Towleroad Talking Points: Twi-Hards

 PHOTO OF THE DAY: The Simpsons weigh in on the Karl Rove meltdown. 

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back today's top stories

GAY ISSUES

Tired of the same-old gay magazines? Well then a start up magazine from Australia might be the publication for you. Although I can't say I won't miss those "idolized midsections of seemingly flawless men."

A group of stories involving homophobia and anti-gay sentiment today. First UPS is taking a stand against the bigoted practices of the Boy Scouts. That's what "Brown can do for you." On the negative side, a homophobic pastor in California wants his rainbow back! Also despite the evidence in front of him one anti-gay activist can't see the writing on the wall. And Uganda is still a really awful place to be gay. 

Very sad news out of New York City where activist and author Brandon Lacy Campos has been found dead. RIP. 

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ELECTION 2012

Conservative Grover Norquist appeared on CBS This Morning to talk about the potential "fiscal cliff" and also to very eloquently discuss the outcome of the election. 

Outside of Obama the clear winner of the election was Nate Silver, whseo prognosticating was vindicated when the actual results came in. A big intellect is so sexy. There is very little that can be said about this man's idiotic Romney/Ryan tattoo except that...actually I'm pretty speechless. 

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

That sound you hear is gay Twilight fans squealing over Robert Pattinson's suggestion that Edward should turn gay if the franchise sontinues. Also check out the clip for Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath". 

Elton John and David Furnish Expecting Second Child

Elton John and David Furnish are expecting their second child, UK tabloid The Sun reports:

A surrogate for the Rocket Man singer and hubby David is due to give birth next year, The Sun can exclusively reveal. Last night a source close to the pair said: “Elton and David love this lady like a sister and they feel indebted to her for life. Naturally she has been well rewarded. But her identity will never be revealed.” The mum — believed to have been recruited via the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Encino, California — is said to be already “several months” pregnant. Zachary will have turned two by the time his sibling arrives.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1246

AZEALIA BANKS: "Atlantis"

THIRD EAGLE: William Tapley sees a prophecy for Obama in the Alabama football game.

COLORADO: Come visit!

ONE WORLD TRADE: The eerie sound it made as winds from Hurricane Sandy whipped through it.

News: The Smiths, Jason Brock, Elmo, Turd Blossom, Tom Cruise

Turd Blossom defends his $300 million election night loss.

"We the people" petitions filed in 19 states to secede from the union.

Smiths songs as Penguin Classic book covers.

The voice of Sesame Street's Elmo has taken a leave of absence after being accused of sexual relations with an underage teen.

Florida's first openly gay lawmakers  Joe Saunders and David Richardson make joint post-election appearance.

NOM vows to take out revenge on Starbucks - in the Middle East: “So for example, in Qatar, in the Middle East, we’ve begun working to make sure that there’s some price to be paid for this," Brian Brown says in audio recording of the conference call, which can heard on the Independent's website. "These are not countries that look kindly on same-sex marriage. And this is where Starbucks wants to expand, as well as India. So we have done some of this; we’ve got to do a lot more.”

Judy Garland's Wizrd of Oz dress gets $480K at auction: "Auction house Julien's Auctions says the gingham dress fetched the highest price of any item during a two-day auction of Hollywood memorabilia that attracted bids from around the world. The auction ended Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif."

There's a Kennedy in the House.

A pictorial tribute to recently-out Insanity trainer Shaun T.

Tom Cruise, transformer.

Hong Kong pop singer Denise Ho comes out at Gay Pride: "For many years, when I faced questions from the media, I always felt that sexual orientation is a personal matter, that there is no need to label yourself or tell the public. But in 2012 when one would expect more acceptance and progress (in terms of gay equality), I find that there is still discrimination and prejudice. I feel that silence is no longer an option."

Male model fix: Kim Kraglund.

Salon's Jay Michaelson predicts conservatism will embrace gay marriage: "My prediction is an ironic one: Same-sex marriage will prevail nationally not because of further liberal activism but because of conservative logic: specifically, gradual change, federalism and (gasp) the free market."

Remember Me: Deborah Cox returns.

Gay man says he was threatened at a Vancouver YMCA and staff did nothing: "He said, 'You better watch out or I'm going to crack you. You listen, you fag, I'll crack you."

An account of Nate Silver's appearance at the Chicago Humanities Festival.

Ousted X Factor contestant Jason Brock on how his sexuality may have hurt him: "I think that being gay is a wild card in itself. Like, when you’re gay, some people still aren’t okay with being gay. So there are actually people in the country — maybe a fair percentage, I don’t know how many — who think it’s actually wrong. So I wouldn’t doubt it if it does hurt [to be out on this show], in a way."

Matthew McConaughey looking gaunt at LAX: "The 42-year-old actor caught a flight to New Orleans to start work on his new film The Dallas Buyers Club, in which he plays a drug taking, women loving, homophobic man who, in 1986 was diagnosed with full blown HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live."

Hillary Clinton is a fan of decorating shows: "Her top pick is “Love It or List It,” in which a couple who are unhappy with their current residence gets to look at new houses while a decorator rehabs their old place. The plot arc is always the same, and in a way, it’s sort of Clintonesque. The redecorators find termites or a leaky furnace; the house search goes awry. Everybody’s upset! But after a lot of hard work and the final commercial, there’s a happy ending. 'I find it very calming,' she said."

Kyrsten Sinema Victorious in Arizona House Race; Becomes 1st Openly Bisexual Member of Congress

Former Democratic state senator Kyrsten Sinema has officially won her Arizona congressional race, the AP reports:

Sinema had a narrow lead on election night that made the race too close to call. But she slowly improved that advantage as more ballots were tallied in recent days, and now has a nearly 6,000-vote edge that is too much for Republican Vernon Parker to overcome.

Parker, who took the national stage briefly in September when he gave the GOP weekly address, was criticized by Democrats as a tea party radical who would hurt children by cutting the federal education department.

Sinema is the first openly bisexual member of Congress.

If You Prefer Your Gay Magazines without Rainbow Flags or Men With Chiseled Abs: VIDEO

Then Hello Mr., a start-up publication out of Australia for "men who date men" which is seeking funding on Kickstarter might appeal to you.

They write:

What you won't find here are articles tagged with recycled stock imagery of multicolored flags waving in pride, hand-painted demands for equal rights, or idolized midsections of seemingly flawless men. If that's your thing, there is a sea of glossy mags filled with those images readily available at your local newsstand. We believe that Hello Mr. can address the need, felt by the modern majority, to rebrand 'gay' and move beyond any unrepresentative depictions defined by our past.

Check out their video, AFTER THE JUMP...