News: Heidi Fleiss, 50 Cent, Georgetown University, Banksy

Crimes: The cost of being LGBT in today's world.

REPORT: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi ready to split.

Entertainment Weekly: Why didn't Brokeback Mountain change anything? "According to almost every person interviewed for this story, there just aren't any high-quality gay scripts in circulation. 'I swear to you, if there were projects that were visible and good, people would make them,' says Hairspray producer Craig Zadan, who, with Neil Meron, makes up one of the most successful gay producing teams in town. 'No one's brought them to us.' It doesn't help that the scripts that are out there can't seem to get off the ground. The Front Runner, about a cross-country coach who falls in love with one of his runners, and The Dreyfus Affair, about a romance between two major-league ballplayers, have been in development hell for years. And Zadan and Meron themselves have spent 16 years trying to get The Mayor of Castro Street, about slain gay civil rights icon Harvey Milk, on the screen. So gay film is caught in a bitter catch-22. Because studios don't greenlight gay movies, great writers don't bother crafting them — so there's nothing for the studios to produce."

British rugby player de-planed and de-pantsed.

Following hate crime, Georgetown University finally makes commitment to LGBT community: "At an open forum last night, President John DeGioia commendably announced that Georgetown will have a fully-staffed, fully-funded LGBTQ resource center by next fall. Three working groups will be created to address the creation of the resource center, the development of a better bias-reporting system and plans for LGBTQ diversity training during New Student Orientation."

What happens if you stay awake for eleven days straight?

Singapore's gay rights debate got ugly: "There were threatening, expletive-laced emails. One parliamentarian had his sexuality questioned. Another academic was flamed in blogs and had her phone number circulated. And the employer of one gay professional was questioned about their hiring him. The ugly turn of events, some may say, is only to be expected given the emotional nature of the subject matter — one that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had warned on Tuesday could polarise society."

Heidi Fleiss seeking studs for stud farm.

50 Cent and Lance Bass do book battle.

While Morrissey does NYC, Reichen Lehmkuhl does drag.

New study on the effects of chewing gum on weight loss: "A research study presented at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, found that chewing gum before an afternoon snack helped reduce hunger, diminish cravings and promote fullness among individuals who limit their overall calorie intake. Calorie intake from snacks was significantly reduced by 25 calories. Overall, this study demonstrates the benefits of chewing gum and highlights the potential role of chewing gum in appetite control and weight management. Nutritionists say that even small changes in calories can have an impact in the long term."

Desperate Housewives to get gayer as Estimates eclipsed at Banksy auction. Bonham's specialist: "Today's results demonstrate that prices for Banksy's work continue to go from strength to strength. Perhaps the most incredible aspect of the Banksy phenomenon ...(is) that as a self-confessed guerilla artist, he has been so wholeheartedly embraced by the very establishment he satirizes. We are sure that this irony is not lost on today's buyers."

San Francisco Episcopal diocese okays blessings for same-sex couples.

David Beckham voted "manliest" in poll.

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Music News: The Selling Of Kylie Minogue, Plus Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, Radiohead

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

If you've got about $15.2 million stuffed under the sofa cushions, you could set yourself up to be the proud owner of Kylie Minogue's early back catalogue of songs. The Times reports that British producer Pete Waterman is selling the rights to his label PWL's biggest hits from the 1980s, including those off Minogue's albums with the company. (And, yes, "The Locomotion" and "I Should Be So Lucky" are on the table.) Heck, even though the sale includes recordings by other artists, it's strange to think Kylie herself hasn't plunked down the cash for the songs at this point.

In the meantime, the Aussie singer is gearing up to release "2 Hearts," her first single in almost four years. Due in early November, it's an overhauled version of a track initially performed by London outfit Kish Mauve. Kylie's tenth studio album is set for a November 22 European release.

Below is a clip of Kish Mauve's "Two Hearts" (the original). It's probably safe to assume Kylie ordered some extra drum machine on the side:

Sales figures indicate that Kanye West was simply harder, better, faster and stronger than 50 Cent (real name: Curtis Jackson). West's final tally for Graduation is expected to be around 800,000 copies sold in its first week, while 50 Cent's Curtis is estimated at 600,000. Billboard will publish the final results tomorrow. In the meantime, after being beat to the top of the U.K. album chart on Sunday, Jackson has now accused West's label Island Def Jam of chart-rigging.

James Murphy (left) and his New York-based act LCD Soundsystem are known for their lengthy songs, but the "disco symphony" 45:33 sets a new record for them. The longform track, commisioned from the dance/punk group by Nike for a promo campaign, was initially released exclusively as a download. Now a physical CD is being issued on Murphy's label DFA on November 13, along with three bonus tracks.

After declining to renew its contract with iTunes, Universal Music Group has hopped into bed with newly-launched free download site SpiralFrog Inc. With over 2 million songs being made available in the next few months, Spiralfrog.com is aiming to be a legit alternative to illegal file-sharing networks.

