Bjorn Borg Launches Dating Site, Goes for Gay Priest Market

Former tennis pro-turned underwear mogul Bjorn Borg has launched an online dating business and is promoting it with this viral video of two fictional priests who get married.

It may not be the most lucrative approach, but Borg's "love for all" message should be commended, and, well, it did happen.

Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Obama Sought Out Gay Bishop Gene Robinson During Campaign

London's Times Online reports that Barack Obama sought out gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson three times during his run for President:

"Bishop Robinson, in London as a guest of the gay rights group Stonewall for its annual 'Hero of the Year' awards dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum tonight, said that Mr Obama’s campaign team had sought him last year and he had the 'honour' of three private conversations with the future president of the United States last May and June. 'The first words out of his mouth were: ‘Well you’re certainly causing a lot of trouble’, My response to him was: ‘Well that makes two of us'.' He said that Mr Obama had indicated his support for equal civil rights for gay and lesbian people and described the election as a 'religious experience'. Bishop Robinson described his conversations with him as part of Mr Obama’s 'extraordinary' outreach to all religious communities, not just Christian groups. Mr Obama, although not a member of The Episcopal Church to which Bishop Robinson belongs, is a committed Christian with the United Church of Christ."

Added Robinson: “He is impressive, he’s smart, he is an amazing listener. For someone who’s called on to speak all the time when he asks you a question it is not for show, he is actually wanting to know what you think and listens...We’ve had eight years of someone who has listened to almost no one...To see the tears in the eyes of African-Americans, it’s just been a profoundly, I would say religious, experience, very exciting."

Robinson said they also discussed the place of religion in the state: "He and I would agree about the rightful place of religion vis-a-vis the secular state. That is to say, we don’t impose our religious values on the secular state because God said so. Our faith informs our own values and then we take those values into the civil market place, the civil discourse, and then you argue for them based on the Constitution. You don’t say to someone, you must believe this because this is what God believes."

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News: Geoff Farrow, Orcas, Harry Potter, Transsexual Gene

U.S. launches attacks into Syria; civilians reported among dead.

Scientists see devastating plummet in population of Puget Sound killer whales: "While the official census won't be completed until December, the number of live "southern resident" orcas now stands at 83... The three pods, or families, that frequent western Washington's inland marine waters -- the J, K, and L pods -- are genetically and behaviorally distinct from other killer whales. The population reached 140 or more in the last century, but their numbers have fluctuated in recent decades. They were listed as endangered in 2005."

Lindsay Lohan is an Anne Heche type of gay.

Australian researchers discover gene linked to male-to-female transsexualism.

New trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

New York judge okays gay divorce: " A Manhattan lesbian couple wed in Massachusetts got a court's blessing to seek a divorce here, according to a decision published yesterday. And it was bittersweet victory, said one of the women involved in the split. 'My community is so important to me that it's really mixed emotion,' said the woman, who asked to be identified only by her initials, C.C. 'I would rather them recognize [a right to enter in to] marriage first, and then [allow] divorce. But it's a big step forward for our equality and our rights.'"

Connecticut justice of the peace ready to perform same-sex marriages.

Sarah Palin the Marxist: "Just last month, in an interview with Philip Gourevitch of the New Yorker, Palin explained the windfall profits tax that she imposed on the oil industry in Alaska as a mechanism for ensuring that Alaskans 'share in the wealth' generated by oil companies."

The L.A. Times profiles Father Geoffrey Farrow, who earlier this month was suspended after coming out of the closet and voicing his opposition to Proposition 8 to members of his congregation: "He had given himself over to a church that has, despite moderating its views in recent decades, condemned homosexuality and marginalized gays, even though in Farrow's opinion a sizable percentage of priests are gay. Farrow conceded that he has considered church teachings 'monstrous,' especially given the history of violence and suicide victimizing gays. But he said he has always believed in the church, if not in the men who led it. It's like loving a family member despite a falling out, or loving your country even as you doubt its leaders."

Zac Efron has been in touch with his trainer.

