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Parents, brother seek damages for not enforcing dress code
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) | Aug 15, 10:23 AM

The family of a gay teenager who was fatally shot in class blames the school district for allowing their son to wear makeup and feminine clothing to school — factors the family claims led to the death.
The parents and brother of 15-year-old Larry King of Oxnard filed a personal injury claim against the Hueneme school district seeking unspecified damages for not enforcing the dress code.

King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School, was shot in February. Classmate Brandon McInerney pleaded not guilty to the shooting last week. He was charged as an adult and also faces a charge of a committing a hate crime.

The family’s claim, filed last week in Ventura County Superior Court, said administrators and teachers failed to enforce the school’s dress code when King wore feminine clothing and makeup to school.

His parents, Dawn and Gregory King, said faculty members knew their son had “unique vulnerabilities” and was subject to abuse because of his sexual orientation.

King was a ward of the court and living at a shelter for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children at the time of the shooting.

A call for comment to district Superintendent Jerry Dannenberg was not immediately returned.

State law requires individuals to file a claim before proceeding with a lawsuit against a public agency.

By 365gay Newscenter Staff
08.15.2008 12:21pm EDT

(Berlin) An Arabic-language magazine published in Germany is being investigated because of an article that warned readers not to shake hands with gays because they can transmit disease.

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The article, titled “A flesh-eating bacteria and sexual abnormality,” appeared in al-Salam, a free publication available in businesses throughout Berlin.

“One never knows what kind of bacteria and germs are found on them,” it said of gay men.

The article contained quotes from people the publication said were authorities on skin diseases, and was accompanied by photographs of various skin infections.

The LGBT Association of Berlin-Brandenburg filed an official complaint with police this week.

“It is now being examined to determine whether it should be dealt with as defamation or incitement,” said association spokesperson Alexander Zinn.

Zinn also called on Germany’s large Muslim community to disavow the article.

Incitement against minorities, including gays, is illegal in Germany, but in the past similar cases were not prosecuted after Muslims complained that to do so would infringe on their religious rights.

By Alex Fergusen | Article Date: 8/08/2008 12:00 AM

I’m nervous to even write this. It’s a confession that I’m not sure I should be making. But I’m just going to come out and say it: I think I may have caused The Great Southern California Earthquake of 2008.

The question all the survivors were asked was “where were you when The Great Southern California Earthquake of 2008 hit?” At the exact moment my fellow Californians were rocked with a 5.4 tremor, I was in a subway station in New York City.

I had just finished watching a matinee of The Dark Knight, eating a cupcake from Magnolia and India.Arie was cooing in my iPod, “it’s all about forgiveness… forgiveness… even if… even it you don’t love me anymore.” I was happy. I was peaceful. I was in the greatest city in the world. The day before, I’d had a successful meeting. I was staying in a beautiful hotel. I had an amazing run through Central Park and brunch earlier that morning. And at this very moment, warm red velvet was slowly melting down my throat. Life couldn’t be better.

On the opposite side of the platform, the northbound train pulled away. And on the wall, previously hidden by the train cars, an eight foot long poster of Cooper’s face was suddenly revealed. His giant, vacant eyes stared back at me. You would think New Yorkers wouldn’t be jumpy at a crazy person screaming, “You gotta be fucking kidding me!” but to my surprise, about a hundred people leapt away from me. My blood boiled. My skin turned red. Every muscle in my body clenched. I stood there staring at the poster shaking for about ten seconds, before erupting in a ten second scream.

Cooper, as you may remember, was a passing love interest who began dating a 19-year-old go-go boy. But not before inviting me to the premiere of his movie and then showing up with another guy resembling a cylon. 

I didn’t wait on the train. I bolted back through the turnstile, grunted up the stairs and back out to the street.

I called Ryann. “Heeee…. Helllllo?” her voiced cracked.

“I just saw Cooper! Well, not really Cooper. But his face! It’s like the universe is screwing with me—”

“You do just realize we’re having an earthquake right now, don’t you Alex?! There are more important things than your wayward obsession with a F-list actor.”

She hung up. An earthquake! The voice of Sharon Stone haunted me like a bad 1970s television flashback, “I have to ask myself, is that karma?”

Maybe Sharon was right. Maybe all the bad energy I’ve been harboring toward Cooper climaxed in the shifting of tectonic plates over 3,000 miles away and nearly brought about a natural disaster!

As I learned in The Dark Knight, “you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” And I was apparently evolving into The Dark Alex.

If I were a villain, I think I would be called “The Abbey.” In addition to causing earthquakes, my special abilities would include turning water into vodka, getting out of handcuffs and a kiss of death.

I flew home the next day. As my plane careened over Los Angeles County, I looked out the window at all the tiny lights and cars and realized… I have to let Cooper go or all of these poor, powerless people could be without homes and livelihoods.

Obviously I needed to get laid. I used to be a slut. A huge slut. But as I’ve gotten older, I really hate all the maintenance you have to do. It’s time consuming, all the shaving and waxing and tanning. Frankly, that’s time I could spend watching Mad Men. Besides, if I’m having sexy time with someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, I don’t have the patience to correct them anymore. I roll off and say, “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”

But desperate times had called for desperate measures. Jen offered to help.

“I have a guy I want to set you up with. His name is Billy. He’s perfect for you.”

I told her as long as he had a pulse, we would be fine.

I was to meet Billy for a drink at Here Lounge (because I’m nothing if not a predictable cliché). He was thirty minutes late but I was going to see this thing out because waxing, shaving and tanning had taken place.

He arrived. ‘He’ll do,’ I thought. A little shorter than my height requirement, but this was about pure, raw, animal sex, not runway.

‘Sorry I’m late. My class ran late.’

I asked him if he was an actor, assuming it was an acting class.

‘No, biology.’

Oh, you’re pre-med?

‘No, just the core.’

Oh… you’re in college?

‘Freshman.’

I leaned against the bar for support. ‘How old are you?’ 

He smiled, taking a sip of the Heineken I had just purchased for him. ‘I’ll be 19 in eight months.’

I was on a date with a fetus. Is this what my life had come to? I’ve gone through all the available and sane men in West Hollywood (yes, both of them), so my friends are starting me over with a fresh batch? Perhaps this is why T.R. Knight and Cooper had decided to look for dates at the local playground.

My eyes began to race around the bar. I accessed all the exits and scanned the room for anyone who may have recognized me, because you know damn well that after all I’ve said about guys my age dating chicken, I wasn’t about to get caught. I would have thrown this kid into on-coming traffic before admitting what was happening.

‘I love older guys. You’re really hot for forty,’ he said.

‘FORTY!?’ I nearly had a stroke, spewing vodka across the bar. Jen had aged me up. ‘I’m thirty… (had to think about it) five!’ doing the “am I really thirty five… 2008 minus 1972, carry the one… wait, that makes me thirty SIX… oh in November… oh my God I’m going to be thirty six in NOVEMBER!’

His face fell. ‘Oh.’

‘Oh!? You’re not even old enough to drink!’

‘It’s cool. I’ve got a fake I.D. No offense, I’m just into older guys. I mean, you’re still old enough to be my daddy.’

And scene. I knocked back the rest of my martini, slammed the glass on the bar and said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do this.’

I spun around and heard a familiar screaming voice outside: “Where is she!?” Ryann. She was dressed like Jackie Brown meets Memoirs of a Geisha.