Radiohead have finally made their songs available for digital download, exclusively at U.K.-based online store 7Digital.com (which, unlike iTunes stores from other countries, is accessible to U.S. buyers). The band's songs are only being sold as bundles with their full albums, however, and not individually.

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

Sophomore albums from James Blunt (All The Lost Souls) and KT Tunstall (Drastic Fantastic).

Céline Dion's new single, "Taking Chances."

The soundtrack to the Sean Penn film Into The Wild, featuring original songs by Eddie Vedder.

Reba McEntire's Reba Duets, on which the flame-haired country diva gets some vocal help by Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, Carole King and Trisha Yearwood.

The Across The Universe soundtrack, which contains the actors' renditions of Beatles' songs.

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Music News: Exclusive Darren Hayes Podcast Interview

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

This week we've got something a bit different for you, in that I had the opportunity to interview Darren Hayes over the weekend exclusively for Towleroad readers. But rather than type the whole thing out, Andy and I decided it might be a bit more fun to stream the conversation as a podcast.

Darren Hayes, who between his years as both the singer for successful Australian duo Savage Garden and then as a solo artist, has sold over 30 million records. A year ago he married his partner, Richard Cullen, in London, and last month he put out the two-disc This Delicate Thing We've Made worldwide on his own label, Powdered Sugar.

Ironically, the same day of his album's release, news of allegations against him -- revolving around a racial slur he allegedly made in a London restaurant -- broke out. In the interview, Hayes talks about all these things, as well as the artists who have influenced him like Annie Lennox and Prince, and how growing up with an alcoholic father made him the artist he is today.

He also tells some great anecdotes about working with Janice Dickinson on his latest video ("We loved having her on set. I did have to run around making her cups of tea.") and getting to sing with Luciano Pavarotti.

Play the podcasts below as you would a video.

PART ONE: "Madonna is about to leave Warners and perhaps forge a relationship with a promoter. I've found myself at the forefront of this movement away from the major label system."

PART TWO: "I couldn't even think, let alone utter, a racist remark. But there's an investigation and I totally support that."

NEWS BITES: Madonna buys a sex toy.

Kanye West promises to boycott MTV.

Kid Rock could face jail time after his VMAs brawl with Tommy Lee.

Pet Shop Boys cancel their September 27 gig at the Hollywood Bowl.

Kaiser Chiefs ditch their American tour to "concentrate on recording new material."

It's down to the wire for Phil Spector.

YESTERDAY'S NEW RELEASES:

After weeks of the rappers' hype and posturing, 50 Cent's Curtis and Kanye West's Graduation officially began their chart showdown yesterday. However, if country music by a singer who is most certainly not gay is your thing, Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates is also out.

Other albums dropping yesterday included alt rock act Hot Hot Heat's Happiness LTD., Scottish DJ Calvin Harris' I Created Disco and Rogue Wave's Asleep At Heaven's Gate.

iTunes also has up new singles by Alicia Keys' ("No One") and Backstreet Boys ("Inconsolable"), and a remix EP for Gwen Stefani's "Now That You Got It."

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Rapper Deadlee Calls Out Homophobic Eminem, 50 Cent, and DMX

L.A.-based openly gay rapper Deadlee says he'll be headlining the first regional tour of gay and lesbian rap and Hip-Hop artists, called the Homorevolution Tour 2007, beginning in March.

Deadlee who says he is tired of the homophobic status quo present in rap and Hip-Hop, has called out some of his fellow rappers for their anti-gay language and homosexual tendencies in an interview with AllHipHop.com:

Says Deadlee: "Eminem was called out for his juvenile, hateful approach to homosexuality, especially in his song 'Criminal.' He was the biggest rapper at the time and if he used the same song as a diss to Blacks or Latinos, he would probably be dead. Eminem likes to pick on the 'weak' but gay[z] aint weak and he might be a f*g himself. He knew all the subcultures in that song.

Deadlee also comes down on DMX's references to "homo thugs" and constant use of fa**ot in his lyrics: "I find it crazy when his videos are very homoerotic. All the guys kicking it with their shirts off!"

He takes issue with rapper 50 Cent, who told Playboy in April 2004: I ain't into fa**ots. I don't like gay people around me, because I'm not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I'm not prejudiced. I just don't go with gay people and kick it - we don't have that much in common. I'd rather hang out with a straight dude. But women who like women, that's cool."

Says Deadlee: "F*ck him. I don't like ignorant b**ches around me, so he can suck my gun. He is a classic man who had Homo-feelings and chooses to lash out because he is afraid he might act out on his true feelings. 50 Cent has deep rooted homosexual tendencies."

Joining Deadlee on the Homorevolution Tour are gay and lesbian MCs Johnny Dangerous, Delacruz, Melange Lavonne, Salvimex, Bigg Nugg and JFP. The tour will hit ten cities in Southern California and the Southwest.

Related
Kanye West Revisits Homophobia [tr]
Usher Digs homophobia [tr]
Report: Busta Rhymes Hates Fa**ots [tr]

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