Sam Smith Delivers One of the Best VMA Performances of the Night With Soulful 'Stay With Me' - WATCH

At tonight's MTV Video Music Awards, Sam Smith delivered a soulful, stripped-down rendition of his hit "Stay With Me." Armed with just a backup piano and his voice, Smith was able to get the entire crowd (Kim Kardashian included) to sway to the beat.

Check out the swoon-worthy performance, AFTER THE JUMP...

The music video for the song was nominated for "Best Male Video" while Smith himself was nominated for "Artist to Watch." Neither award went to Smith. 

 

 

Spanish Senator Blames Gays For €1 Trillion National Debt

Luz Elena Sanin proves that the U.S. has no monopoly on hyperbolic wingnuttery in politics. During a discussion of Spain's national debt, the senator from Ceuta blamed the previous prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for racking up over €1 trillion with "favors" to the gay community. 

Sanin didn't elaborate on what, precisely, those favors were, just that the government had been subsidizing homosexuals. Normally this is where the party would circle the wagons and double-down to defend the outrageous statements made by one of their own, but unlike the GOP Sanin's conservative Popular Party wasted no time in distancing themselves from her toxic remarks. MP Francisco Marquez, a Popular Party congressional representative from Ceuta, said Sanin's words in no way reflect the positions of the Popular Party.

Ecuador to Officially Recognize Same-Sex Unions

Following a meeting with LGBT advocates last week, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has announced that same-sex couples will have the option of having their relationship officially recognized by the government. 

Telesur reports:

"The LGBT community have the constitutional right to register on their union," Correa said during his weekly report.

Previously, the Ecuadoran Civil Registry did not recognize these unions because they had no legal status according to law, however Correa said that from now on this right has to be respected and if denied, the authorities will take action on the matter.

Correa, however, maintained that he is still opposed to same-sex marriage. 

Minnesota Hunting Club Agrees to Pay for Gay Couple's Wedding After Initial Refusal

A Minnesota hunting club has agreed to pay for a gay couple's wedding after its initial refusal of the request was brought to the attention of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Star Tribune reports:

The owners of LeBlanc’s Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation Inc. agreed to pay about $8,500 to cover the upcoming wedding of Cole Frey and Adam Block, as well as apologize to the two men and comply with the state’s nondiscrimination law in the future.

Frey, 20, and Block, 18, said Friday that they met last October and became engaged in November. In February, Frey said, he contacted LeBlanc’s to inquire about having the wedding at its clubhouse after his stepmother suggested it. He said he didn’t immediately reveal that he was marrying a man, and was told their desired date was available.

A few weeks later, Frey said, he went to sign papers and leave a security deposit. “That’s when they found out it would be between two males,” Frey said. “They told us they don’t condone same-sex marriage, and they wouldn’t be marrying us on their property.”

Following settlement talks with the Department of Human Rights, the club's owners claimed it was a simple case of misunderstanding state law. 

“They made a mistake and we did everything in our power to correct it,” [LeBlanc's attorney Paul Rogosheske] said. “This couple is going to have a great wedding and I can assure you LeBlanc’s is going to be open to everybody.”

A Minnesota Department of Human Rights press release adds:

This is Minnesota Department of Human Rights’ first same-sex wedding case involving discrimination in public accommodation based on sexual orientation since same-sex marriage was legalized on Aug. 1, 2013. Sexual orientation was added to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Act in 1993.

[top photo via Facebook]

Adorable Injured Koala Brought Back to Life By CPR: WATCH

Sean, as this adorable koala has been subsequently nicknamed, was recently hit by a car while crossing a road in Melbourne and quickly scurried up a tree before passing out from injuries. Firefighters safely brought the marsupial down with a blanket and an wildlife rescuer on the scene proceeded to administer CPR to the little guy.

The entire rescue was filmed, which you owe it to yourself to check out AFTER THE JUMP...

You'll hear in the video the rescuer call the koala Sir Chompsalot - a well-known local koala that rescuers initially assumed was this little guy.

Maybe we can call this one Sir Chompsalot the Second? I think I like that better than Sean.

  

 

Ian McKellen And A Horde Of Hot Male Dancers Take On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: VIDEO

In typically grandiose fashion, Sir Ian McKellen, in full Gandalf the Grey "You shall not pass!" voice, nominated Laura Linney, Derek Jacobi, and Anthony Hopkins to take on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Backed by at least fifty dancers from "Adventures in Motion Pictures" on a backlot, it'd be hard to turn down his request, especially once the always joyful Sir Ian douses himself and dances a little jig.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...