Canadian Gay divinity student told to stay in closet if he wants to be ordained: "George is gay. That could lead to the 'abomination' of a man lying with a man, as stated in the Old Testament. George is also graduating from the University of Toronto divinity school in May, qualifying him to be ordained as an Anglican Priest. But the ordination is not going to happen, if he continues to openly acknowledge his sexual orientation." George: "There is a fair amount of hypocrisy in the issue. If you keep the fact you are gay to yourself, even though others may know about it, the Anglican bishops can pretend you are straight and ordain you. As soon as you are open about it, you are treated differently. Don’t ask, don’t tell. Nobody acknowledges the hypocrisy."

The Paris Hilton presidential campaign jumps the shark (if it hadn't already).

New York: Gay groups use donations to become a force in elections.

How plastics promise a computing revolution: "Scientists are now able to synthesise plastics that conduct electricity and others that behave as semiconductors like silicon. Thought the silicon revolution was earth shattering? Well, according to some pundits, you ain't seen nothing yet."

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News: Scott McClellan, Banksy, Sasha Fierce, Krakow, James Dobson

Former Bush spokesman Scott McClellan endorses Obama: "McClellan made the endorsement during a taping of Comedian D.L. Hughley's new show that is premiering on CNN this weekend. The former Bush administration official said he wanted to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done." The New York Times adds its endorsement today.

Vandalism: Westminster Council demands city workers paint over this Banksy mural.

If you missed last night's special SNL 'Weekend Update', Will Ferrell returned as Bush, and was joined by Tina Fey as Palin — WATCH IT.

UNDER THE RADAR: Obama campaign launches fact-checking website tracking McCain robocalls across the country.

Focus on the Family's James Dobson to be inducted into Radio Hall of Fame! Find out how you can take action here.

You may have seen some ads on our site asking who the hell Sasha Fierce is. I've been wondering myself, and finally, an explanation.

Daniel Radcliffe in his birthday suit - video (nsfw).

A-Rod and Michael Phelps drop their pants for Guitar Hero.

Man sought over homophobic attack on train in Britain: "A 38-year-old man received a deep bite wound on his hand at about 0005 BST on Friday 19 September on a London Victoria to Brighton service. Shortly after boarding the train, he was subjected to homophobic verbal abuse before being assaulted. British Transport Police said they were treating it as a 'hate crime'."

Krakow city council bans gay protest of visit by Poland's conservative president Lech Kaczynski. Organizer: "I had thought it not possible to forbid demonstrations in modern Poland but it seems it is... We are sad but calm. We have had past experiences and tussles with the president on such issues."

Boy George: "I’m bored of getting arrested."

London Priest Rev. Martin Dudley issues apology for marrying two male priests early this year: "A statement of apology written by Dr Dudley was included in the letter e-mailed to clergy of the Diocese of London on Friday. In it Dr Dudley said: 'I regret the embarrassment caused to you by this event... I now recognise that I should not have responded positively to the request for this service.'"

Radar magazine shuts down.

Broadway's Spring Awakening to close in January...

NYC Mayor Bloomberg wins fight to run for third term: "Mr. Bloomberg, who lobbied fiercely for the legislation to ease term limits from eight years to 12, said he was confidant that the measure would withstand legal challenges and allow him to seek a third term. 'There will be some lawsuits,' he said during his weekly radio program on WOR-AM (710). But 'it has been litigated before.'"

Michael Jackson: Oh, my nose!

Rio de Janeiro's wealthy elite backing The Green Party's Fernando Gabeira in mayoral race: "Gabeira's electoral ascent has hinged on getting Rio's conservative establishment to overlook his radical past and view him as an anti-corruption crusader who can stanch a crime- propelled downward spiral dating from when the capital was moved to Brasilia in 1960. He also supports gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana."

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London Chaplain Peter Mullen Clarifies Sodomy Tattoo Remarks

London chaplain Peter Mullen has written a column in The Northern Echo clarifying remarks he made recently that gays should be tattooed with sodomy warnings. He calls it an apology.

In a column entitled "Why I was Wrong", Mullen says: "To wit: I was not criticising individual homosexuals. I have never criticised them. I number many homosexual men and women among my dearest friends. I voted for the Homosexual Reform Act of 1967; and I would vote for it again today. This Act specified the decriminalisation of homosexual acts 'between consenting adults in private.' 'Between' means two. 'Adults' meant 21. 'Private' means in the bedroom – and neither Hampstead Heath nor public lavatories. What I do oppose – on the authority of the Christian faith – is the corrupting influence of the promotional parades of homosexuality by such as Gay Pride demonstrations. And that is what I was satirising."

He adds: "One might say that what was once a mortal sin is now only a lifestyle choice. And the love that once dare not speak its name now shrieks at us in high camp down every high street. This situation is what some homosexualist campaigners constantly claim under their doctrine of 'rights'. It is the reason also that they are so annoyed with me – because I repudiate their 'rights' argument – which is in any case not Christian but secular."

Why I was wrong [the northern echo]

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London Chaplain: Tattoo Gays with Sodomy Warnings

Reverend Peter Mullen, the Chaplain to the London Stock Exchange, is under fire for suggesting that gays be branded with sodomy warning tattoos:

Said Mullen: "It is time that religious believers began to recommend ... discouragements of homosexual practices after the style of warnings on cigarette packets. Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan 'SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH' and their chins with 'FELLATIO KILLS'."

Mullen also called for the banning of gay pride parades, and wrote a poem mocking the recent blessing of the union of two gay priests by Reverend Martin Dudley.

The Evening Standard reports: "The poem begins: 'The Bishop of London is in a high huff, Because Dr Dudley has married a puff; And not just one puff - he's married another: Two priests, two puffs and either to other.' The ceremony, which took place in the summer, was roundly condemned by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, as a breach of Church of England rules."

The Bishop of London called Mullen's marks "highly offensive" and gay rights group Stonewall UK is calling for Mullen's resignation.

Gay men should have sodomy warning tattoos [evening standard]

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News: Dolphin, Elton John, Wales, Chrome Browser, Michael Phelps

John McCain's anti-gay marriage message from 2006.

Dolphin birth photographed.

Elton John lashes out at boozy singer Lily Allen: "I could snort you under the table."

Focus on the Family's James Dobson on Sarah Palin: “A lot of people were praying, and I believe Sarah Palin is God’s answer...They should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances."

Virginia Republican delegation axes Minnesota handbook because it contained six pages for gays and lesbians.

Kiefer Sutherland shows some skin in Malibu.

French police place gay groups under surveillance ahead of Pope's visit: " Eager to avoid a repeat of the condom shower that greeted the Pope in Sydney, Australia, in July, certain gay activist groups such as Act Up are being closely watched in the run-up to the visit. In addition, because of threats to the Pope made in May 2007 by the terrorist network al-Qaeda and the recent terrorist attacks in Algeria, French security officers will be placed on maximum alert during his stay in Paris and the pilgrimage site of Lourdes."

Rev. Lou Sheldon: Turnout will decide California same-sex marriage initiative. Group launches "Traditional Marriage Crusade".

So was the reason Fred Thompson and George W. Bush danced around the specific word "torture" in their speeches last night when referring to McCain because "if [Bush] describes what was done to McCain as torture, he has incriminated himself for war crimes?"

Have you seen Google's new Chrome browser? The NYT David Pogue says it has serious potential. Google Chrome end user license agreement says that Google owns everything you create while using the browser - "By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services." Brin: Why we're launching it.

Massachusetts sees economic boost from out-of-state same-sex marriage decisions there and in New York: "The recent changes have prompted a flood of gay New Yorkers coming to Massachusetts to get married -- and that seems to have made same-sex marriage big business for the Bay State. There are no firm figures on how many gays from New York have come here to marry in the few weeks since the law took effect. But anecdotal evidence suggests the numbers are huge and likely to grow."

Gay festival in Cambridge, England hit by homophobic slashers?

Sarah Palin to address Republican Convention tonight...

Olympian Michael Phelps not only has an Entourage — he's set to appear on the show.

Time Out Chicago talks to Milk writer Dustin Lance Black.

Georgia priest hit with threat note tacked to door.

Gay cleric on shortlist to become Bishop of Bangor, Wales: "Canon Jeffrey John, who entered into a civil partnership with his long-term partner, the Rev Grant Holmes, in 2006, is currently the dean of St Albans and is a Welsh speaker - making him an ideal candidate for the job. Earlier this year, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said he would support the election of a gay bishop, despite opposition among conservative Anglicans. At last month's Lambeth conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, asked liberals not to exacerbate tensions by consecrating gay clergy. A conservative cleric, Bishop David Anderson, from the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, wrote that the Church in Wales was likely to ignore Williams' requests."

THE DAY AFTER PEACE: Jude Law announces documentary about Afghanistan.

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News: Malaysia, Rafael Nadal, M15, J. Lo, Massachusetts

Same-sex marriage opponents in Massachusetts launch effort for ballot measure to keep out-of-staters from getting married in Massachusetts following the recent repeal of the 1913 law. Meanwhile, Provincetown anticipates a wedding boom.

Michael Phelps: Just how much are 8 gold medals worth?

Generes-De Rossi wedding causing ripples in Australia.

Sydney's Oxford Street declared "homophobia-free zone".

British spy agency M15 recruiting gays and lesbians.

J. Lo is running a triathlon.

California Supreme Court rules that doctors cannot discriminate against gay patients on the basis of their religious beliefs: "The California Supreme Court decision overturned a lower court ruling in favor of two Christian doctors who refused fertility treatment to a lesbian citing religious grounds. The woman, Guadalupe Benitez, successfully filed suit against the doctors and their medical group in 2004 on the basis that their refusal to treat her violated California's anti-discrimination laws. However an appeal court in San Diego ruled against Benitez, a decision that led to the supreme court ruling. In an unanimous decision the justices ruled that Benitez was entitled to be treated like other patients with the same condition, and that constitutional protections for religious liberty do not excuse unlawful discrimination."

Californians Against Hate protests Proposition 8 outside Republican fundraiser: "About 25 enthusiastic protesters held up signs and greeted the 150 or so guests arriving at San Diego trail attorney Charles LiMandri’s Rancho Santa Fe estate yesterday. The $100 per head fund-raiser was sponsored by the San Diego County Republican party and the Yes on 8 Campaign."

In a 1973 U.S. News and Report story, John McCain called his Vietnam captors "homosexual" and "sadistic."

Morrissey postpones new album, urges fans not to buy live album put out by Warner Bros.

Rafael Nadal sheds fashion for New York magazine.

Evangelical Christian defends decision to leak letters by Anglican archbishop Rowan Williams that revealed his true thoughts about same-sex relationships: "As for why I decided to offer [the] letters to the public arena ... I became almost sure for various reasons that the liberals knew far more about Dr Williams’ personal views than the traditionalists did and, if so, the balance should be redressed. Over the years I have shared the letters with only a few; I had no desire to embarrass Dr Williams over his statements, and I hoped his personal views would change. Now the issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion has become such a big issue, I judged it was time to override my misgivings about making his views known. Anglicans can make up their own minds what to do with the information."

Gay gold diggers declare Cristiano Ronaldo #1 gay icon.

California school boards pressured to take a stand on same-sex marriage.

Malaysia "transfixed" by rumors of gay sex between a candidate and his aide.

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Irish Bishop Can't Accept Homosexuality, Even if Biologically Proven

Harold Miller, a leading Irish bishop in the Anglican church, says the church can't accept gays even if homosexuality is proven to have a genetic or biological origin.

Said Miller: "If you say that because you are born with a certain inclination then it is God-given and you should be free to follow that through in your life, it doesn't make any logical sense whatever. You would then have to say that there are many different inclinations with which people are born — even if it is true that this is an inherent thing — and which people spend their lifetime trying to subdue. The fact that you are born with it doesn't make any moral judgement on the inclination. People fight to subdue inherently bad tempers, depressive streaks or lots of sexual inclinations. Some inclinations are good, some are not good and some are mixed...I stood at the front gate of a Cathedral in America last month and read a notice saying 'Anybody going on the LGBT parade come to the Cathedral first and have your relationship blessed by the bishop'...There's no doubt about it — it's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered for a start — so the thing has widened already and you have to ask: what does it mean for someone who's born bisexual to follow their inclination or inclinations? [Proving that homosexuality is natural] makes no difference at all.'"

Miller's remarks are at odds with Church of Ireland Archbishop Alan Harper, who said such discoveries would be cause to reconsider Anglican practice on the issue: "It has not yet been conclusively shown that for some males and some females homosexuality and homosexual acts are natural rather than unnatural. If such comes to be shown, it will be necessary to acknowledge the full implications of that new aspect of the truth, and that insight applied to establish and acknowledge what may be a new status for homosexual relationships within the church."

And also at odds with the mindset of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, which was revealed in letters from 2000 and 2001 earlier this week.

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Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams' Leaked Letter Reveals Support for Same-Sex Relationships

In a bit of curious timing coming shortly after the close of the Anglican church's Lambeth conference, correspondence from the church's leading archbishop Rowan Williams to an evangelical Christian has surfaced. In it, Williams says that same-sex relationships may be comparable to those of married couples in the eyes of God:

"In a series of letters from 2000 and 2001, when he was still archbishop of Wales, Williams wrote that scriptural prohibitions against homosexuality, such as those in Leviticus, were addressed 'to heterosexuals looking for sexual variety in their experience'. In the correspondence, an exchange with an evangelical Christian, Williams argued that passages criticising homosexual activity were not aimed at people who were gay by nature. 'An active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.' He also expressed his optimism that the church might change its stance on homosexuality: 'The church has shifted its stance on several matters, notably the rightness of lending money at interest and the moral admissibility of contraception, so I am bound to ask if this is another such issue.' Publication of the letters comes days after Williams emerged unscathed from an important summit of the world's Anglican bishops."

The Times called it a "last ditch attempt to undermine" Williams' position as mediator between two sides of the church, which has been split over its positions regarding gay and women clergy (more specifically the ordination of New Hampshire Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson), and the blessings of same-sex marriages.

Previously
As Lambeth Conference Wraps, Anglican Leader Seeks Covenant [tr]
Vatican Official Urges Anglican Bishops: Condemn Homosexuality [tr]
Anglican Bishops Propose Body To Force Gene Robinson Resignation [tr]
Sudanese Archbishop Demands Gay Bishop Gene Robinson Resign [tr]

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As Lambeth Conference Wraps, Anglican Leader Seeks Covenant

As the Lambeth Conference came to a close, Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams sought a "covenant" in place of a formal vote in the face of the worldwide rift in the Anglican church over its positions on gay clergy and same-sex unions, the NYT reports:

"Archbishop Williams told reporters that he hoped Anglican leaders could agree on a draft covenant within a year, but said that winning approval for it among the 44 national and regional churches of the Anglican Communion could take until 2013. That period might coincide with a push among the bishops here to hold another Lambeth meeting after only five years....In the meantime, the archbishop said, agreement was widespread for continuing 'moratoria' on the ordination of gay and lesbian priests and blessings of same-sex unions and for matching restraint by conservatives who threatened to walk out unless traditional views proscribing church acceptance of homosexuality prevailed. A document published as the conference ended spoke of the moratoriums ushering in 'a season of gracious restraint' while the covenant is negotiated."

Meanwhile, Gene Robinson, the bishop at the center of the church's split, was welcomed in Glasgow where he thanked Scottish clergy for recognizing "all God's people."

Said Robinson to the congregation: "It is going to end with the full inclusion of all God's people in God's Church. I don't know when. It doesn't matter when. But I know it is going to be. None of us is on the selection committee. God is on a committee of one...It is time for us to stop worrying so much about the Church. The Church is not ours to win or lose; the Church is God's. What a dangerous thing it is to put the Bible into the hands of repressed people. They might read it and believe it. They gave it to black slaves to make them docile, but they read it and became educated. They have given it to disabled people … gay and bisexual people. Who knows who they'll give it to next? But God will keep giving it to people too, until there's no more 'them', only 'us'."

Archbishop Rowan Williams' final Lambeth press conference, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Vatican Official Urges Anglican Bishops: Condemn Homosexuality

Walter Cardinal Kasper, president of the pontifical council for promoting christian unity, spoke at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England yesterday and said the need for Catholics and Anglicans to be on the same page against gays is "sorely needed in the world today" and urged the more than 150 bishops gathered to condemn homosexuality:

Said Kasper: "This teaching is founded in the Old and New Testament and the fidelity to scripture and to Apostolic tradition is absolute. Homosexuality is a disordered behaviour. The activity must be condemned; the traditional approach to homosexuality is comprehensive ... A clear declaration about this theme must come from the Anglican Communion."

