Towleroad Talking Points: Tragedy in Boston

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

BOSTON MARATHON

Details are still emerging about a horrifying series of explosions that rocked the finish line of today's Boston Marathon. Latest numbers have a reported three people dead and over a hundred injured. President Obama spoke to the nation earlier this evening and vowed to bring the perpetrators of this horrible act to justice. 

**

GAY ISSUES

There was a brutal anti-gay motivated attack in Calgary over the weekend and investigators are reportedly looking for four teens who beat a woman while yelling homophobic slurs. Possibly sensing a losing battle here in America, it seems that Brian Brown and the National Organization for Marriage are turning their attention to France. An MLS player was caught calling an opposing player a "f**cking faggot" during a game and immediately apologized. 

Speaking of soccer, former pro footballer Robbie Rogers will be on Nightline tonight to discuss being gay in pro sports and his own coming out. Poet Sierra DeMulder totally burned Michele Bachmann with a one-minute poem that calls out her stance on bullying. Slam poetry indeed. And two wine vintners in California have created a very special blend in honor of marriage equality. 

**

ENTERTAINMENT

The first full trailer for the latest Hunger Games installment is here. Tom Cruise stopped by to see Jimmy Fallon on Friday night and Fallon got the better of him in a game of egg roulette. Also in case you missed it, check out the winners and some clips from last night's MTV Movie Awards. 

**

VIDEO OF THE DAY

So maybe the world's tallest building should be a little smaller if it does this in the wind. And an astronaut puts on his PJs and an old lady visits Tuscany from the privacy of her home. 

Matt Salmon: 'Gay Reparative Therapy' Helped Me Meet Guys - VIDEO

Matt R. Salmon, the gay son of Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), sat down with Anderson Cooper on Friday night to talk about his father, who has spoken publicly of his opposition to same-sex marriage, and his mother, who worked on an anti-gay constitutional amendment in Arizona, about his love for them.

I posted a brief segment on Saturday but here's the full version. Anderson asks Salmon if his parents would be okay with meeting somebody he was dating, and also about his experiences with gay reparative therapy.

SALMON: "Looking back I don't regret it. The goal was to become straight. And it turns out what I took away from it was an increased confidence...A big part of it was really teaching me to make relationships with straight men because that would help me to kind of take on this straightness and so it really helped me actually learn how to talk with men and..."

AC: "It helped you meet guys."

SALMON: "Yeah, yeah, it did."

AC: "I think your doctor right now is spitting up his coffee."

Salmon says that it was his decision to begin reparative therapy (he was 18 at the time he says) but he is very happy now that he is gay and he hopes talking about it will help others in his situation.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

President Obama Speaks Out About Boston Attacks: VIDEO

President Obama gave a statement tonight to press about the horrific attacks at the Boston marathon.

Said Obama in part:

"The American people will say a prayer for Boston tonight. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers ... We still do not know who did this and why. And people should not jump to conclusions. But make no mistake. We will found out who did this and why they did this. Any responsible group or individuals will feel the full weight of justice. We're still in the investigation stage. But I just want to reiterate: We will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

How you can help in the aftermath of the bombing here.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1347

THERE IS NOTHING: Like New York in the spring.

PHARRELL WILLIAMS: On his work on the new Daft Punk album.

REAL FLOW: What a Jenga-like stack of rubbery phalluses looks like falling in slow-mo.

MARRIAGE NEWS WATCH: AFER's Matt Baume on the upcoming votes in Rhode Island and Delaware.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Hugh Jackman, Aubrey Plaza, Richard Branson, Bisbee

Louis C.K. suggests gays are pedophiles in HBO special.

SLDN client and LGBT activist Marine Corporal Kevin Blaesing dies.

Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent.

Hugh Jackman's stalker arrested for throwing pubic hair-covered razor at him at the gym.

Navy research vessel to be named after Sally Ride. “Sally Ride’s career was one of firsts and will inspire generations to come. I named R/V Sally Ride to honor a great researcher, but also to encourage generations of students to continue exploring, discovering and reaching for the stars.”

Man shoots himself on infield during NRA 500 NASCAR race.

The gay D.C. activist who voted 'no' on the GOP resolution affirming opposition to same-sex marriage: "Bob Kabel, a gay D.C. Republican activist, said he shouted 'no' when the time came to vote on the group of resolutions that included the anti-gay measure — despite media reports saying they were passed unanimously. Kabel said he was unaware of any others among the 168 RNC members shouting 'no' when the time came to approve the resolutions."

More shirtless Gosling from The Place Beyond the Pines.

Beyoncé's full H&M campaign is now online.

Male model fix: Tucker Des Lauriers.

George W. Bush is a grandfather.

Notes from Guantanamo Bay.

Parks and Rec actress Aubrey Plaza booted from MTV awards after getting on stage for unplanned Will Ferrell stunt.

A listener to L.A.'s 98.7 FM does not want to hear Macklemore's "Same Love" because they do not want to feel "sickened and uncomfortable".

Richard Branson to honor lost bet, don dress to work as flight attendant on AirAsia X’s inaugural May 12 flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur: "'The day of reckoning for Sir Richard has finally arrived,' Fernandes told journalists. 'As an AirAsia X’s flight attendant, he has to comply with our grooming standards and that includes shaving his legs, donning high heels, putting on some makeup and slipping into the AirAsia’s famous red uniform.' While the stunt will raise funds for children’s charities and give AirAsia X passengers a unique opportunity to be served coffee by a bearded cross-dressing entrepreneur, at its destination it will highlight the restrictions placed on transgender Malaysians who have faced an arduous battle for more freedom of expression."

Neil Patrick Harris out with his kids.

Princeton University student Duncan Hosie writes about confronting Justice Scalia. Here's our original post on Hosie's confrontation.

Glee casting news: "Oscar winner Patty Duke and Family Ties' Meredith Baxter are joining Glee as a longtime firmly committed lesbian couple who have been together for 25 years, sources confirm exclusively to E! News. We'll first see them in the season finale, shooting next week, and both Duke and Baxter will stay on as part of the Glee family, returning next season as recurring characters. We're told Duke and Baxter were the first choice for these roles and immediately said yes."

When David Mixner met Edie Windsor.

Judge holds himself in contempt after his smartphone rings: "A Michigan judge whose smartphone disrupted a hearing in his own courtroom has held himself in contempt and paid $25 for the infraction."

Arizona town of Bisbee puts civil unions law on hold: "The Council voted Thursday night to pull the ordinance so it can be revised to take out items that raised the ire of social conservatives and Attorney General Tom Horne. Those include community property, inheritances, appointment of guardians and disposition of remains after death. 'To the extent that we can eliminate that if we tighten the language we're hoping that we can do that and we can move forward quickly,' Mayor Adriana Badal said Friday. A spokeswoman for Horne said the decision likely means a lawsuit expected to be filed next week won't be necessary."

Explosions, Injuries Reported at Finish Line of Boston Marathon

Multiple people have been injured at the Boston Marathon after two explosions were reported at the finish line to the race.

UPDATE: At least 2 killed, more than 100 injured.

WCVB reports:

Crews were sent to 617 Boylston St. at about 2:30 p.m. Witnesses said several victims lost limbs, and the area was being evacuated.  Many of the injured appeared to be spectators who gathered for the 117th running of the race. NewsCenter 5's Sean Kelly said the blasts happened across the street from the Lenox Hotel. The victims were being taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

More photos here (warning: graphic).

Our thoughts are with the victims, friends  and families of those affected by this brutal act.

Video below: