08/26/2008
News: Reality 'Skin,' White Trash Cuisine, Tennis Talk, Outer Borough Lovin'
Shirts & Skins: Logo's new gay-basketball-team reality show looks promising.
Murder, They Wrote: The death of a 37-year old gay man who was shot last month by San Diego Harbor Police during a gay pride-related cruise has been ruled a homicide.
James Kirchick of The New Republic reacts to the gay population's decision to take Manhunt co-founder Jonathan Crutchley to task for his financial support of John McCain.
Lifting the veil on AIDS in Mexican prisons: Officially, there is no sex among the male inmates at the over-packed Oriente prison on the outskirts of the Mexican capital. But talk to the prisoners ... and another reality emerges. "“We are a population of men, and it’s normal for men to have sex with whoever is around,” said Guillermo, 32, a prisoner and peer educator who has H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. “There are some who don’t want to see it.”
Rotten Apple? E-mail problems, flaky iPhones and broken Macs. What's Steve Jobs to do?
White Trash Kraft Dinner: I swear, this is the greatest meal ever.
"Make Me a Supermodel" runner-up Ronnie Kroell graces the cover of INSTINCT mag.
John McCain snares the highly sought-after Daddy Yankee endorsement(!!!).
More outrage that the Peacock Network ignored gay diver Matthew Mitcham's gold-medal victory because it wasn't compelling or historical enough.
Genre editor Neal Boulton isn't having any of gay media "czar" Paul Colichman's anti-Obama rhetoric -- and neither is Matt.
Report: Alleged plot to kill Barack Obama was never a credible threat.
As always, the new DNA is pure torture, in a good way.
Suite Talk: Forget Beverly Hills -- a U.S. Open seating chart is the only star map you need.
Twenty-four former champions -- from Rod Laver to Roger Federer and Virginia Wade to Maria Sharapova -- launched opening night at the U.S. Open on Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the professional era. While the absence of legends Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf was a major disappointment, the sight of Tracy Austin slapping Martina Navratilova on the butt kind of made up for it!
Blake Baby: The "return" of Juliana Hatfield.
A new study of US Census Bureau statistics shows that nearly two-thirds of New York City's same-sex couples live outside of Manhattan.
A woman is charged with plotting to kidnap in real life a boyfriend she met through the virtual reality Web site "Second Life".
Posted 5:09 PM EST by Kenneth Walsh | Permalink
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Paul R: That New Republic guy also says that Schwarzenegger is "one of the most powerful pro-gay publicly elected officials in the country." Really? Because I live here and haven't really noticed that. He's pretty mum on the subject, except when he vetoed the marriage bills and referred to legislators he disagreed with as girlie men."
Paul, I invite you to inspect the record. I believe that Schwarzenegger has signed every single piece of legislation supported by Equality California - including several that inspired screaming rants by the usual homophobes... other than marriage. The reason he gave for marriage was that he was waiting for the courts to weigh in.
And, in case you haven't been paying attention, once the CA Supreme Court made marriage legal, he endorsed the court's decision and has spoken out several times against the anti-gay marriage amendment.
And I'm sure you are aware that Schwarzenegger's Chief of Staff is a lesbian and there are several other gay people in high positions in his administration.
If it seems that he's been mum on gay issues, it may be that you haven't been listening carefully.
Posted by: Timothy | Aug 26, 2008 8:31:48 PM
Agreed
Michael Bedwell
NBC did quite a few back-stories of non american athletes so the excuse of his being australian just does not fly.
We should give a shout out to Johnson and Johnson, an american company that contributed to flying his lover to the games. kudos to J&J.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Aug 26, 2008 8:35:33 PM
Regarding the homicide of Steven Hirschfield, I'm afraid the toxicology report proves only that he had drugs in his system, anything beyond that is speculation.
ANON, If you believe that he deserved to die because he had drugs in his system, then (using your logic) I would fear for the life of the gay men on that cruise and dance clubs across the nation.
Posted by: Mark in NYC | Aug 26, 2008 8:36:27 PM
And as for the awesome Matthew Mitcham's sexuality not being discussed due to lack of time; bull.
I heard the back story on just about every (American and international) gymnast, volleyball player, pole vaulter and runner during their exhibitions. How many seconds would it have taken during the preparation of one of his dives to mention that his mother and boyfriend were in attendance, and what it took to get them there? I believe there was a bias.
Posted by: Mark in NYC | Aug 26, 2008 8:42:58 PM
Tiny Tim! Pull Arnold's Austrian oak out of your ass and stand up like a proud gay man!
Waiting for the courts? Puh-leeze! Where is it written that that's what the governor is supposed to do with ANY bill that the legislature passes ONCE, let alone TWICE as the marriage equality bill was. He actually said that he was just following "the will of the people" who voted for antigay Prop 22. At one time, the will of the people would never allowed the son of a documented Nazi soldier to immigrate to the US. And at another, lie about what he saw in Austria as a child.
The SECOND important LGBT bill he vetoed was one that would have required that accomplishments of LGBTs be included in California textbook—just as those of other minority groups are. There was no referendum on that, but, clearly, Arnie was concerned about the will of SOME people—those who hate gays even in California. The exact kind his re-election campaign hired a professional in the Antigay Industry [an aide to rabid homophobe Lou Sheldon of the "Traditional Values Coalition"] to attract until the media shined a light on the cockroach and Arnie sent him packing.
And the fact that there are gays in his administration is irrelevant, or shall I repeat the long list of queer Quislings that have worked for the likes of Karl Rove, Rick Santorum, Mark Foley, Mel Martinez, Bob Dornan, ad nauseum?
No, he's not as bad as the worst of those, but gays are still invisible in CA textbooks and there's no reason to forgive his vetoes, anymore than his condemning SF Mayor Gavin Newsom for starting the whole thing in 2004 and claiming there would be riots as a result. So he's finally smelled the real way the wind is blowing. That makes him no more than an opportunist.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Aug 26, 2008 8:55:19 PM
You guys are right, Andy cannot be everywhere. However, I'd hope he'd expect more from the person he left in charge. If a high profile site like Andy's isn't shining a light it's often seen as "unimportant"...yes, I think the site is that powerful. AE is fine, but look at their traffic numbers and they can hardly be seen as unbiased. They rarely actually challenge a spokesperson and this is a good example. Had it been on CBS or another Viacom entity it would have been ignored all together. In short, I don't trust AE.
Besides, it's the blogs that have really took this story on head on. OutSports, AE and the Advocate have all scrambled to keep ahead of this story. They're getting most their information from comments left on their sites...linked to blogs.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 26, 2008 9:04:11 PM
I'm surprised that there was but one comment on the delicious and tasty looking repast. Me,I thought I had thrown up and someone had snapped it. Then again I don't think my vomit (the rare times I do) has ever been grey.
Posted by: samhraid | Aug 26, 2008 9:04:54 PM
Daddy Yankee?? John McCain thought it was Damned Yankees, because he always had a thing for Gwen Verdon....
Posted by: tallrobert | Aug 26, 2008 9:08:10 PM
Daddy Yankee?? John McCain thought it was Damned Yankees, because he always had a thing for Gwen Verdon....
Posted by: tallrobert | Aug 26, 2008 9:08:44 PM
"ANON, If you believe that he deserved to die because he had drugs in his system, then (using your logic) I would fear for the life of the gay men on that cruise and dance clubs across the nation."
No Mark in NYC, if you actually READ my post you'll see that my belief is that the drugs in his system caused him to act in the aggressive, irrational way, that left police no option other than to shoot in self defense.
We know he was so tweaked out of his mind that he leaped off the top deck of a cruise ship into a freezing bay; it certainly takes no great imagination to see how in his inebriated state he tried to kill a cop as well.
And in any case, NO MARK he certainly did NOT deserve to die! Someone should be held resonsible for his death...the party promoter that allowed the drugs on board, for instance (rather than the innocent cops).
Posted by: anon | Aug 26, 2008 10:18:58 PM
Don't lump all "anon"'s together here on TR! I use gmail. Others hopefully won't. I haven't given the dancer's death much thought except that it deserved a full investigation. Apparently things are working in that direction.
Posted by: anon | Aug 26, 2008 11:00:00 PM
ANON
Read the exerpt of the report frpm the investigators.
The witnesses and autopsy all show he did NOT attack the police.
You are typing your post in english, but reading and comprehending english seems to be a skill escaping you.
I would hope that I am wrong on the last and you simply haven't read the article from lazyness or whatever.
"............based on a witness account and information learned through the autopsy performed by the San Diego County coroner, that Mr. Hirschfield was not the aggressor and was not involved in a brawl with police officers prior to being executed by this police officer."
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Aug 26, 2008 11:07:00 PM
Jimmyboyo, the only person being lazy and the need to read from comprehension is YOU, because that quote you cite is NOT from investigators, NOT from the autopsy...but from the Hirshfield's family's AMBULENCE CHASING ATTORNEY!
OF COURSE the ambulence chaser is going to spout off lies to the media like that! He has 20 MILLION REASONS to blame the deepest pockets he can find...in this case, the city.
The next time you try to personally attack someone here, JIMMYBOYO, I suggest YOU not be so lazy, and YOU learn to read for comprehension. That way, you can avoid making such an IDIOT of yourself in public, as you have just done today!
Posted by: anon | Aug 26, 2008 11:28:51 PM
"White Trash Kraft Dinner: I swear, this is the greatest meal ever."
It's easier to just mix the tuna with a can of condensed mushroom soup. And yes, the cat LOVES the tuna-juice (and might even like the mushroom soup) Plus the soup-route is a little healthier for you. If it looks a little bland, throw in some frozen peas to give it some color.
Posted by: Fix It Again Tony | Aug 26, 2008 11:37:03 PM
Wow, I have to agree with Anon.