According to The Guardian, "Kasper was saddened that dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church had been seriously compromised over the issues of women's ordination and homosexuality. These developments had also caused the Communion to enter into a period of dispute, he observed."

Added Kasper: "Many of you are troubled, deeply so, by the threat of fragmentation. In such a scenario, who will our dialogue partner be? How can we appropriately and honestly engage in conversations with those who share Catholic perspectives on the points currently in dispute, and who disagree with some developments within the Anglican Communion or particular provinces?"

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Anglican Bishops Propose Body To Force Gene Robinson Resignation

Bishops assembled at the Lambeth Conference have debated the creation of a body to be headed up by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams that would enforce moratoriums on gay consecrations, same-sex blessings and cross-border interventions, wherein "conservative bishops from Africa have consecrated bishops to pastor congregations in the United States."

According to the Times Online, "The plan was drawn up by a group of bishops at the conference, who say in the document: 'We believe that the pastoral forum should be empowered to act in the Anglican Communion in a rapid manner to emerging threats to its life.'"

Here's the gist of it however: "The document says the moratoria asked for on a number of previous occasions are to be understood as 'retrospective'. The strong implication of this is that the openly-gay Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, must resign if the Anglican church is to survive as one body. However, this is not stated explicitly and conservatives criticised the document as lacking teeth."

Previously
Sudanese Archbishop Demands Gay Bishop Gene Robinson Resign [tr]
25% of World's Anglican Bishops boycott Lambeth Conference [tr]
Archbishop of Wales Says He Would Consecrate a Gay Bishop [tr]
Heckler Calls Gay Bishop Robinson a 'Heretic' at Sermon in the UK [tr]

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News: Marriage Language, Jupiter, Harvey Milk, Bahrain

California marriage ballot measure language changed: "Proposition 8 on the November ballot had been described as a measure to limit marriage between a man and a woman. But the Secretary of State's office says that description was changed to reflect a May 15 California Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. The ballot title and summary now describe the initiative as a constitutional change to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry. The revised language also says California could lose several tens of millions of dollars in sales taxes if same-sex marriage were banned. Critics of the measure say the change accurately shows the initiative would take away a current right of Californians."

Close up on Jupiter.

Bunny boiler: Tricia Walsh-Smith puts another hit out on Kathie Lee Gifford, sells husband's condoms on eBay.

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom weds in Montana.

UK Survey: 4 of 5 Protestants say gay sex is a sin.

Shia Labeouf crashes car, arrested for DUI.

'Harvey Milk Day' bill awaits action in California senate: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken no position on the bill, which awaits action in the Senate after passing the Assembly, 45-28, with most Republicans voting no. Randy Thomasson, of Campaign for California Children and Families, which opposes AB 2567, said the bill is a new tactic in a long push to portray homosexuality in a positive light to kids. 'Harvey Milk Day is the equivalent of having Gay Day at every school in the state,' he said."

Bahrain MP: No homosexuals allowed.

Play about gay Christians offered up to bishops at the Anglican Lambeth Conference.

Lucas Grabeel on shooting Milk: "No one told me how great I was. The director hardly spoke to me. I was just doing my thing and talking to these amazing actors. In the beginning of shooting, I thought, 'You guys must hate me. I must be the worst actor. I don't know what to do' and they were like, 'You were hired to do the job. That's why he hired you.' It was an amazing epiphany."

Mario Lopez immortalized in oil.

UK activist Peter Tatchell slams Northern Irish homophobic politicians: "It is particularly hypocritical for unionist politicians to play the homophobic card when their hero, William of Orange, had male lovers."

Anti-gay New Jersey group National Organization for Marriage stepping into California gay marriage battle: "NOM, a taxable political advocacy group that can raise money without contribution limits, has quickly built up some fundraising muscle. It started a California chapter in January. By March, the group had raised just over $775,000, according to campaign finance filings. Only the California umbrella group ProtectMarriage.com has raised more for the cause. While NOM's biggest chunk in California _ $250,000 _ came from the Knights of Columbus, the group has also raised smaller amounts from individuals. The group says it has now raised more than $1 million in California and more than $2 million overall."

Naked Cowboy cuffed, mocked in SF.

