The Vatican Buys Europe's Biggest Gay Sauna: VIDEO

(ad for Europa Multiclub)

The Vatican has bought Europe's biggest gay sauna, The Independent reports:

A day ahead of the papal conclave, faces at the scandal-struck Vatican were even redder than usual after it emerged that the Holy See had purchased a €23 million (£21 million) share of a Rome apartment block that houses Europe’s biggest gay sauna.

The senior Vatican figure sweating the most due to the unlikely proximity of the gay Europa Multiclub is probably Cardinal Ivan Dias, the head of the Congregation for Evangelisation of Peoples, who is due to participate in tomorrow’s election at the Sistine Chapel.

This 76-year-old “prince of the church” enjoys a 12-room apartment on the first-floor of the imposing palazzo, at 2 Via Carducci, just yards from the ground floor entrance to the steamy flesh pot. There are 18 other Vatican apartments in the block, many of which house priests.

The newspaper adds:

The sauna’s website promotes one of its special “bear nights”, with a video in which a rotund, hairy man strips down before changing into a priest’s outfit. It says Bruno, “a hairy, overweight pastor of souls, is free to the music of his clergyman, remaining in a thong, because he wants to expose body and soul”.

There was further embarrassment for the Holy See when the press observed that thanks to generous tax breaks it received from the last Berlusconi government,  the church will have avoided hefty payments to the Italian state. The properties are recognised as part of the Holy City.

Watch the (work-unfriendly) ad for the Europa Multiclub, AFTER THE JUMP...

Colorado House Approves Civil Union Bill in Bipartisan Vote; Outcome Not in Doubt for Final Vote Tomorrow

Colorado is poised to approve  SB-11, the Colorado Civil Union Act, in a final recorded vote on Tuesday after an initial vote approving it today, the Denver Post reports:

At least two Republicans support the measure: Cheri Gerou of Evergreen and Carole Murray of Castle Rock.

"What this bill is about is personal freedom and individual liberties," Gerou said. "This is a good conservative bill."

Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to sign the bill into law this month; it would be implemented May 1.

"This bill is about three simple things," Ferrandino said at the start of the debate. "It's about love, it's about family, and it's about equality under the law."

Said Brad Clark, Executive Director of LGBT rights group One Colorado following the vote:

"This historic victory belongs to the thousands of committed couples across the state, who have worked tirelessly for three years to make it possible for all loving families to have the protection they need to take care of one another. “cross the country, we’ve seen a sea change in public opinion on this issue. A vast majority of Coloradans support providing committed same-sex couples with the security they need, and these fair-minded folks are glad to see civil unions finally passed. We applaud the bipartisan group of Representatives and Senators who voted to affirm that all families are worthy of respect."

The Senate has already passed the bill. Governor John Hickenlooper has promised to sign it.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1324

MARRIAGE NEWS WATCH: AFER's Matt Baume with the latest on the countdown to SCOTUS, and Colorado's civil unions, plus Bill Clinton's reversal on DOMA.

GONE WITH THE WIND FABULOUS: Atlanta Housewife Kenya Moore's music video.

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE, OR ANY COLOR?: Joe Hanson of 'It's Okay to Be Smart' explains.

AMERICA'S BEST CHRISTIAN PAGEANT: With Mrs. Betty Bowers and Nadya Ginsberg.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Nebraska, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emory, Prop 8 Plaintiffs

The gayest places/buildings in America.

AP: Rhode Island marriage equality hinges on religious exemption.

The WaPo profiles Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami, one of the gay couples serving as plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case: “We talked to quite a few couples,” said Theodore Boutrous, a partner of Olson’s in Los Angeles. He said the discussions were extensive. “We wanted them to know that we expected this to be a major case for marriage equality . . . and that we were trying to change the public dialogue and that they would really be in the public eye.”

Kim Kardashian had her face injected with blood.

Charleston County Councilwoman Colleen Condon comes out of the closet to clarify inaccuracies posted about her on a website: “Yes, I’m gay,” Condon told council members. “I don’t think that’s a sex scandal in 2013.”

Oz the Great and Powerful had a $150 million weekend.

Gay couples could see windfalls from SCOTUS decision: "A decision is not expected until the end of June, but accountants and tax attorneys anticipating the 18-year-old law's demise are already encouraging same-sex couples like Raphael and Meyer to seek prospective tax refunds, back retirement payments and other spousal subsidies they may have been denied."

Male model fix: Kaylan Morgan.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt works out.

Nebraska lawmakers to consider gay rights bills this week: "Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad is offering a bill that would ban businesses from discriminating against current or prospective employees based on their sexual orientation or marital status. The bill would not apply to religious groups. Sen. Ernie Chambers introduced a similar bill in 2007, but it was killed by a 24-15 vote. Conrad says she thinks it's a good time to revisit the issue since people are becoming more open to gay rights locally and nationally, especially since the repeal of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy."

Russian gay activist interviewed about state crackdown.

Tell officials at Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 to stop discriminating against Coy Mathis.

EA official: Video games can do better for the LGBT community.

Renovation Nation: Nate Berkus hosting home makeover show for ABC. "The series will feature home builders and designers competing for a cash prize, with voting to determine the final winner and two viewers ultimately awarded dream homes."

Chick-fil-A is gone for good from Emory University: "Perhaps the franchise’s sales plummeted, or perhaps it simply it no longer fit in the campus’s 'master planning.' At any rate, it is a victory for LGBT students, who will no longer have to encounter a glowing symbol of anti-gay prejudice as they partake in lunch on campus."

Friend: Kate Middleton's brother James is not gay.

Matthew Fox can't stand One Direction because he loves music.

Danny Boyle: Trainspotting sequel with original cast to shoot in 2016.

"Undocuqueers" counted in new study: "A report released Friday by the Williams Institute at UCLA calculated that out of the 11 million undocumented immigrants estimated to be America today, 267,000 adults identify as LGBT. Another 637,000 LGBT adults were legal immigrants. Gary Gates, a scholar at the Williams Institute, said that the number was a conservative estimate based on cross-referencing survey data on undocumented immigrants, sexual orientation, along with data on married same sex couples. Gates’ remarks came at an event in Washington, D.C., debuting the finding that was hosted by the liberal Center for American Progress."

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein Discusses Support for Marriage Equality: VIDEO

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein spoke with CBS News about taking a stand for marriage equality and that while he personally believes in it, the reason he took a stand for it publicly was for his company:

"The only reason why most people are interested in what I have to say is because of what I represent at Goldman Sachs, and therefore I only use my platform for Goldman Sachs issues. This issue is a business issue. It’s a civil rights issue, but it’s also a business issue."

Added Blankfein:

"The ability for employment benefits to be shared among spouses, the ability to move people who are dependent on visas for trailing spouses, all hinges on being able to deal with families of gay people in the same way that you deal with families of straight people. Otherwise, they can't move around. People are not happy, and we can't attract a whole set of very talented people...Even if it's comfortable here, it might not be comfortable, you know, a hundred yards from this place, and, for all I know, there are still people, today, who are living lives burdened by not being able to reveal who they really are and are living in a state of discomfort. That is really unfortunate, and I feel sorry. I don't know who they are, but there has to be someone. I feel sorry for them, and I am not yet saying that we are in a world where everything is easy for everybody."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Stilleto-Wearing Ukrainian Synth Pop Group Kazaky Has Had Enough of This 'Crazy Law': VIDEO

Ukrainian stilletoed synth pop group Kazaky, who should know something about crazy laws, serves it up again in a gritty prison video on just that topic.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...