Towleroad Talking Points: Rubio, O'Reilly and Carly Rae

PHOTO OF THE DAY: The 80's are back! Or so says the Wall Street Journal.  

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

Now that we have a face and a name to attach to the new Pope, it's time to reflect further on Cardinal Bergoglio's history with gay rights issues. New GOP poster boy Marco Rubio spoke at CPAC this afternoon and whined that although he doesn't believe gays should have rights like marriage he is not a bigot. Bill O'Reilly's latest gasket-blowing incident came last night when a Denver Post columnist called him out for his ugly trolling of Colorado's openly gay House Speaker. 

There is tragic news from California where a man was brutally assaulted in front of a relative's home in what was clearly a hate crime. And NOM continues to display its classiness by calling Supreme Court Justice John Robert's decision to adopt, a "second best option". 

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GAY ISSUES

With opening arguments in the Prop 8 Supreme Court case fast approaching, David Boies tells USA Today what his biggest fears and confidences about the trial are. After running a picture of the aforementioned Colorado House Speaker Mark Ferrandino kissing his partner, the Denver Post is polling its readers to see what they thought of it. 

The New York Post will not be attending the GLAAD awards as they have been denied a press pass due to the tabloid paper's history of defamatory coverage of trans people. Also in New York, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman wants to look into whether prospects at this year's NFL Combine were illegally asked about their sexual orientation. 

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ENTERTAINMENT

Pardon the terrible pun, but when did Shia LaBeouf get so buff? This summer's pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen is quickly becoming an outspoken supporter of gay rights. And check out Deadmau5 and Imogene Heap's collaboration on "Telemiscommunications". 

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Super cutie Jon Cozart uses a capella to explain what really happened to all the Disney Princesses. And watch a full day in the greatest city on earth. 

Carly Rae Jepsen 'Praying' Boy Scouts End Gay Ban: VIDEO

"Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen spoke with MTV News about her decision to drop out of the Boy Scouts Jamboree over the group's ban on gay scouts and leaders.

Said Jepsen:

"I mean, it was sort of one of those things that I kind of have my opinions about, and everyone's entitled to their own, but it wasn't necessarily something that I felt comfortable backing once I learned more about it. And that being said here's hoping they make the right decision and I'm praying that moves like this will help."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Get More: Carly Rae Jepsen, Music News

Adam Lambert to Headline Miami Beach Gay Pride

Adam Lambert will be headlining this year's Miami Beach Gay Pride on April 14, according to organizers:

As one of the first Pride events of the year, Miami Beach Gay Pride is extremely excited to have Lambert as part of the fifth annual celebration, said Babak Movahedi, chair of the Pride board of directors.  “In five short years, Miami Beach Gay Pride has gone from a neighborhood event to an event on the global stage. The fact that someone of Adam Lambert’s caliber is enthusiastic about performing at Miami Beach Gay Pride speaks volumes about the significance of our events,” he said.
 
In addition to Lambert’s participation, Movahedi said the diverse, week-long line-up of Pride activities speaks to the rising popularity of the event.  “Pride is a celebration for the whole community,” Movahedi said.  “It’s gratifying to realize that Miami Beach Gay Pride has grown so exponentially and attracts not only locals but also visitors who travel here to experience our Pride.”

Lambert is scheduled to take the Main Stage in Lummus Park just off Ocean Drive between 11th and 12th Streets. His performance is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1327

THE CREVASSE: Don't look down.

WHY THE WORLD IS AWESOME: A few examples.

TUNING FORK: In slo-mo.

THE SCIENCE OF HAIR LOSS: Why you're bald, or not.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Dolphin, Veronica Mars, Chris Hayes, Cory Booker, Rand Paul

Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter campaign raises $2 million goal in 10 hours.

Dolphin seen swimming in NYC's East River. "Dolphins are occasional visitors to New York’s waterways and, unlike in January, when an obviously ailing dolphin turned up in the filthy Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, marine mammal rescuers did not immediately sound alarms."

Dennis Rodman figures out way to get noticed in Rome: drive around in his own Popemobile.

If you wear Google's Glasses you are an a**hole.

Openly gay man named new leader of Jewish Reconstructionist movement: "Rabbi Klein is the first openly gay man to head a national rabbinic association in the United States."

Tom Hardy without puppy.

Court overturns Virginia's anti-sodomy law: "The majority ruled that Virginia’s 'Crimes Against Nature' anti-sodomy provision is unconstitutional in light of a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating state laws that make sexual activity between consenting adults crimes."

Here's what Games of Thrones would have looked like if it had come out in 1995.

Things are stirring on the set of True Blood.

Chris Hayes to fill Ed Schultz spot at 8 pm on MSNBC.

Nate Silver predicts when the new Pope might die: "As a matter of actuarial science, Francis is not likely to have an especially long tenure. The nine previous men who were known to be 75 or older at the time of their election to the papacy served for an average of only five years."

Elton John to appear on new Fall Out Boy album?

Cory Booker launches fundraising blitz: "Since announcing last December that he would "consider" a bid for the Senate, Booker has declined to make his candidacy official, saying only that he won't make an announcement until after the New Jersey gubernatorial race this November. But event RSVP forms posted on the mayor's political website — hidden from the homepage, but still searchable to the public — make clear that his still nascent fundraising efforts are robust, and that his campaign operation is already well underway."

Spy agencies to get access to Americans' finances.

Matthew McConaughey is slowly expanding back to life.

Rand Paul: " I believe in the historical definition of marriage. That being said, I think contracts between adults—I'm not for limiting contracts between adults. In fact, if there are ways to make the tax code more neutral where it doesn't mention the word marriage, then we don't have to redefine what marriage is."

Judge declares mistrial in Cara Rintala case after jury can't come to consensus: "Rintala was on trial in the murder of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, 37, who was found beaten and strangled in the couple’s Granby home on March 29, 2010. Police responding to a 911 call from a neighbor arrived at the scene to find Cara Rintala sitting on the basement floor with her wife's paint-splattered body in her lap, wailing."

Australian network TEN edits intimate gay scenes from Glee: "In the episode  implied sex scenes between Kurt & Blaine and Santana & Quinn were edited, yet heterosexual ones remained. A scene with Finn and Rachel, whereby Rachel removes her clothing so that it is implied she is naked under the bed covers, remained intact."

Marco Rubio at CPAC: Denying Gays the Right to Marry 'Does Not Make Me a Bigot' - VIDEO

Florida Senator Marco Rubio spoke at CPAC Thursday afternoon, Think Progress reports:

I respect people who disagree with me on certain things, but that means they have to respect me too. Just because I believe states should have the right to define marriage in a traditional way does not make me a bigot. Just because we believe that life, all human life, all life, all human life is worth of protection in every stage of its development doesn’t make you a chauvinist. In fact, the people who are actually close minded in American politics are people who love to preach about the certainty of science in regard to our climate, but ignore the absolute fact that life begins at conception.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...