Matthew McConaughey takes 20-day-old son surfing.

Washington Post looks at the transgender homeless: "It's hard to explain -- just as the spectrum of gender is hard to explain. Parents' and society's rejection of children who don't fit the norm is hard to explain, too. But most confounding of all is the forbearance these young people have in the face of intolerance and cruelty. They go -- like the definition of trans-- 'across, beyond and through' preconceptions. They are unlike anyone I have encountered before."

Director of Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival fires director Carol Coombes: "'Carol is British and in 60 days she might have to leave the country,' said Harvey Burstein, a festival founder and former board member. He said Coombes' visa requires she be employed in the film industry and that she was to get her permanent residency or green card in November. Coombes, fired on Friday, joined the festival in 2001 and became director a few years later. She declined to comment. 'It's a very unfortunate complication of a very heartfelt, thought-out decision,' said festival board member Mark Gilbert."

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Sudanese Archbishop Demands Gay Bishop Gene Robinson Resign

Archbishop of Sudan Daniel Deng called for the resignation of gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson at a news conference yesterday, saying it's the only way to avoid a schism in the Church.

Said Deng: "Gene Robinson has to be away from the Anglican world and be a normal Christian. If he is, as he always says, a Christian, he should resign for the sake of the church."

Deng said that God did not make a mistake in creating Adam and Eve and would have created two Adams if he had wanted that.

Deng has not spoken with Robinson directly. Said the Sudanese bishop: "I have nothing to say to him."

Following Deng's statement, the Right Rev Jack Iker, Bishop of Forth Worth, called on those who believe in Gene Robinson to leave the conference:

Said Iker:

"Those Bishops who stand in solidarity with Gene Robinson should withdraw themselves from further participation in the Lambeth Conference. Having failed in several attempts to include Gene in the Conference, his supporters should themselves feel a sense of rejection from the Conference itself. Integrity and honesty would dictate that they should stand with Gene — excluded from full participation in the Lambeth Conference. Is this all talk, or is it backed up by action?"

25% of the world's Anglican bishops have boycotted the Lambeth Conference because of the Episcopal church's ordination of Robinson. Robinson is in Canterbury, England holding events on the fringes of the Lambeth conference. Earlier this month, he was heckled while giving a sermon by a protester branding him a "heretic."

Watch Deng's news conference, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Christian Bale, Prostate Cancer, Elton John, Iran, Serotonin

Congressional hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to be held tomorrow.

Christian Bale arrested on assault charges brought by his mother and sister.

A push or a brush: Bale charges trumped up?

BBC Radio1 DJ Kevin Greening, who died last December during a gay bondage session, left £515,575 to his 'life partner' Andrew Lowe and nothing to his mother: "Greening's will instructed that his mother Mary would only receive a payout if she had outlived Mr Lowe at the time of the DJ's death. Even then she would only be entitled to half the money, with the rest going to AIDS charity the Terrence Higgins Trust."

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says he's "committed" to Anglican church's stand against living in sin and gay sex: "I do not believe that sex outside marriage is as God purposes it."

Study: Serotonin affects spirituality. "A team of Swedish researchers has found that the presence of a receptor that regulates general serotonin activity in the brain correlates with people's capacity for transcendence, the ability to apprehend phenomena that cannot be explained objectively. Scientists have long suspected that serotonin influences spirituality because drugs known to alter serotonin such as LSD also induce mystical experiences. But now they have proof from brain scans linking the capacity for spirituality with a major biological element."

New prostate cancer drug called most significant advance in the field in 70 years: "Abiraterone could potentially treat up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease resistant to currently available chemotherapy, they say. The drug works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer. The Institute of Cancer Research hopes a simple pill form will be available in two to three years."

YouTube Superstar Tricia Walsh-Smith loses battle for husband's cash. Judge slams YouTube antics.

Hello Yellow Brickle Road: Elton John finally plays the Green Mountain state. "The show — a celebratory culmination of a U.S. road trip that began in California in 1970 — was a musical milestone for the 61-year-old singer: With Monday’s Vermont concert, John has performed in all 50 states. 'I’m thrilled,' he said before the show, graciously accepting Vermont-made gifts. 'I love America. It’s taken me 39 years to get to Vermont and it’s worth it. It’s a glorious night out there. I’m very, very lucky.'"

