News: The Scream, Chelsea Clinton, Marcus Schenkenberg

Bush administration to pay $20 million to promote more positive coverage of news coming out of Iraq.

Announced earlier this month, on Monday night at an official ceremony, the National Tennis Center was renamed for Billie Jean King. Slate: "At Monday night's ceremony, sports broadcaster Mary Carillo, who once played World TeamTennis with the honoree, expressed the essence of King's equal-opportunity agenda: 'She's for the rich, the poor, black, white, straight, gay, she wants equality for everyone. She's not just a great tennis player and a women's libber, and that's an important thing to keep in mind.'"

Once thought incinerated by its thieves, Edward Munch's beloved "The Scream" has been recovered.

Chelsea Clinton: devil worshipper.

Model Marcus Schenkenberg makes an appearance in a tight little pair of square cuts.

The Uniformed Services University — a medical, nursing, and graduate school run by the Department of Defense — has elected Patrick High, who is openly gay, as its student council president. SLDN: "“Patrick High’s election as student council president is just the latest in a series of signs that those serving in our armed forces are ready to welcome openly gay colleagues. High was elected based on his qualifications for the post, and that same criteria should be the guiding force throughout the military. His fellow students, including military students, have placed their trust in a leader who represents their ideals and goals."

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Toby Jones and Daniel Craig's Infamous Kiss

In the latest Truman Capote biopic, Infamous, Brit actor Toby Jones shares a kiss with Daniel Craig, who plays killer Perry Smith. In Venice for the annual film festival, Jones commented on the lip-lock:

"I had never dreamed I would kiss James Bond. It's not something I would ever aspire to. Now that I've done it, I hope I'm the first of many. It was slightly abrasive, but ultimately rewarding. And neither of us are gay. We filmed the prison scene right at the end and I was aware it was going to be a pressurised situation, this very intense scene filmed in such an intimate space. I thought it was going to be the really gruelling part of the movie. But it was fantastic to work with Daniel because as an English actor there's a kind of humour that goes with those scenes. You take it seriously but you also find a way to deal with it."

According to the article's author the kiss has "dealt a blow to [Craig's] James Bond image." When will the media stop insinuating that gay kisses are career killers and start treating them for what they are — part of a script.

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From the Bad Timing Dept: A New, Infamous Capote [tr]
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Roofies and Runways: The Return of Blond, Bitchy Divas

Catfights return to the screen in the upcoming Fashion House as bitchy divas-of-a-certain-age Morgan Fairchild and Bo Derek slug it out among bare-chested male models.

Neil de la Flor talks to the show's writer Richard Andreoli on gay writers today, same-sex marriage, appearing with his boyfriend on HGTV, the younger generation's approach to sex, and his new prime time soap, which sounds like a mindless romp back to potboiler programs like Dallas and Dynasty but sans Joan Collins:

"Dearest Joan will not make a cameo, though much of our inspiration came from women like her, Heather Locklear, and other soap opera sisters whose over-the-top antics entertained us years ago. On the plus side, pretty much everyone in the show is a gorgeous model and they are constantly taking off their clothes. For example, I box twice a week so I added in some boxing work outs for the male lead in the show because a hot, sweaty, shirtless man in shorts who's punching a big hanging bag makes for good TV. Oh, and there's a certain Alfred Hitchcock leading lady who plays a pivotal role as well, but you won't see her interacting with Bo or Morgan."

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News: Madonna Tiara, HIV Fugitive, A-Rod

Crowd of thousands cheer Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson "for calling President Bush a 'dishonest, war-mongering, human-rights violating president' whose time in office would 'rank as the worst presidency our nation has ever had to endure.'"

Now A-Rod has milk too.

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuals criticized when member advocates bullying of kids who cross gender role boundaries: "I suggest, indeed, letting children who wish go to school in clothes of the opposite sex - but not counselling other children to not tease them or hurt their feelings. On the contrary, don't interfere, and let the other children ridicule the child who has lost that clear boundary between play-acting at home and the reality needs of the outside world. Maybe, in this way, the child will re-establish that necessary boundary."

Madonna's wedding tiara on eBay auction with starting bid of $225,000. Shipping, however, is free.

Police launch manhunt for fugitive Mark James, sentenced to three years and four months for knowingly infecting his partner with HIV.

Scottish firefighters who refused to hand out leaflets at a Glasgow gay pride festival are ordered to undergo "diversity training": ""Firefighters are well aware that fire prevention education and spreading the fire safety message is not a minor part of their job - it ranks alongside fire-fighting as a core, statutory duty...Firefighters cannot, and will not, pick and choose to whom they offer fire safety advice."

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Charles Barkley: I'm for Gay Marriage but Not One of Them

Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley recently sat down with Chris Meyers for an interview scheduled to air Sunday night on FOX SportsNet. The outspoken Barkley said that he's considering running as a Democrat for Governor of Alabama and commented on a variety of topics, including homophobia in the locker room and gay marriage.

According to ESPN, "[Barkley] acknowledged that a gay athlete likely would be discriminated against in professional sports, though he said he believes they would face the same discrimination in everyday life."

On gay marriage, Barkley said:

"I think if they want to get married, God bless them. Gay marriage is probably 1 percent of the population, so it's not like it's going to be an epidemic. Hey, trust me, I'm never going to kiss you and say, 'Chris, you're sexy.'"

No word on whether or not Meyers was relieved or disappointed by that last comment.

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Polish Prime Minister: We're Not Anti-Gay

Poland wants more clout in the European Union, so the country's prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski traveled to Brussels to appeal to the EU commission and explain to them that homophobia and anti-Semitism in his country are on the wane:

"I ask you not to believe in the myth of Poland as an anti-semitic, homophobic and xenophobic country...People with such [homosexual] preferences have full rights in Poland, there is no tradition in Poland of persecuting such people."

The commission should have asked him about the Equality Parade that his twin brother Lech, now the country's president, cancelled when he was mayor of Warsaw.

Or how about the 65 protestors who were detained and interrogated in Poznan, Poland last November for rallying against discrimination based on "sexual orientation, gender, race, and disability."

And what were the punishments given to the violent protestors who hurled objects at Equality March participants in Warsaw and Krakow earlier this year?

According to the EU Observer, "[Kaczynski] admitted that an anti-semitic 'fringe' exists in Polish politics but said it is in a process of change, while showcasing the fact Poland has many gay nightclubs and magazines, as well as 'people of such a persuasion holding high public positions, on the right and not just on the left.'"

Why is it then, that even in Berlin they're knocking down doors to speak out against Poland's policies?

Gay-friendly Poland wants more EU clout, prime minister says [eu observer]

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