Well, this will certainly throw a monkey wrench in many a young boy's fantasy of Leia in a metal bikini... rumors are now circulating around Hollywood that Penny Marshall is planning to come out of the closet as a lesbian, and her lover is reportedly none other than Carrie Fisher, better known as Princess Leia!

According to The New Yorker, for many years, the duo threw what was known all around Hollywood as "the best dinner parties" -- in fact, the dinner parties were so top-secret, no one but the top 200 Hollywood A-listers were invited at any given time. Al Pacino, Elizabeth Taylor, and Nicole Kidman were amongst the elite list of invitees, who were all invited via telephone (because invitations are so bourgeois...). Well, apparently, there was more of a reason behind the dinner parties than previously thought... if you believe the National Enquirer, that is.

Reports the Enquirer, "'Penny apparently made the decision to reveal her sexuality when she got the news that she'd beaten cancer after a courageous life-or-death battle that lasted four years. Penny says that with her medical problems finally behind her, she's going to live life to the fullest, and she doesn't give a rat's ass if people have a problem with it,' a family insider told The Enquirer.

"As a result, twice-divorced Marshall is ready to announce her relationship with Carrie, said the source.

"'Penny and Carrie have been close friends for a long time,' noted the source. 'There have been rumors in the gay community that they were a lesbian couple, but they never confirmed or denied it.

"'Penny now wants to live the rest of her life without hiding anything. She's going to come out of the closet. Carrie is thrilled, and she's supporting Penny completely.'"

Now, I personally don't know if this is true or not. But if it is, I think they make a great couple, and it's nice that they have the decades-long friendship to back up their burgeoning relationship. Furthermore, I think it's even more awesome, given that the sci-fi community encourages (at least in theory... there are, of course, a few bad apples in every bunch) acceptance of all, regardless of their sexual orientation... or planet.

So... what do you think of this bit of news?