I pushed the child in front of me, blocking Ryann with his body. ‘I know she’s here!’ She bellowed as she pushed her way inside. She slammed her purse onto the bar and began pulling wadded up dollar bills out. ‘Give me a Long Island Iced Tea!’

Ryann grabbed a young kid by the scruff of his neck, holding him about a foot off the ground. ‘I can smell her cheap perfume on you!’

‘That’s my appletini!’ he cried. She tossed him aside like a building in Cloverfield and locked eyes with me.

“What are YOU doing here!? You told me you were staying home and watching Shear Genius (because I have a deep, inappropriate love for Rene Fris) and eating coffee ice cream—”

“Who are you looking for?” I asked innocently.

“Lisa Chang!”

As you may remember from my last column, Ryann had gone in search of fabulous West Hollywood party girl Lisa Chang at the afterparty for Another Gay Movie 2. Apparently Lisa Chang found out, had no idea who Ryann was and sent an all points bulletin out to her gays wanting to know “who the hell is this bitch?”

One of Lisa’s gays, a “double” (friends with both Ryann and Lisa), informed Ryann that Lisa said something to the effect of, “that C-List wannabe isn’t even relevant!” And hell hath no fury than a fag hag questioned irrelevant.

“Who does she think she is calling ME irrelevant—“ her voice trailed off, spotting my young ward.

“Well, hello there,” her voice dripped like poison.

“I can explain,” I started, but she was already running her three inch ruby red nails through his hair. “You’re awfully… sweet,” she said as she stared into his eyes. “If I were to cut you open and count your rings, would I make it to twelve?”

She turned on me, flames shooting from her eyes and her nostrils flaring.

“I know you are not on a date with this minor! There are laws and you’re too pretty for jail, Alex!”

Before I could explain that he will be 19 in eight months, two has-been reality stars who shall remain nameless, one gay actor I have not dated, an underwear model and a shirtless bartender from the bar next door arrived. They looked like the Gay Injustice League of Santa Monica Blvd.

“Are you Ryann?” one of them asked. (I can’t tell you which one, but his name rhymes with Leichen.)

“Who’s asking?” she spun.

“We’re here to ask you to cease and…”

“WHERE IS SHE!?” she screamed grabbing two of them by the testicles. They immediately dropped to the ground.

“She’s not here! She’s gone back to Portland!” the youngest one cried before running away with the others still standing.

“Bitch is crazy” was heard as they fled from one of them.

“That’s right, girls! Bitch is crazy! Pass that message along!”

During the altercation, Billy scampered away, distracted by the aged ex-husband of a former television star. Truth be told, I hope I look half as good at his age. He’s 39. Or at least that’s what he’s been telling people for the past twenty one years.

“You have to let her go” I told her. “You have to let go of this anger or it will consume and destroy you.”

I know. I heard the words coming out of my mouth and I couldn’t believe them either. It was like I was possessed. I wasn’t sure if I should call The National Enquirer or a priest. In that moment, I realized all the anger I was holding on to had been misdirected. I realized I wasn’t angry at Cooper. I was angry at myself for even entertaining the thought of Cooper. For becoming fixated on “why didn’t he like me?” And for allowing myself to think I wasn’t good enough for someone like him. Not just Cooper, but all the men I’ve had, have in some way contributed to the mask and body armor that I wear into the battle that is dating in West Hollywood. And the only war I’ve been waging is with myself.

We stood there staring at each other in stunned silence, while a Leona Lewis dance remix of “Bleeding Love” blasted from the speakers. I silently told myself, “it’s our song,” then realized Cooper and I never had a song. Cooper and I were never together. Cooper probably hasn’t thought about me since the day I hung up on him. And all the anger and resentment I was holding on to was toxic.

She put her hand on my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?” she asked.

We took a stroll down Santa Monica Blvd. We considered popping by a psychic and having our cards read, but opted for Pinkberry instead, because unlike psychics, fake frozen yogurt has never disappointed me.

I walked Ryann home and we hugged good night. She promised not to threaten to beat up girls she’s never met. I promised to let Cooper go. I’m trying to use my powers for good. I’m trying to not let the dark win. And maybe even one day I’ll meet a guy that I can actually show the face behind the mask.

Perhaps it is all about forgiveness. Forgiveness. And sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. But I’m warning you, West Hollywood, if I don’t get laid soon, I will render forth a fury this world has never witnessed.

Miss the last “Men I’ve Had”? Read it here.

Big Brother 10 with All-Star Marcellas Reynolds

By Marcellas Reynolds | Article Date: 8/14/2008 9:53 AM

Previously on Big Brother, Julie Chen wore one of the worst outfits in the eight year history of the show. How in the hell did they light that gold metallic skirt? And why did she decide to top it off with an off the shoulder shirt in poop brown? A shirt that looked like it was on sale at Limited Express. On the multiple markdown rack. Some stylist needs to be fired. One thing is certain… that stylist wasn’t gay. Metallic is over. And that top would never have left the store.

OK, enough of that. And on to the point; Jessie is gone. The hottest House Guest of this season, and my vote for one of the hottest House Guests ever, finally got booted. Jessie takes his place right up there with Hardy from Season 2, Roddy from Season 3, Justin from Season 4, Scott from Season 6, Me from All-Stars (yeah… I said it), and Alex from Season 9. Big Brother does have a history of casting the hottie.

Alas Jessie is gone… and it’s about time. I liked Jessie. America, it turns out, didn’t. Well I’m sure 10% of America did… That 10% with taste, style and elan. That 10% who had the pic of Jessie naked on all fours made into an “I LUV JESSIE!” muscle tee. I intend to get mine autographed at the BB 10 wrap party!

Now that Jessie is gone all I have is Memphis. And boy do I wish I had Memphis. He’s dreamy. Memphis is a big ole boy, with butt, a lil belly and manages not to have back fat. God bless Tivo. Memphis was shirtless in a towel the other night and I swear I rewound that scene of him 100 times. And then him exiting about 250 times. Memphis has a beautiful back.

I am definitely going to the BB 10 wrap party. I’ll be wearing my “I LUV JESSIE!” muscle tee with my Juicy Couture inspired “I LUV MEMPHIS!” sweats. You know how Juicy Couture sweats have “JUICY” written on the ass… You get the idea.

I’m annoyed with this season. I hate when all the House Guests do is yell at each other. This season is like an extended episode of Jerry Springer.

April is trash. What woman allows herself to be filmed week after week, day after day getting pounded by someone she barely knows? OK, trash is too strong. And I do think she’s cute. And though I don’t like the game she is playing, I do think she’s in a great position (tee hee… I said position) in the game.

And I was watching Big Brother After Dark and heard her say that she wishes I’d done the cameo in the Food/Luxury competition. A sentiment echoed by Michelle, so now I officially love them both.

I hope April wins the $500,000 because that makes her a highly paid porn star. Jenna Jameson would be proud.

I just can’t believe she chose Ollie (who looks like the puppet from Kukla, Fran and Ollie) over Jessie or Memphis.

Now, I’m not a racist. I love a Black man. I am a Black man, but Ollie is about 5′2″ and not cute. Plus he annoys me. He’s hiding behind April’s skirts. Short as they may be. I want him to step up to the plate and win something. Or hatch a strategy. Or do something.

Ollie is a floater and that is a valid strategy. Think about it, no one is even thinking about evicting Ollie or nominating him and it’s just about the half way point in the season.

Ollie has a shot at winning Big Brother 10. He’s in a very safe position.

Speaking of race, I think that Libra is the victim of racism and sexism. Why is that Libra has been asked twice under the guise of “the public wants to know” how she could leave her 5 month old twins for 3 months? If Libra was Leroy, would anyone ask that question?

It’s not like she left them with a nanny, she left them with their father and a support system which includes her mother. I think she’d be remiss to not compete on Big Brother when the opportunity presented itself! Where else is anyone going to have a 1 in 13 chance of winning a cool half million dollars? If she wins the money, it positively impacts the quality of her family’s life! Unfortunately she doesn’t have a chance in hell of winning because she can’t shut up.

I love that she took the Hawaiian vacation from Michelle in the Power of Veto competition. She won the infamous red unitard and, I gotta tell you, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing post pregnancy Libra in it. It was bad enough seeing Jen in it Season 8 and she had a slamming body.

I wish Libra traded with Memphis. Can you imagine all that junk in the unitard? Heaven.

And how about Michelle getting pissed that Libra took the trip from her and not the letter from home from Jessie? Insane. Libra didn’t want that letter! Her oldest child is 4! Hell, her kids can’t write.

I don’t understand why everyone hates Libra. I know she is adversarial, but is she really any more so than April, Keesha or even Renny?

Libra is a very smart player. Last week before nominations, April and Libra figured out that Dan was America’s Player. What April should have done was put Dan up and insured that he was evicted.

Instead the House Guests let that go and then are surprised that Dan didn’t vote as they wanted him to! Stupid.

If you are savvy enough about this game to suspect that the producers are using this stupid and annoying twist then why not disable it? America always wants to vote out the player that gives the show edge. And this year that was Jessie. But I must say, I’m surprised “America” didn’t go after Libra.

If Libra got a TV show, it would be called Everybody Hates Libra. Except me. I like her. I think Libra should stay. She’s the one to take to the end as she can’t win. Hopefully one of these House Guest will recognize that and move to keep her.

I think it is the fact that Libra is African-American that makes some of the House Guests (Jerry) think it is acceptable to call a grown woman and mother of three a bitch. And Jerry, who I sometimes think is senile, actually called Libra dumb. Libra had to check him on that one and point out that she’d graduated from the prestigious Rice University, Magna Cum Laude. I wonder if Jerry even has a degree or attended college? You certainly couldn’t tell from his level of game play.

Libra and Keesha are nominated for eviction. It’s hard to predict who is getting evicted. These House Guests argue and finger point too much.

Honestly, I don’t like Keesha and don’t care if she goes. It’s not that I don’t like her as I don’t personally know her. It’s that she is the type to throw a brick and then hide her hand. She reminds me of Mike Boogie from All-Stars. The kind of player who will lie, cheat, manipulate and then go “What?” “Why are you mad at me?” It’s a valid strategy and, hey… Mike won All-Stars.

If Keesha escapes this nomination (and odds are she just may), look for more of the same weaselly behavior. So unattractive on a woman.

And look for Keesha and April to keep sniping at each other because women on Big Brother can never group together and pick off the men.

Which means this season we can count on Dan, Jerry or Ollie winning because, if a woman is sitting at the end against a man, the man wins. Just ask Erika from All-Stars and Danielle from Season 8. Both women played excellent games that were nicer than their male counterparts yet still lost. And the other women on the jury didn’t vote for them.

Not that I know anything. Hell, I played and lost twice.

Miss the last “Big Brother w/ Marcellas”? Read it here.

Gossip so good it’s got to be gay!

By Ross von Metzke | Article Date: 8/15/2008 9:35 AM

I suppose with the Olympics dominating the airwaves, it was inevitable I’d dedicate this week’s hottie to an athlete. And while I readily admit the hottest men seem to be from other countries, I just felt that, considering out president made an ass out of himself overseas, I should step in and show some love to an American or two.

Thankfully, Men’s Fitness did most of the work for me.

As Americans sit back in awe as Michael Phelps racks up one gold medal after another—I’d give him one for that bod alone—his teammate Ryan Lochte is getting equal attention for being… well… hot. I shouldn’t leave it at that. A bronze medal is nothing to turn your nose up at… he’s certainly holding his own out there in Beijing.

Doesn’t hurt when guys who look this good are representing the U.S.

Frankly, it makes me want to hop a plane to Beijing and help ’em celebrate.

Beyond taking a brief moment to tell the chief of police he has no business commenting on who she is or is not fucking, since getting out of rehab earlier this year and allegedly dating DJ Samantha Ronson, Lindsay Lohan’s been relatively quiet.

And it might have stayed that way had a pap not stopped to ask the starlet how she felt about her sister’s boob job.

Lindsay didn’t like that one bit. She responded on her blog:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my response simply was, “Did you really just ask me that? She is a 14 year old girl, and you are a pedophile!” i was caught out of nowhere so i didn’t really come up with the proper response at the time.. there’s many other things that i felt like saying, but why give it to a random guy with a camera so that he can make money!

She went on to say that even if Ali wanted to go out and get boobs, Dina would have none of that.

What if E! paid for them?

Sadly, I’d like to think Lindsay’s right and that Dina wouldn’t let her meal ticket pump silicone into her chest, but that woman just rubs me the wrong way, so I don’t know.

In news for those of you LoRon fans, Lindsay wants to assure you that, “i miss samantha cuz she’s out of town.”

Awww! I’m sad when the guy who sticks it to me from behind travels too.

In other news you probably could have gone a lifetime without hearing… Ernest Borgnine (yes he’s still with us), who is currently making the talk show circuit to promote his book, Ernie: The Autobiography, claims the secret to staying young is masturbation.

Come again?

If that were true, I’d be a fetus.

Seriously, he turned to some guy on Fox News and said, “I masturbate a lot.” Given the Republican battle camp that is Fox News, the guy probably took it as a come on, handed Ernie the little remote connected to his butt plug and told him to buzz it when they go to commercial.

Not to be completely foul, but does a 91-year-old need to pop a Cialis before he can masturbate. Because seriously, a prescription for Cialis seems like an awful waste if no one else is there to benefit. And I really don’t wanna think about Ernie sitting around watching reruns of Three’s Company for hours on end hoping Chrissy Snow (or if Nick at Night is doing the later years, Cindy Snow) has what it takes to make his limp noodle a manicotte.

He would never jack off to Joyce DeWitt, though… that’s just sick!

Years ago, when Madonna and Cyndi Lauper were both breaking into the biz, Rolling Stone predicted that Madge was just a flash in the pan and Cyndi Lauper was poised to become an international superstar.

Not that I begrudge Cyndi her successes, but I think it’s fairly clear who the bigger name is.

By Cyndi’s a class act—not one ounce of bitterness to her.

In fact, on the eve of Madonna’s 50th birthday—and in an ironic reminder she’s not that girl from Desperately Seeking Susan, she’s nursing a busted ankle—Cyndi took a second out to speak to the energy and the spirit that have kept Madonna on top of the music industry for so many years.

Just, before you watch, one question… exactly how deep in Brooklyn does Cyndi live (and does an yone know if she actually still lives there), cuz beyond Fran Drescher, I don’t know anyone who’s accent’s that thick! 

Seroiusly, I love it, but I’d hate to hear her sob story after three martinis. I’d have to make her write it down.

Sorry, Cyndi—she’s still not doing True Colors.

Those Chinese Olympic officials—seemingly proud of their decision to hide the average looking 7-year-old with the angelic voice from public view so a more polished (and precious) 9-year-old could mouth the words for viewers at home—have some ’splaining to do. The Associated Press has apparently stumbled upon a document from Chinese government news agency Xinhua in which pint sized gymnast He Kexin’s age is listed as 13.

If it’s true and the AP can prove it, that would disqualify the Chinese team from competition and the gold medal would go to the U.S. Not that I really wanna find out what happens to little He if they wind up losing their medals! You know her teammates would totally refuse to play with her on the playground at recess.

And seriously—forget what her teammates are gonna do to her. If He really wants to be scared, she should take a second gander at that Alicia Sacramone. Seriously—that bitch is scary as hell. Earlier this week, we found a video of her knocking one of her much taller, much more masculine classmates to the ground. Check it out.

And finally, in what has been an admittedly weak week in gossip (why oh why did all of those celebutantes have to go and clean their acts up), the pastor’s wife who was accused of bitch-slapping the hell out of flight attendant and giving her hemorrhoids has been cleared… of the hemorrhoids part, that is.

“It’s a great vindication and shows us the faithfulness of God,” pastor Joel Osteen said after a jury ruled his wife hadn’t caused the hemorrhoids.

That may be—but has anybody stopped to talk to Victoria Osteen about the proper way to handle a stain on a seat in first class that hasn’t been cleaned up properly. Hint: You don’t smack the flight attendant and give her an elbow to the tit.

And somehow, I highly doubt God had much to do with any of this.

That’s all this week folks—until we meet again, take some time to stop and smell the gossip!

Miss the last “Hollywood Celebrity Buzz”? Read it here.

In an interview with the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that he wouldn’t rule out former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as his running mate even though “he happens to be pro-choice.” McCain added that being “pro-life” is a “fundamental tenet” of the Republican Party, “but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice.”

McCain then indicated that he thought the party could “exclude people” for being “pro-gay rights“:

“I think it’s a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice. We just have a–albeit strong–but just it’s a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far more so than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues.”

Asked if McCain meant someone couldn’t “be pro-gay and still be a Republican,” an anonymous McCain adviser told the Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder that McCain’s Bloomberg comment was actually “a message of inclusion.”

McCain’s comments contradict the inclusive tone he struck in the past when he sought the support of the gay community. In 1998, McCain told Chris Matthews that the Republican Party shouldn’t “discriminate against anyone” because of “their sexual orientation“:

MCCAIN: And I’ll tell you right now, the Log Cabin Party–Republican Party–should be part of our–of our party. And I believe the Christian right should be part of–of our party. I respect their views. My view is that in the case of the military, the don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy was appropriate. And I also believe that–that gays should not be in the military, and I know that that’s a–a s–a–a problem that a lot of people would have. At the same time, I don’t believe that we should discriminate against anyone. And with that–and that includes because of their sexual orientation. [CNBC Hardball, 6/15/98]

Now McCain is more than respecting the views of the Christian right when it comes to gay rights, he’s kow-towing to them. Earlier this year, McCain personally met with the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, but the group has yet to officially endorse him.

What do the Log Cabin members think of a candidate who now supports excluding those who are “pro-gay rights?”

Olympics still rough terrain for openly gay athletesFears of losing sponsors, alienating fans keep many athletes in the closetRYAN LEEFriday, August 08, 2008Bruce Hayes spun around to focus his eyes on the distant race clock, then ripped off his goggles and threw his left hand in the air as one of the ABC broadcasters calling the 1984 Olympics shouted, “He did it!”Just one lap earlier, 27 seconds before the celebration began, the television announcers and most of the 15,000 people inside the University of Southern California swimming complex had little reason to hope that Hayes would be able to win a gold medal for the U.S. 4×200 meter relay team.Hayes’s teammates had given him a 1.5 second lead over the team from West Germany, but much of that advantage was nullified just after Hayes entered the pool for the final leg.The anchor for the West German team, Michael Gross, was the most dominant swimmer of the 1984 Olympics, and was nicknamed “the Albatross” because of his height and wingspan. Gross gobbled up the American lead during the first three laps of the anchor leg and pulled ahead of Hayes as the two swimmers did their final flip turns and sprinted the last 50 meters of the race.Despite Hayes’ shorter strokes, he used a racing technique common in swimming, cross-country and NASCAR — drafting — which allowed him to pull even with Gross with half lap remaining.The two competitors went stroke-for-stroke during the final 25 meters as the crowd went wild and the television announcers screamed about witnessing “one of the greatest relay races in Olympics history.”Hayes, whose final lap was the fastest split by any swimmer in the race, surged ahead in the last few strokes and edged Gross and the West Germans for the gold by .04 seconds.Hayes celebrated in the water as his relay teammates were jubilant on the pool deck, each pausing to reach down into the pool and clinch Hayes’ fist.“What a remarkable accomplishment for a young man who may be this nation’s best all around freestyle swimmer,” the ABC announcer said as the celebration continued.High drama, high traumaThe 4×200 meter freestyle relay at the 1984 Olympics has been dubbed “the perfect race” by swimming aficionados. Just a year after that race, “the nation’s best all around freestyle swimmer” was 22 years old and in peak physical condition — and ready to walk away from competitive swimming for good.“I feel like I had a great Olympic experience, but I definitely feel that I wasn’t entirely comfortable in that environment,” Hayes said.Hayes may have conquered “the Albatross” in the pool, but he continued to be burdened by a different kind of albatross within the swimming world — being gay.“I think I had the same kind of fears that anyone coming out has, particularly since it was 24 years ago, but I think the environment actually made it worse,” Hayes said. “When you’re in an athletic environment, when you live in that environment year-round, there’s just not a comfort level of coming out and sharing that kind of information with people.”Hayes never encountered any outright hostility from coaches and teammates within USA Swimming, but the high-pressure atmosphere and tunnel vision of Olympic training didn’t allow space for Hayes to deal with his personal struggles.“It wasn’t like they were homophobic, but they just weren’t sensitized to it,” Hayes said. “I wouldn’t say there was any kind of sensitivity to the fact that one of their athletes might be gay.”Even the triumph of winning an Olympic gold medal couldn’t settle the discontent within Hayes, and a year after his stunning victory over the West Germans, he retired from swimming.“I think I would’ve continued had I felt comfortable being myself, but I didn’t, and I really kind of felt like I had to give up swimming to come out,” Hayes said. “I don’t know if it was a conscious choice, even; but now when I look back and wonder why I didn’t go forward, that was definitely one of the reasons, in the back of my mind.”Three gay OlympiansMore than two-dozen former Olympians have come out as gay or lesbian, although most did so after retiring. Three openly gay athletes are competing in the Beijing Olympics, but none are representing the United States.Two lesbian athletes from Germany — cyclist Judith Arndt and fencer Imke Duplitzer — are returning to the Olympics after previous performances, while 20-year-old Australian diver Matthew Mitcham is making his Olympic debut.The International Olympic Committee has become more welcoming of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes in recent years, including allowing post-operative transgender athletes to compete for the first time during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.The IOC has also worked with Mitcham to ensure that his boyfriend will be able to attend the Beijing Games, according to Kelly Stevens, communications director for the Federation of Gay Games, an Olympics-style competition for gay athletes.Organizers of the Gay Games have been in contact with Mitcham, Arndt and Duplitzer to offer support and an extended cheerleading section.“Everything helps,” said Stevens, who added that there are likely many more gay athletes competing in Beijing who have not come out of the closet.“And there might be some others out there who are out to their family or friends, but they’re not talking to the press,” Stevens said.The limited number of out Olympians is a bit surprising, but isn’t indicative of an anti-gay climate at the Olympic Games, Stevens said.“I would think we’re at a time when it’s easier for people to be out, particularly in the developing nations,” Stevens said. “I don’t think that it’s a measurement of the Olympics itself, I think it’s a measure of [athletes’] own countries.”U.S. athelete hesitantAs a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2000 and 2004, it was clear to “Al Meredith” that he would have a hard time representing his country if people knew he was gay.“It’s gotten better over the years, but America is still homophobic and so quick to judge people,” said Meredith, who asked that his real name and sport not be used because he remains competitive and is not out to his family, teammates or coaches.“I didn’t want the risk of losing sponsors,” said Meredith, who won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. “I knew a couple of athletes who were also gay, but everybody shows up, remains anonymous and nobody wants to bring all of the attention on them.“People don’t want to lose big sponsorships because of their sexual orientation,” he said.Meredith’s experience also highlights the progress gay athletes and people have made since the early 1980s. While there was no gay-related element to Hayes’s Olympic experience, Meredith checked out gay bars in Sidney and Athens and hung out with fellow gay Olympians.“I met athletes from other countries who, you know, you just discover after being around a person and spending that much time with them,” he said.Still, Meredith believed there was a small bit missing from his Olympic experience due to his being gay.“Definitely, you want someone to share those moments with, whether you’re gay or straight,” he said. “Just being able to share those moments of fame with someone that you love and care for, I missed that part of it.”Meredith and Hayes celebrate the presence of three openly gay Olympians in Beijing, but are disappointed that even the amateur sports world remains a hard place for openly gay athletes to thrive.“I don’t think three out of however many thousands of athletes there at the Olympics is a very high number,” Hayes said. “It’s very difficult for an athlete who is still competing to come out.”But athletes who are willing to come out on sport’s biggest stage have the potential to influence minds and perceptions around the globe, including the stereotype that gay men aren’t athletic, Hayes said.“One of the great things athletes who do come out can do is change those stereotypes,” Hayes said. “I think the fact that not that many athletes feel comfortable coming out is one of the reasons why the stereotype has endured.”

