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance