The creator of such sex-riddled classics as The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned has caused a stir speaking out for gay and women’s rights. “In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life,” Rice recently announced via Facebook, adding that she has officially renounced organized religion.

The author returned to Catholicism in 1998 and was previously heard praising the efforts of Lutheran churches who welcomed gay pastors. Recently, Rice told the Los Angeles Times that she will miss the ritual and beauty of the Catholic church, and she’ll certainly still go back to a church to “pray in private.”

In other powerful news, going naked to support a cause is one thing, but riding naked on a speeding roller coaster is quite another. Thrill-seeking charity organizers in the U.K. broke the record for largest naked roller coaster ride this weekend, raising almost $35,000 for Southend Hospital’s Bosom Pals Appeal. The funds will go toward buying shiny new mammogram machines for the Hospital’s breast cancer unit. Reportedly, the nude do-gooders were heard crying: “Again, again!” after the ride came to a halt. Wonder if it was the exhilaration of helping others—or the quaking, vibrating roller coaster seats—that gave them such a thrill? Either way, it sounds delightful.

Also delightfully naked—or close—in recent news is the never-shy Lady Gaga, who did a little choice crowd surfing practically Lady Godiva-style at last week’s Lollapalooza 2010 concert in Chicago. During Friday’s performance of the band Semi Precious Weapons, Lady G. rode the wave not once, but twice. Now that’s what we call double (skinny) dipping!