Towleroad Talking Points: Sean Hayes, David Sedaris and Jets

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

ENTERTAINMENT

Author and one of the world's funniest men, David Sedaris sat down with Jon Stewart last night to discuss his latest book and all the ridiculous people he meets on his book tour. The first trailer for the film adaptation of August: Osage County has arrived and though we just finished an exhausting awards season, it will surely stoke the flames of 4th Oscar talk for Meryl Streep. The major networks have been revealing their new shows at the upfronts in New York this week and NBC has announced that one of its new comedies will star Sean Hayes as a 'world-saving' gay dad. 

If you are interested in learning more about the U.S. Government's gay 'witch hunts' from the 50's and 60's, check out the new clips from Lavender Scare and check out the filmmakers' kickstarter. And Jimmy Kimmel is back with more celebrities reading nasty tweets directed at them. 

**

WINGNUTTERY

Good news if you are gay man who wants to try out for the New York Jets; linebacker DeMario Davis will welcome you even though he knows you are going to hell. How nice of him. Also police say they have arrested two men in connection with a brutal attack on a gay couple in midtown Manhattan early this morning.

**

VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Call me crazy, but this virtual roller coaster doesn't look that fun. And nearly 80,000 people want to go to Mars and never be seen again. 

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1366

MAJOR SHANNON AND CASEY MCLAUGHLIN: And the effects DOMA has had on them.

FIRST TASTE: Kids try foods in slow motion.

JEZA BELLE: Stand-up at Caroline's on Broadway.

THIS WEEK IN UNNECESSARY CENSORSHIP: Jimmy Kimmel's weekly tribute to the FCC.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Prince Harry, Justin Bieber, Pat Quinn, Mark Pocan, Alan Turing

Capitol swoons for Prince Harry.

An Indiegogo relief project for NYC gay couple targeted in assault by Knicks fans.

Classic paintings improved by celebrities.

Prince Harry meets Michelle Obama.

Gay congressman obtains spousal ID for same-sex partner for first time in history: Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) told the Washington Blade on Thursday the House Sergeant at Arms informed him late last month that Philip Frank, whom Pocan legally married in Canada in 2006, would be able to obtain an ID labeling him as congressional spouse. Previously, Frank was given an ID identifying him as a “designee,” but picked up his new ID on April 26.

Lana del Rey's new video for "Young & Beautiful".

Illinois governor Pat Quinn impatient for marriage equality bill: “It's time to vote,” Quinn said Thursday. “Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America. So it's important to Illinois (that) the House of Representatives get going.”

Ricky Martin has his gold record in hand and is enjoying it. He's also pushing for gay rights in Puerto Rico.

Justin Bieber must be grown up — he's drinkin' beer!

California Assembly approves accommodations for transgender students: "Transgender students would have the right to use public school restrooms and participate on sports teams that correspond with their expressed genders under a bill approved Thursday in the California Assembly."

Internet connects dying girl to her musical hero.

Bill introduced in UK's house of Lords to pardon Alan Turing: “If my Bill becomes law, as I hope it will, then this will finally go some way towards acknowledging the debt we all owe to Alan Turing and grant him the pardon he so clearly deserves.”

Historic West Hollywood lesbian bar The Palms, opened in pre-Stonewall, 1965, is being demolished.

Tom Cruise runs the Great Wall of China.

Jon Stewart digs in to Nancy Grace.

Ryan Gosling offers up some side-eye in the new poster for Only God Forgives.

Belize gay rights activist faces death threats: There has been a visible increase of threats and violence against Mr Orozco and against all homosexuals in Belize. There are threats for killing, burning, shooting; you name it. It has to stop. We are all Belizeans. We can agree to disagree without getting violent about it."

Rupert Everett is so not an American movie star: “People are always saying I’m self-destructive,” Everett says. “I don’t see what that means. Does it mean you see a situation, and think, ‘This is an opportunity for me to really destroy myself?’ ”

Breitbart promotes right-wing claim that Hitler was gay: "The theory that Hitler was secretly gay isn’t new in right-wing circles – anti-gay extremists like Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association have been making similar claims for years.  In fact, the “Hitler was gay” claim is part of a broader anti-gay smear which posits that gay men were responsible for the Holocaust and that Hitler intentionally sought out homosexuals for his “inner circle” because their “unusual brutality” made them well-suited to carry out mass genocide. That myth has been widely debunked, of course, and the reality is that gay people were the victims, not the perpetrators, of the Holocaust."

Two Arrested in New Brutal Attack of Two Gay Men in NYC

ABC7 reports that two men have been arrested in connection with an attack on a gay couple near the 33rd street PATH station in Manhattan. The victims sustained facial injuries and one had to undergo eye surgery:

Police say early the two victims were denied access to an after-hours billiards club. They were then approached by a group of men who allegedly shouted gay slurs and beat the men, according to police. The alleged attack continued after the victims tried to escape and ended up across the street near the 33rd street PATH station.

Two suspects were arrested as others got away on foot. The suspects were identified as Asllan Berisha, 21, and Brian Ramirez, 21, both of New York City.

Watch ABC7's video report on the attack, which shows the attackers, AFTER THE JUMP...

Law enforcement is working to figure out if there is a link between today's attack and one that occurred on Sunday during a Knicks game. Yesterday, police released video of eight people wanted in questioning in that attack.

The NY Post adds:

Asllan Berisha, of West 95th Street, and Brian Ramirez, of Third Avenue, both 21 and of Manhattan, are charged with gang assault and assault as a hate crime and are awaiting arraignment in Manhttan Criminal Court.

Family Malfunctions in the New 'August: Osage County' Trailer: VIDEO

Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Sam Shepard, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, and Benedict Cumberbatch go sniffing around for Oscar in the new trailer for August: Osage County, the adaptation of Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

If You're Going to Ride a Virtual Reality Roller Coaster, Sit Down First: VIDEO

I've posted videos of folks trying the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset before.

Have a look at the hilarity (and potential hazards) that ensue when Brandon gives a roller coaster a try on the machine.

Perhaps it's safer to just take a trip to Tuscany.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...