Olympics still rough terrain for openly gay athletes - Washington Blade: Gay and Lesbian News, Entertainment, Politics and Opinion

Panel dismisses complaint against Ariz. senatorHarper will face repercussions for his actionsPHOENIX (AP) | Aug 13, 1:45 PMA legislative committee dismissed an ethics complaint Tuesday against a lawmaker accused of breaking rules by cutting off a debate that served as a filibuster for opponents of a referendum to prohibit same-sex marriage.The target of the complaint, Republican Sen. Jack Harper of Surprise, apologized for contributing to what he called a divisive environment in the last days of this year’s legislative session, but said repeatedly that he did nothing wrong.”I don’t believe I broke the rules,” said Harper, whose complaint was thrown out on a 3-2 party-line vote by the Senate’s ethics committee.Harper was debate chairman on the last day of the legislative session when he halted delaying tactics by other senators. They were trying to string out discussion of unrelated legislation in order to postpone or prevent a vote on the gay marriage referendum.While presiding over the Senate, Harper abruptly transferred the right to speak from a senator participating in the filibuster to a supporter of the measure, which was narrowly approved by the Senate and will appear on the November ballot for voters to decide.Democratic Sen. Ken Cheuvront of Phoenix, who filed the complaint and was participating in the filibuster with the Senate’s other acknowledged gay member, had asked for a reprimand of Harper for violating a rule on conduct of debate.Cheuvront alleged Harper stifled debate when he was obligated by the rules to protect the Senate’s processes.At Tuesday’s hearing, Cheuvront said his complaint wasn’t motivated by a desire to hurt Harper’s re-election campaign. “I have nothing to do with his election. I don’t care,” Cheuvront said.Republican Sen. Jay Tibshraeny of Chandler, who cast the deciding vote to throw out the complaint, said Harper apologized for his conduct and will face repercussions for his actions.”But as I looked at it, I could not say that violating a rule - which could happen to somebody - was an ethics violation,” Tibshraeny said.Democratic Sen. Richard Miranda of Phoenix, who voted against dismissing the complaint, said Harper’s decision to cut off the vote has larger implications.”If and when we violate their right to speak, we are violating the right to speak for several of thousands of persons he is there to represent,” Miranda said.Republican Sen. Robert Blendu of Litchfield Park, who voted to dismiss the complaint, said lawmakers from both sides use stalling tactics on a variety of bills so they can wait for the deciding vote to arrive in legislative chambers.”What we have here is one group, in my view, wanted to use the rules and pervert the will of the body if you will to get their way and then it didn’t work out,” Blendu said.

Panel dismisses complaint against Ariz. senator - Washington Blade

Attack victim cautions int’l travelersGay man assaulted in Ecuador after bar visitBy REBECCA ARMENDARIZ, Washington Blade | Aug 14, 9:57 AMAs a frequent traveler to South America, Jeff Sunner was accustomed to breathtaking scenery and friendly locals.But when the 39-year-old Phoenix man and his boyfriend vacationed in Ecuador last month, they had a very different experience.Sunner said the couple had gone to eat and drink at a gay bar July 20 before he decided to continue on alone and asked a security guard for directions to another bar.Although there are multiple gay bars in the touristy area of Quito where the couple stayed, the establishments are not well advertised. And while policemen line the streets of Ecuador, Sunner said it’s “very hard to distinguish who has what authority.”Sunner said the directions he received were incorrect, so he turned around, when three men approached him.”It happened 20 feet from the guard I asked for directions,” he said.Sunner said the men choked him, cutting off his air supply and making him fade in and out of consciousness. Sunner noted that as he lost control of his bowels, the men tried to steal his clothing and repeatedly called him “maricon,” an anti-gay epithet.The security guard Sunner encountered earlier watched and laughed, he said, until the attack stopped and the men left.Sunner said he eventually found another security guard and was told that all guards have assigned jurisdictions and aren’t obligated to help people outside of their own areas.The police wouldn’t file a report, Sunner said, and told him that laws say bruises or marks have to last for three days or longer before a person can file charges.The only formal recognition of the attack came from a regional newspaper, Últimas Noticias, which printed an interview with Sunner along with its report of the assault.Sunner, who said the men attacked him because he is gay, is now advising other gay travelers to avoid Ecuador.”In a machismo society like that,” he said, “you’re not going to laugh at another man being beat up right by you.”The U.S. State Department, which details the dangers that Americans can face when traveling to foreign countries, notes the district where Sunner was attacked is dangerous, but makes no mention of bias crimes.Sunner said he received an apology from Efraín Soria, a program coordinator at Fundacion Ecuatoriana Equidad, an Ecuadorian gay rights organization.In an e-mail to Sunner, Soria asked him not to judge the entire country by this one incident.Homosexuality has been legal in Ecuador since 1997, but there is no legal recognition of same-sex couples. Ecuador has anti-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation, according to the International Lesbian & Gay Association.Rafael Correa, the country’s left-wing president, has proposed a new constitution for the country that would recognize same-sex couples and bestow basic rights, said Andrés Duque, an activist and blogger who focuses on gay rights in Latin America.Duque said that although the government has worked toward increased acceptance of gays and lesbians, the country’s people don’t always reflect those efforts.”Not that [the attack on Sunner] is excusable,” Duque said, “but I think that sometimes, culturally, you can’t translate the experience of living in the U.S. as openly gay to visiting a country that is just recently dealing with openness in terms of LGBT issues and expect it to be the same.”

