If Geri Halliwell ever had trouble being taken seriously as a Spice Girl, the former Ginger Spice has had surprisingly little trouble being taken seriously as an ambassador for the United Nations.| Halliwell, whose solo debut Schizophonic was released this week, landed in serious hot water with the Catholic Church in the Philippines Tuesday (June 15) for promoting contraceptives in Manila as part of her goodwill ambassador tour for the U.N.'s Population Fund. A spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said that they opposed the message Halliwell was bringing, and went on to link contraception education to abortion advocacy. The singer has yet to comment on the Catholic outcry, but she did praise a progressive sexual health program at a suburban college by saying, "Wouldn't it be great if sex education was this well accepted all over the world?" Halliwell was scheduled to return to London on Wednesday. . .

Still no plans for the millenium? If you've got a good chunk of change to spend and a high tequila tolerance, you could spend it with Jimmy Buffett and 4,999 other Parrotheads at Buffett at the Beach, an all-night celebration of all things Buffett and Caribbean at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. The festivities include food, dancing, music and, one assumes, enough Margaritas to drown a really big fish. Tickets, which go on sale June 26, will cost $500, $1,000 and $1,500. For more information, visit Buffett's www.margaritaville.com site . . .

British teenage girls are reeling with the news that teenage heartthrob Stephen Gately, a member of Boyzone, is gay. The Irish superstar, whose band had had a string of chart-topping hits in the U.K., decided to come clean about his sexuality before it was exposed by a German tabloid. Gately, 23, told the U.K.'s Sun that the time had come "to be honest and tell everyone I'm gay." The other four band members, who of course knew of the Gatley's sexuality, have come out in support of their compatriot in the press. "We're all very proud of him," said Boyzone member Mikey Graham. "This is good news. I'm glad Steve has decided to do this. This is about his happiness and being able to live his life with honesty and pride. It changes nothing between us." Gately told the paper, "this is the most important day of my life. From today I will have the freedom to finally be myself." The band's U.K. press company also issued a statement on behalf of Stephen, which reads: "Boyzone's Stephen Gately today [June 15] confirmed that he is gay. Stephen recently discovered that someone was trying to sell this story to newspapers. He made a decision to tell the fans himself and has chosen to do so in tomorrow's Sun newspaper. He hopes tomorrow's interview will explain all to the fans and bring an end to the matter" . . .

To celebrate the release of their definitive, double-disc retrospective, Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology, the Ramones have agreed to regroup at Manhattan's Virgin Megastore at Union Square on July 20. It's the first time since the group's final show at the Hollywood Palace on August 6, 1996 that the four band members will be in the a room together. The punk progenitors will be signing copies of their album beginning at 7 p.m. (EST). "Of course we're not playing," chastised Joey Ramone. "We're not even a band anymore. We're just signing records." No body parts? "Nah, that kind of stuff only happens at shows. I have signed body parts, but it's weird. Do you know what I mean?" In addition to Joey, Johnny, C.J. and Marky Ramone -- Rhino Records has contacted Dee Dee and Tommy to join in the fun. There is still an all points bulletin out for the still M.I.A. Richie, so if you know where the moptop is, ask him to phone home. Or at least call his brothers . . .

RICHARD SKANSE, DAVID SPRAGUE, JAAN UHELSZKI

(June 16, 1999)