08/03/2007
News: Dianne Feinstein, Rendition, Tim McGraw, Channing Tatum
Rupert Everett shocks British morning talk show with comment about gay sex in the back row of a theater.
Army policeman says he is being targeted because the military perceives he is gay: "The charges alleged that Mastromarino sexually harassed other male soldiers in his unit with unwanted touching and verbal comments. He was ultimately convicted of three counts of simple assault. The military court's ruling, however, has yet to be approved by the regiment's commanding general, and Mastromarino has appealed the decision...In addition, according to sworn testimony during the trial, two prosecution witnesses said that they did not consider the physical contact between themselves and Mastromarino to be an assault, although the command chose to bring those charges forward against him. 'You are supposed to have some kind of credible evidence,' Mastromarino said. 'That leads me to believe that they were on some kind of agenda.'"
Tim McGraw fan steals ring off the country heartthrob's hand - video.
New trailer for the upcoming Jake Gyllenhaal/Reese Witherspoon/Meryl Streep drama Rendition is released.
Charles Simic is named 15th Poet Laureate of the United States: "The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet succeeds Donald Hall and joins a list of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including Ted Kooser, Louise Gluck, Billy Collins, Stanley Kunitz, Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass, Rita Dove and Robert Penn Warren."
Vanity Fair gives it up for young Hollywood hunks Channing Tatum, Henry Cavill, Shia LeBoeuf, and Zac Efron.
Dianne Feinstein breaks with Democrats, votes to confirm judge in Mississippi who believes children should be taken from gay parents.
Ring the alarm: Paula Abdul's bird's nest is done.
California Supreme Court asked to consider case regarding a physician who refused treatment to a lesbian based on his religious views: "The dispute arose in 2000 after San Diego-area doctors Christine Brody and Douglas Fenton refused to artificially inseminate Benitez, a lesbian who lives with her partner, Joanne Clark, in Oceanside, north of San Diego. By that time, Benitez had been a patient at the clinic for 11 months and been taking fertility drugs prescribed by Brody. The clinic was the only facility covered by Benitez' health insurance plan. 'I was very distraught,' Benitez says. 'I was very confused. I couldn't even bear to think that possibly I was never going to be able to have children.' In 2001, Benitez sued the doctors, claiming that they violated California's anti-discrimination laws that protect gays and lesbians."
Posted 1:25 PM EST by Andy in California, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Gay Adoption, Gay Parents, Jake Gyllenhaal, Military, News, Rupert Everett | Permalink
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No surprise on the DiFi switch. She started out as Republican, switched to Democrat since the glass ceiling was higher there. I have refused to vote for her since I've been eligible to vote.
Posted by: Lito S. | Aug 3, 2007 1:36:13 PM
True that DiFi has always voted to the right whenever she thinks she can get away with it. But it's not the case that this is a switch for her. She's always been this way, ever since she was mayor of SF in the eighties.
Posted by: Frank L | Aug 3, 2007 1:43:03 PM
Isn't Feinstein retiring after this term? But that brings on Arnold...oh, well. Maybe we could get Babs to run against him. She'd whip his Aryan ass. Babs as in Streisand, of course.
Posted by: Derrick From Philly | Aug 3, 2007 1:52:17 PM
Judging from his recent comments, I think Rupert Everett has lost his mind.
Posted by: sam | Aug 3, 2007 1:59:38 PM
If this is true then Feinstein is lower than the dust I walk on.
Posted by: the queen | Aug 3, 2007 2:00:10 PM
Would it be wise to try to force a doctor to treat you when they are reluctant to do so? Talk about asking for trouble.
I guess if DADT is ever repealed then the old "sexual harassment" purge may become the weapon of choice against gays in the military.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Aug 3, 2007 2:33:18 PM
The DiFi thing is too upsetting to even talk about.
So on to more superficial stuff: why does Vanity Fair have it's tongue drilled up Shia LaBoeuf's ass? First he's on the cover, then in its round-up of young leading men, he's the only actor to get 2 pictures. Plus his blurb is way longer than the other guys. Why are they salivating all over this guy?
Posted by: Donny B | Aug 3, 2007 2:33:18 PM
Rupert Everett said that the back row was "a place where you got to finger your girlfriend a little bit."
What's gay about that?
Posted by: Roy | Aug 3, 2007 2:40:03 PM
Babs would beat Arnold?
Maybe in West Hollywood and the Castro. Not in the San Joaquin Valley or anyplace north of Sausalito or east of Berkeley, she wouldn't.
Posted by: Frank L | Aug 3, 2007 3:19:55 PM
Wow! So according to VF the future leading men of Hollywood are all bland white men. Nice to know the future will be as exciting and diverse as the present.