Attack victim cautions int’l travelers - Washington Blade

By Rick Strokum | Article Date: 8/13/2008 12:00 AM

We all have a guilty pleasure, don’t we? Some fantasy scenario, be it mild or wild, that really get’s us going? It may be the smell of leather chaps, the college freshman who is new to the scene, a favorite actor, a particular type of guy, or even a hardened criminal… emphasis on the hardened part!

One thing that gets a lot of guy’s motors running is that hyper masculine image; the convict, the cop, and the mechanic, to name a few. And guys who are into those type of guys know one of the best places to find them is in a Titan Men DVD.

Titan’s most recent release, Copperhead Canyon, is no exception. It has a little something for everyone.

The DVD starts out with officer Matthew Ford and hitchhiker Luke Riley consoling each other after being overpowered and tied to a tree by escaped convict Bill Madison.

Bill then phones a friend to help him set up a better escape. But Bill’s friend Dean Flynn is easily distracted by Kurt Wild, his son’s college buddy.

But Bill shouldn’t be worried about Dean, it is Chad Manning and Leed Scott, the mechanics who should be fixing the escape vehicle, that he should wonder about. They find other uses for the socket wrench in their pop and pop garage.

Security isn’t as tight as it could be with Ago Viara and Joe Strong standing guard. They seem to find other ways to distract themselves rather than being on the lookout for the cops.

Wolf Hudson and Antonio Milan are a pair of orange jumpsuit-wearing escaped convicts who are making their way through the forest in Pueblo, Colorado. They see Officer Rick Powers approaching, so ditch their jump suits, leaving them both naked by the side of the road.

Although Rick’s hot on their tails, he seems more interested in what they were doing than turning them in. But in the end, it is the cops that find them when Ford and his new sidekick Riley meet up with the gang of criminals. But before making their arrests, they make sure everyone who is packing a concealed weapon puts it to good use!

As with all Titan Men DVD’s, buy the disk and you also get a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette, photo session and fluffing reel, a money shot compilation and a preview trailer for Chainsaw.

If hot convicts in Pueblo, Colorado isn’t really your style, you might want to go a little further south of the boarder and check out Jet Set Men’s latest Latin Heat Production Bailando Tango.

The opening scene features Max Schukter, Lucas Fabian and Juan Pablo, who are all “up” for some good clean fun!

In the next scene Pierre and Michael Amerika discover how much fun it is to cruise guys from a rooftop where no one can really see what or who you are doing.

Later, we catch up with Romario Silva and Nacho, who are busy putting Romario’s desk to good use.

And finally, around the corner in an apartment, Bruno Bordas and Tobias go for the classic but efficient location for everyone’s favorite indoor sport; the bedroom.

Latin Heat is the right name for this production studio because when they bring it, you can count on it being hot and spicy!

And now men, for news you can use!

- According to the Gay Porn Times via XBIZ, New York-based gay adult studio Lucas Entertainment has signed videographer Mr. Pam to an exclusive contract, effective immediately. The contract comes with a new title: Creative Director of film and production. She is expected to relocate from San Francisco shortly. “I’m obscenely comfortable being around guys doing it,” Pam told XBIZ. “I have always been a super-sexual, kind of a ‘loose’ girl. I think gay men share my adventurous nature and free sexuality.” You go girlfriend!

- Did you know that Titan Man Alex Baresi is the subject of a new painting by world renowned Australian artist Ross Watson? According to a recent Titan Men press release, Watson’s choice of model for his most recent major painting could not have been more fitting. Painting the classically handsome Italian, who was voted International Gay Porn Star for 2007, before Caravaggio’s smiling St. John is apt indeed. When Caravaggio unveiled his painting in 1600, it caused a scandal in Rome. Commissioned by the Cardinal Del Monte, the painting shocked the church. St. John’s depiction, naked and smiling at the viewer and clutching a ram, a symbol of lust, was unprecedented.

- And finally, with a big sigh of relief, we can all release the death grip on our wallets. California Assembly Bill 2914, which would have imposed a 25 percent tax on adult products and videos/dvds, has died in committee. Phew, that was too close for comfort!

Until next time.

by The Associated Press

Posted: July 5, 2008 - 4:30 pm ET

(Budapest) Dozens of protesters have clashed with police escorting a march by gays and lesbians through the center of the Hungarian capital Budapest.

The protesters pelted the marchers with eggs, bottles and rocks and clashed with police, setting fire to a police van.

Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters at several points along a boulevard in downtown Budapest.

Today’s “Dignity March” began at one end of the boulevard, while the protesters gathered at the opposite end and at other intersections along the way.

Police tried to protect the march by setting up high metal barriers on both sides of the road

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: July 7, 2008 - 12:00 pm ET

(New York City) The American Family Association is taking on the nation’s largest fast food chain calling on its members to boycott McDonald’s over the company’s support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

It is the latest in a series of company boycotts initiated by the conservative Christian group that has, according to financial analysts, had little effect. Previous boycotts have involved Disney, Ford, Proctor and Gamble and Kraft Foods and a threatened boycott of Wal-Mart.

The AFA on its Web Site said that the boycott “is not about hiring homosexuals … It is not about homosexuals eating at McDonald’s …It is not about how homosexual employees are treated.”

Instead, the AFA said: “It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars.  McDonald’s has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage:

McDonald’s recently gave a donation to the Chamber and was invited to have a company representative sit on the organization’s board.

In a letter to the fast food chain AFA chair Donald Wildmon asked the company to rescind its support for the Chamber and “remain neutral” on LGBT issues.

McDonald’s is remaining firm.

“McDonald’s is associated with countless local and national affinity groups here in the United States,” said McDonald’s Global Chief Diversity Officer Pat Harris in a reply to Wildmon.

“We have a well-established and proud heritage of associating with individuals and organizations that share our belief that every person has the right to live and work in their community free of discrimination,” Harris said.

The AFA previously boycotted Disney for several year’s over its support for Gay Days at Disney World, although the company was not an official sponsor of the event.

It boycotted Cincinnati-based Proctor and Gamble over the company’s support for the repeal of a city charter amendment that prevented Cincinnati city council from enacting any laws that would recognize gays and lesbians.

The group boycotted Kraft for its support of the Chicago Gay Games and threatened to boycott Wal-Mart over its involvement with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

The boycotts resulted in little impact on the companies.

The AFA boycott of Ford was heralded as a success by the organization which noted that it had resulted in a drop in sales and share value.  But most financial analysts said that Ford’s problems were really the result of vehicle designs that failed to impress the public. 

The conservative Christian group launched a nationwide boycott of Ford in 2005 over the automaker’s support for LGBT issues, briefly put it on hold and then reinstated it.

The AFA claimed victory when Ford began pulling its ads from LGBT publications, but industry observers and the company said the ad pullout was part of a downsizing of expenses.

by The Associated Press

Posted: July 7, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET

(Washington) Congress should repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center.

The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton’s policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation.

“Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion,” the officers states.

To support its contention, the panel points to the British and Israeli militaries, where it says gay people serve openly without hurting the effectiveness of combat operations.

Undermining unit cohesion was a determining factor when Congress passed the 1993 law, intended to keep the military from asking recruits their sexual orientation. In turn, service members can’t say they are gay or bisexual, engage in homosexual activity or marry a member of the same sex.

The study was sponsored by the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, which said it picked the panel members to portray a bipartisan representation of the different service branches. According to its Web site, the Palm Center “is committed to keeping researchers, journalists and the general public informed of the latest developments in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy debate.”

Two of the officers have endorsed Democratic candidates since leaving the military - Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, who supports Barack Obama, and Marine Corps Gen. Hugh Aitken, who backed Clinton in 1996.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Minter Alexander, a Republican, was assigned in 1993 to a high-level panel established by the Defense Department to examine the issue of gays in the military. At one point, he signed an order that prohibited the military from asking a recruit’s sexual orientation.

Alexander said at the time he was simply trying to carry out the president’s orders and not take a position. But he now believes the law should be repealed because it assumes the existence of gays in the military is disruptive to units even though cultural attitudes are changing.

Further, the Defense Department and not Congress should be in charge of regulating sexual misconduct within the military, he said.

“Who else can better judge whether it’s a threat to good order and discipline?” Alexander asked.

Navy Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan said he had no opinion on the issue when he joined the panel, having never confronted it in his 35-year military career. A self-described Republican who opposes the Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq war, Shanahan said he was struck by the loss of personal integrity required by individuals to carry out “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Everyone was living a big lie - the homosexuals were trying to hide their sexual orientation and the commanders were looking the other way because they didn’t want to disrupt operations by trying to enforce the law,” he said.

By Sara Whitman | Article Date: 7/03/2008 12:30 AM

Last week it was announced that David Vitter and Larry Craig were co-sponsoring a marriage amendment. Two of the most notorious sex offenders in the Senate were out doing their duty, trying to protect marriage from homosexuals.

The prostitute using, anonymous gay bathroom sex lovin’ duo is going to clean up America. Marriage will be between a man and a woman.

Bathrooms, obviously, are outside the bounds of matrimony. Or if you pay for it. Free enterprise- or a good blowjob at a low rate- is good for everyone, right?

Right?

As I read the article, I kept waiting for the punch line or the cymbal crash. There was none. These two men are serious and they have welcomed the press around their efforts.

I couldn’t help but wonder, why would the Republican Party do such a thing? Just as the Democrats have leadership that picks agenda items, so do the Republicans.

Are they stupid, as many people have mused? I don’t think so. You don’t own Washington, DC for as many years as the Republicans have by being stupid.

Are Vitter and Craig acting out of desperation to be re-elected, and outside of the leadership? Perhaps. Neither one stands much of a chance at re-election. Well, maybe Vitter because he was at least doing the deed with a woman he paid for, fair and square- not some guy in a bathroom.

Or is the Republican leadership smart enough to know the tide is changing, and willing to offer up a couple of inconsequential sacrifices in order to appear to care about an issue they are losing hard and fast on.

A friend of mine who has been involved in political lobbying for many years said to me once, Politicians hate to lose. A very superstitious bunch, they believe is you start voting for losing issues enough times, they themselves will start to lose.

As in elections.

They are unwilling to put themselves in awkward if not unpopular places unless it speaks deeply to their constituents. Which makes me wonder if I should move to the 10th district of Ohio, the place that elects Dennis Kucinich year after year.

Are the Republicans simply putting out the lame ducks to take on an issue they know is going to fall apart quickly? Vitter and Craig are ridiculous jokes to be the poster boys of marriage rights. They are also very expendable.

You don’t see Elizabeth Dole, John Warner or Richard Lugar taking this on. Noooooo. What about Mike Crapo? At least his name adds to the pathetic nature of the effort.

Is this the fat lady singing? Is this a sign the Republicans are tossing in the towel?

No one expected the defeat of the Arizona amendment in 2006 to be revisited but it is, in fact, being revisited. A handful of legislators pulled a few funny moves and now it will be voted on again.

In Massachusetts, we’re all resting on our laurels. Instead of fighting the most important fight of our lives—fighting the vote against our marriage equality—we are going to Provincetown, enjoying the beaches and marrying at will.

We are very complacent. Looking at Vitter and Craig makes us laugh.

Should it? Until the California ballot is defeated, until every state in the union has marriage equality and federal benefits to match, I won’t believe it.

Nor should you.

on 07-02-2008 11:03 

With all his dirty deeds there are tons of reasons for us gays to despise President George W. Bush. However, one “gay activist” says there actually is a reason to be thankful to old dubya.

According to an article published in the Minneapolis Star-Ledger, “gay activist” David Benkof says George W. Bush has done more to fight HIV/AIDS than any president in American history, including Clinton.
“The people pushing Bush to fight the epidemic at home and abroad are overwhelmingly conservative Christians — the same people we keep hearing gay leaders tar as narrow-minded and bigoted,” Benkof writes. “Well, those narrow-minded bigots (who never had the president’s ear during the Clinton administration) deserve far more credit for relieving suffering from HIV in this decade than gay men and lesbians did in the previous two decades combined.”

Under George W. Bush, Benkof writes:

•The United States spends more than $3 billion a year, with more to come, on the president’s initiative to treat, prevent and care for millions of suffering people worldwide. Bush’s AIDS plan is the largest health initiative ever dedicated to a single disease. By contrast, Clinton’s last budget contained less than a billion dollars total for both domestic prevention and global AIDS. And instead of trying to help people get the medicine they needed, Clinton’s Justice Department actually sued people and governments worldwide for trying to produce generic antiretrovirals.

•The White House is trying to repeal the heinous restriction on foreign visitors and immigrants with HIV, a policy the supposedly progay Clinton administration actually signed into law. Because of Bush, we may finally have international AIDS conferences in our country again, something that never happened in the pervious administration.

•The president has not hesitated to appoint openly gay experts on the disease to top administration positions, including physician Mark R. Dybul to an ambassador-level HIV post and both National AIDS Policy Coordinator Scott Evertz and his successor, Joseph O’Neill. If bigoted Christians were pulling the strings at the Bush administration, why does Bush keep promoting openly gay men? By contrast, President Clinton had no openly gay AIDS czars. Bush’s AIDS appointments aren’t about winning gay votes any more than his appointment of two African-American secretaries of state was calculated to win black votes. He wants the most qualified people doing important jobs, whatever their identities.

So, who is the author of these claims - the so-called gay activist David Benkof? Officially, Benkof describes himself as gay Republican. Benkof, as David Bianco, lived as a gay man and was actively involved in gay news distribution, serving as founder and contributor to Q-Syndicate from 1995 to 2003. Then in 2003, Bianco announced that he had made some changes in his life. He had changed his identity to bisexual, his religion to Orthodox Judaism, his beliefs about homosexual acts to be unacceptable, his goals to include marriage to a nice Jewish girl, and his name to Benkof. He then went off to Israel for some years to study. And now he’s reemerged and is seeking to be influential in the restriction of gay rights and equality.

Read more about this questionable character here.

on 07-02-2008 09:38 

Grey’s Anatomy actor T.R. Knight and his young boyfriend Mark Cornelsen are doing their part for the cause of gay visibility - and are looking adorable while doing it.

Here are a couple of photos showing the couple doing some shopping close to T.R.’s house in Los Feliz, Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon.

There are some more photos over at JustJared.

on 07-02-2008 19:36 

Gay media watchdog GLAAD is not too crazy about the fact that Will Smith’s character in the new superhero flick Hancock uses the term “homo” in a derogatory way at least three times.

GLAAD writes:

At approximately 24 minutes into the film, while Jason Bateman’s PR whiz works to rehabilitate the superhero’s tarnished image, he shows Hancock three comic book images in an effort to inspire him. But Hancock rejects the traditional image of costumed superheroes as he responds to each one: “Homo. Homo in red. Norwegian homo.”

