Spencer Cox, an AIDS activist most recently known for appearing in one of the year's best films, How To Survive A Plague, has passed away at age 44. Like 39 year old Josh Weston whose death we learned about yesterday, Spencer succumbed to complications related to HIV.  

It's been a rough year for a porn community and fans who are once again receiving sad news about the death of a cherished actor. Josh Weston, age 39, has passed away due to complications related to HIV. 

Updated 11 a.m. EST

The story has been trending on Twitter since late Sunday and we were hoping it wasn't true, but a confirmation from Logo reveals that Sahara Davenport, a RuPaul's Drag Race season two alum and the real life romantic partner of Manila Luzon, passed away over the weekend. 

The world loses an iconic humorist and her trademark cackle in Phyllis Diller, who died today at age 95. Details follow. 

A representative of Whitney Houston has confirmed to the AP that iconic singer Whitney Houston has died at age 48. The cause of death remains undisclosed at this time. 

From the AP:

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully...

We try not to wield the word "legendary" in our prose arsenal often, but for Etta James, it certainly applies. The iconic singer of "At Last" has passed away from ailing health at 73. More details after the jump.

Paula Ettelbrick, who committed her life to LGBT activism by heading some of the country's top gay organizations, has passed away due to cancer-related causes. Reactions from some of the group's she was associated with, after the jump.