Anti-gay Colorado gets Barbra's barb

by Eric Allen, Tom Green

Wednesday's glitzy AIDS Project LA benefit certainly was full of surprises.

Entertainment mogul David Geffen - honored with Barbra Streisand for helping AIDS causes - announced he's "come a long way as a gay man in Hollywood."

And an angry Streisand urged fellow entertainers to avoid vacationing in Colorado, after residents voted down civil-rights protection for gays.

Both stars' comments won applause from the crowd of 6,000 assembled at the Universal Amphitheater. The benefit expected to raise $2 million.

Other highlights of the musical night spotlighting West Side Story: Elton John sang I Feel Pretty, while Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle and Sheila E. brought the house down with their rendition of America.

Big cheers also went up for a Streisand political putdown: "I will never forgive my fellow actor, Ronald Reagan" for his neglect of AIDS sufferers. 

Backstage, actress Marlee Matlin said she doesn't "want to keep (her) hopes too high," but now "that Clinton is president I'm really feeling good."

Meanwhile, Billy Joel said he's "just a piano player," adding   that "I don't put a great deal of faith in politicians...but we'll see." 

Among stars there: Warren Beatty, Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli, Barry Diller.