The audience is prompted to laugh and there is no response to or retribution for Hancock’s remarks. Bateman’s character, the father of a young son, could have easily spoken up instead of giving Hancock a pass

Better yet, would it have changed the story if that brief interaction had been left on the cutting room floor? No one would have missed the line if it wasn’t there, but an unfortunate choice was made to go for the cheap gay joke. In that moment, young gay people in the movie’s audience are put in the position of being ridiculed by a character they are expected to regard as a hero. People go to films to escape reality — or schoolyard taunts — not to pay ten bucks and be ridiculed some more, especially not by someone the Los Angeles Times calls “the most likable actor in the world.”

Rated PG-13, Hancock is being marketed to families, teens and young adults. This film certainly presents an opportunity for parents to explain to their kids that the usually entertaining character of Hancock is not modeling good behavior. But let’s get real: Hancock’s use of the slur sends a problematic message that it’s okay to discriminate using such hateful words. Every day, people — both gay and straight — are taunted and verbally harassed in their schools and in their communities with these kinds of words, creating an environment that’s hostile, uncomfortable, and often unsafe.  To have a heroic character — and by extension actor Will Smith — use, and by implication approve of, this kind of language is simply unacceptable.
GLAAD understands that sometimes anti-gay language shows up in dramatic narrative to reveal a character’s true colors, or to convey a message. But there’s a big difference between using it to highlight a character’s anti-gay attitudes and making a cheap, unfunny shot at gay people.

On the other hand, I’m Norwegian, so maybe Hancock was in fact referring to me? Honestly, I don’t mind, but it would have been nice if they would at least have added my name to the closing credits…

According to numerous online sources, Justin Hartley—who in my opinion is the CW’s King of wet dreams(sorry, Chad)—is scheduled to reprise his role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow for Smallville’s eighth season. But wait, it gets better. Hartly will be returning as a series regular to round out the cast in wake of Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk departure from the series.

The addition can only be favorable to gay fanyboys and add more spice to the series. The main cast already has two established hunks: the titled character himself, Tom Welling and Aaron Ashmore, who plays nice guy Jimmy Olsen (Now if we can only get Shawn Ashmore to make an appreance). Hartly returning to the cast fulltime can only fuel some certain fantasies we’ve been having since he made his debut back in 2006. But as a fan of the series and a comic nerd, this can only mean good things for Smallville.   

Oliver Queen is notorious in the Smallville-verse as the billionaire & crime-fighter who established the Justice League—something fans all around have been aching to see more of. With his return, hopefully we will be seeing Black Canary, Aquaman, Flash, and many other superheroes make a reoccurring appearance on the show. There is nothing that puts a smile on my face than seeing my favorite superheroes come to life on the small screen. Perhaps the WB would allow a certain Amazon Princess to make a debut? 

Although the show is primarily about the road to becoming a superhero, Hartley and League are the only characters to actually don superhero costumes. And how can I properly describe Hartley in his costume? Well, he’s pretty much the gay equivalent to Princess Leia in the Gold Bikini…a holy grail most gay fanboys have been looking for ever since Luke Skywalker went from delicious twinkie in “A New Hope” to crowning top in “Return of the Jedi.”

Hartley only made one appearance this pass season as the Green Arrow due to commitments to prior projects. Prior to that, he was a reoccurring in season six. Smallville premieres its eighth season this fall on the CW.

Image courtesy SciFi

Mark James

It just keeps getting better — Frameline 32.

The last week of June in San Francisco is always special, but the Frameline festival this year was almost too good to be true. There was a bittersweet note in the departure of Festival cofounder Michael Lumpkin, the low-key impresario behind much of what makes this festival. But if it’s time to go, no better timing than alongside this year’s crop of extraordinary entries. A few standouts:

“Wrangler”
The gay adult industry thrives to this day, more so as the Internet and increasing acceptance of sexuality among younger gays provides the industry so many directions to take and new fans to reach. But through the lens of time the scope gets much narrower, back to the days when a small community of earnest and talented men took what had been a seedy business and brought it out of the closet: Call it Gay Porn Lib. Right in the thick of it all was a guy who transformed himself from a wispy stage actor into super-hunk porn star by sheer force of will and superb timing.

This documentary follows Jack Wrangler from his boyhood in Los Angeles right up to today and — here’s the money shot — the quiet married life he shares with the mid-20th century singing diva Margaret Whiting. By the end of the film it comes as no surprise that a guy who overcame his worries about pleasing others and decided to live a life that would please himself might just choose to settle down with an older straight woman who just so happens to love him. Every minute of this chronicle of his life is at once gripping, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring, for no particular reason other than the whimsy, wit and honesty of the life the film explores. Find it, see it and enjoy it. We sure did.

“Fun in Boys’ Shorts.” This year’s “Boys’ Shorts,” nine in all, were a real treat. There was not a single repeat in the set — all the material was new — and each film, with the exception of one, had the audience roaring with pleasure.

There is the ostracized and ultimately triumphant protagonist of the hilarious “Bongo Bong.” The budding bad girl (and her beleaguered victims) in Babysitting Andy.” The short “Hirsute” explores the idea of how people evolve and what they accomplish over time — for better or worse — and in the process provides one of the great unexpected comedy/horror moments in the history of film.

“Silver Road” was the only disappointment, but the guys in it are so easy on the eye that it glides by without ruining the mood.

My runner-up favorite is “Pat’s First Kiss,” a deftly executed, knowing cartoon about a gay lad’s first foray into sex. In this year’s great theme — the meaning of same-sex marriage — we have “Over-Stuff,” a poignant, funny short about a couple’s trip to the thrift store. Next, from Spain, is the arresting “In the High School,” a unusually frank and brilliantly funny look into the often-misrepresented subject of how horny young guys can be.

“Screening Party” is a very L.A. story about a bunch of friends who get together to spoof the film “Pretty Woman.”

But the best is the last: The fabulous “The Window” is a visual poem about the things men do in their apartment windows. It has a really great money shot, too. With any luck, you’ll be able to find these on YouTube, if not on DVD.

“Call Me Troy”
Maybe the best storytelling of any film this year is, in fact, a documentary by Scott Bloom about Troy Perry, the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church. This guy has lived free and in the glow of spiritual devotion since before most of us were born, and the telling of his story (mostly in the first person but with the help of a really entertaining cast of cohorts) is so comprehensive and so rich in its scope that you are left feeling as though you lived alongside the man. And what a life it has been. Coming out under the most unlikely conditions, fighting for gay rights when it took real courage to do so, living a sexual and spiritual life without apology. It’s all here, the good, bad and oh-so-very ugly. But no moment in the film is funnier than the good reverend’s tale about being served Florida orange juice during the Anita Bryant era aboard a cross-country flight. It makes you love the idea of air travel all over again.

“Pageant”
In Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern’s excellent and awe-inspiring documentary, the great American phenomenon of Southern drag is finally given its due. If you didn’t grow up gay in the South, you missed a lot. Some good, some not so good. But the drag shows in that region are the best to be found anywhere. For this tribute to the art, the setting is Memphis and the 34th annual Miss Gay America. The subjects are five drag queens who rely entirely on their craft to compete. And what a competition it is. This film, of any at the festival, had the audience going from the opening frame to the last.

Get the in-depth review of “Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild” by clicking here. (link to the full review).

Watch the trailers now:
“Wrangler“
“Call Me Troy“
“Pageant“