Posted by: michael | Aug 3, 2007 3:29:58 PM
Hey Andy. The California Supreme was not just asked to hear, it already has decided to hear the Benitez appeal. In fact, the case is fully briefed before the Court (I filed an amicus brief in Benitez's support on behalf of several community health groups). I'm not sure why USAToday chose today to highlight the case...the case has been fully briefed since June 5, and we are just waiting for oral argument to be scheduled. It's an exciting case and we look forward to a resolution. Amazingly, the trial judge in conservative San Diego County made the right decision but was reversed by 4th District Court of Appeal. Hopefully the CA Supremes do the right thing.
Posted by: PistolPetey | Aug 3, 2007 5:47:59 PM
I feel the need to correct Vanity Fair. Shia LaBoeuf is not a Hollywood hunk unless by 'Hollywood hunk' they meant totally fugly guy who wouldn't even get cruised by the most desperate old man in the showers of the Bally's steamroom in West Hollywood'.
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 3, 2007 5:51:21 PM
Regarding Rupert Everett - am I missing something? What's gay about 'fingering your girlfriend'?
That sounds like straight sex in the back row of the theatre to me.
Posted by: Gregus | Aug 3, 2007 6:26:21 PM
It's time for Dianne Feinstein to go. We need a real Democratic representative who will stand up for human rights instead of siding with the Republican filth that infests our government...
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Aug 3, 2007 8:22:42 PM
I'm with Donny: the DiFi thing is too upsetting to talk about.
What's almost as upsetting is what the heck happened to Reese Witherspoon. I used to LOVE her back when she was lesser-known enough to be a quirky, earnest and self-effacing actress. That "Rendition" chick is barely comparable to the "Freeway" girl I fell in love with. Maybe she's in her Julia Roberts-"Micheal Collins/Mary Reilly" phase. That being said, I still kinda love her...
I barely know Shia and I'm already over him. All of this talk about him being the "next" Tom Hanks (I'm sorry, did he die?) is annoying and should have him alarmed a'la what happened to poor Gretchen Mol when they tried to overhype her as the next "IT" girl or Monica Potter as "the next Julia." That being said, I'll still go see Indy 4.
methinks Rupert had a George Michael moment. What's with aging Brit gays making random annoying public comments 4 press? That being said--oh wait, I've got nothing to say now...
Posted by: Derrick | Aug 3, 2007 9:12:59 PM
Channing got chunky! My dream man, truly a potential super-charismatic leading man, is letting his bod and his look go. Here is the evidence (or am I being too sensitive and critical?):
http://tinyurl.com/2pfnzj
Posted by: Dan | Aug 3, 2007 9:56:52 PM
channing tatum is so not hot hes like american boy next door trust me im keeping my citizen ship but him and wentworth miller and some guy from mandy moore movie and every round nosed average looking guy they call all american good looking. I want someone whose nose is nordic is that much to ask you know maybe a little "jewish" im just saying what happened to those of us out there who like those types of guys MOst of the Strokes Paolo nutini find guys like that the guy from the pianist
Shia is hot in the are you sure you dont party not after im done kind of way
Posted by: sasha | Aug 4, 2007 2:33:47 AM
Republicans and now democrats are scum.
Posted by: Lou | Aug 4, 2007 2:50:31 AM
What does a guy fingering a girl have to do with gay sex, Andy? Did you even read the article?
Posted by: Jordan | Aug 4, 2007 3:31:43 AM
"And she wonders why so many Democrats hate her"...and yet so many republicans wonder why so many dems continue to vote for her? Yeah, yeah, we have our nuts too and I will never try to explain or forgive W, but Feinstein?
Posted by: RB | Aug 4, 2007 8:29:38 AM
And another point: I know that I cannot wait until 1/20/09, W is gone and we can move forward. However, as a repub, a father and a gay man I find it very difficult to read the overwhelming support for dems for what appears to be the "crumbs" that they offer our community. So they are going to debate our community. Wow, that is helpful. Where is the thought process and why the blind faith behind Pelosi or Reid or Kennedy? What have they bestowed upon us? How have they helped?
When the dems swept congress I posted that I was cautiously optimistic and looked forward to garnering my rights as so many posted would happen. While I understand that the wheels of the federal government turn slow, it appears as thought they have ground to a halt!
"PRINCETON, NJ -- The percentage of Americans with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup's history of this measure -- and the lowest of any of the 16 institutions tested in this year's Confidence in Institutions survey. It is also one of the lowest confidence ratings for any institution tested over the last three decades." And apparently, those ratings slipped into the single digits this past week!
I am so looking forward to end of W, but please tell me how the Pelosi/Reid show is helping anyone?! They have succeeded in having approval ratings lower than W and yet no one will touch that fact! I want them all to go away, W, Chenney, Feinstein, Pelosi, Reid, etc. There really has to be someone out there that is better than our current crop of loseres...BOTH parties included!
Posted by: RB | Aug 4, 2007 9:29:56 AM
Difi is incredibly powerful. I don't believe any Democrat has challenged her in years and the Republicans always run some far-right asshole against her. I haven't voted for her in years but there has never been any danger of her losing.
Posted by: db | Aug 6, 2007 3:07:13 PM