Jimmyboyo, for you to try to pass off plaitiff's lawyer propaganda as investigatory fact shows a lot of sloppyness on your part.
Or perhaps even outright and intentional intellectual dishonesty on your part. After all, I note how you carefully cut that quote to make it appear as if it were official factual information from the investigation, rather than puffery from the plaintiff's lawyer.
Posted by: steve | Aug 26, 2008 11:48:14 PM
RE: West Hollywood man shot and killed by police at San Diego Pride.....Take note that "homicide" just means that a person was killed by the actions of another human being. It does NOT mean murder. There are many different types of homicide such as negligent, justifiable, malicious, etc. The coroner's finding is no surprise at all - everyone knows who killed him. The real question is why was he killed? His own actions or a the wrongful actions of the officers? All evidence to date points to his actions being the cause of his death at the hands of another human being.
Posted by: LACATony | Aug 27, 2008 1:29:39 AM
"Result: A completely justified police shooting."
ANON, I read your comment several times before commenting. "A completely justified police shooting..." because you choose to believe the police report. Your conclusion of the events clearly blames Steven for his death based on his drug use. The lawyers of the family are claiming that the physical evidence contradicts the story of the police.
Unless you were on that boat, you don't know what happened for sure. I felt your comment was irresponsible to draw such a strong conclusion based on hearsay and speculation.
Posted by: Mark in NYC | Aug 27, 2008 9:09:18 AM
I think everyone is WAY overreacting to the Matthew Mitcham saga. NBC had backstories prepared on athletes expected to win the gold medal, and Matthew was a surprise winner.
Was that dippy Cynthia Potter supposed to say, Oh, and he's gay!" at the end? That would have created a hissy fit on this and other blogs too.
They alsmost always panned only to the divers' section of the audience and after seeing what his boyfriend (I can't say partner when he's only 20) looked like, I didn't see him sitting there. Perhaps he was elsewhere in the audience.
As for NBC not covering enough of a variety of sports, that's bull too. They had it on like six networks and I heard there was more coverage of these games than of all previous olympics combined.
Posted by: Dan B | Aug 27, 2008 9:30:00 AM
Dan B: The straight community should be proud of you "Was that dippy Cynthia Potter supposed to say, Oh, and he's gay!" at the end? That would have created a hissy fit on this and other blogs too." You think just like them. No, what Mrs. Potter could have said was "there's Matt's mother and his partner, Lachlan."
And I'm 21 and I have a PARTNER. Sorry, when you have dated for two years and YOU consider yourself to be partners they deserve the respect of being addressed as such.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 27, 2008 10:28:01 AM
"I felt your comment was irresponsible to draw such a strong conclusion based on hearsay and speculation."
Oh please! The only irresponsible speculation around here has been those saying two harbor rescue personnel rescued what appeared to be a gay man, just so they could shoot him in a hate crime!
Now THAT is idiot speculation.
Of course drugs played a role in this death. Why isn't anyone interested in suing the dealer? Or the poor party security?
Posted by: obamacan | Aug 27, 2008 10:38:58 AM
to my point, MIKE, the camera never panned to Matthew's mother (his friends and coaching staff all referred to him as Matthew rather than Matt) and Lachlan, so there was not a chance for her to say such.
I would much rather that they spent more time addressing how he was the only non-Chinese to win gold in diving, how his final dive was the highest scoring dive in the entire competition, and how he stepped up and delivered while under immense pressure on his sports biggest stage.
Though I don't know Matthew personally, I am 100% confident in assuming that he would have preferred they focus on his athletic achievements at the Olympic games than his personal life. Even though you, and so many other gay readers, would prefer the opposite. Gay divers are hardly a needle in a haystack anyway.
and if you have a partner, good for you. I know only that in my life experience, I look back and realize I had no clue who I was at 20 (or 21), and thus was ill-equipped to make a real decision on choosing a life partner. If Matthew, or yourself, are able to, good for you- the number of couples my age who were together at 20 or 21 is small. but I wish you the best.
Posted by: Dan B | Aug 27, 2008 11:06:27 AM
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=16333114&postID=1027543500321682372
A must read about Kenneth.
Posted by: Chris | Aug 27, 2008 11:18:39 AM
Hmmm... The Towleroad post as it originally went live said Crutchley called gays "intolerant." Then I quickly posted that nowhere in the article did he say that or even comment on the gay community--a headline writer said it.
Then Towleroad discreetly rewords the original post to what it is now, but it deletes my respectfully worded comment questioning the original wording as it went out to thousands of RSS subscribers, etc. Thankfully, the first comment in this section preserves Towleroad's original wording of this accusation.
Is this normal? Are posts pointing out glaring factual errors usually summarily deleted around here? Is it to avoid embarrassment over journalistic gaffes? Is deleting comments the 2008 version of sweeping lint under the rug?
Posted by: Bakeley | Aug 27, 2008 4:58:32 PM