Bet you can't guess whose legs these are.

British activist Peter Tatchell, who was the international grand marshall at last weekend's San Diego Gay Pride and participated in the protest of that city's Manchester Grand Hyatt, criticized U.S. foreign aid to countries with poor human rights records in a speech at the San Diego Pride Human Rights Vigil: "We must urge the US State Department to make foreign aid and trade conditional on the recipient countries agreeing to respect human rights, including the human rights of LGBT people. Tyrannies should not be rewarded: No US aid for anti-gay regimes."

Patrick Swayze on cancer progress: "I'm a miracle, dude. I don't know why."

Human Rights Watch demands release of two HIV/AIDS doctors being held by Iranian authorities: "Human Rights Watch says the authorities have not disclosed why Arash Alaei and Kamyar Alaei were detained last month, or where they are being held. The two brothers have travelled widely outside Iran, including to the US, to take part in conferences on HIV/Aids. They were due to take part in a major meeting in Mexico next month. Arash Alaei was scheduled to give a presentation on some of Iran's innovative HIV programmes, Human Rights Watch says. The brothers are credited with getting the Iranian authorities to tackle the stigma of HIV infection and the disease Aids, in a country where sex, drug abuse and the disease itself are taboo subjects."

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News: West Side Story, Matt Dillon, Bush Golf, Ryan O'Meara

Former Olympic skater Ryan O'Meara: I'm gay.

Madonna in bid to reunited Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake for her Sticky & Sweet tour. If that doesn't work, maybe Justin could just play both of them.

Bush to attend McCain golf fundraiser. FLASHBACK: "Playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

Sarah Jessica Parker whacked her mole.

Brisbane, Australia's gay, Aboriginal, and civil libertarian communities to march against Pope Benedict tomorrow: "We are protesting against the Pope's anti-queer, anti-abortion, anti-condom stance. The Pope is an extremely powerful and influential figure, who has called homosexuality 'an intrinsic moral evil', has said that abortion rights are a 'new holocaust', and who tells those in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa that contraception and sex education support a 'culture of death'."

Scores of Methodist ministers in California putting careers on the line to officiate same-sex weddings: "The pastors could lose their jobs and clerical credentials in the church, the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination. Ministers in Santa Monica, Claremont, Walnut Creek and other cities have already performed ceremonies for gays and lesbians or are planning to do so. In addition, 82 retired pastors in Northern California signed a resolution in June offering to perform such weddings on behalf of ministers who feel they can't do so themselves."

West Side Story revival to begin Broadway previews in 2009...

Barry Manilow: too thin?

Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals details of Phantom sequel at boozy UK bash.

Participants at the Anglican Lambeth Conference will be invited to take a walk on the gay side: "Peterson Toscano, who is also booked for the Edinburgh Festival and the Greenbelt Christian arts festival this summer, promises good humour and topicality when he takes to the stage at the Keynes Lecture Theatre at the University of Kent on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July 2008, starting at 8pm. The lively theatrical performance activist will share his own spiritual story and experience, liberally sprinkled with excerpts from a play that tells how he survived the 'ex-gay' movement which has been encouraged in some Christian circles - 'Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House'. The performances will also include a 'question and answer' session."

Anti-gay protest at McDonald's goes pathetically.

Matt Dillon: open wide.

Afghanistan, Bid Laden first: The John McCain blunder nobody has discussed yet.

Al Gore to make ' moon shot' challenge on environment: "Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace...'I have never seen an opportunity for the country like the one that's emerging now,' Gore told The Associated Press in an interview previewing a speech on global warming he planned to give Thursday in Washington."

Dennis Kucinich's impeachment resolution moves forward, ever so slowly...

H&R Block offers $100 coupons or free TaxCut software to gay couples their software blocked from filing online: "Connecticut taxpayers Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu and the ACLU sent a demand letter last March to Block asking the tax preparer to stop penalizing gay couples because the software in use then didn’t support Connecticut civil union returns. Filers who encountered that problem were asked to contact a Block tax service office for help, for which higher fees were charged."

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25% of World's Anglican Bishops boycott Lambeth Conference

The Lambeth Conference happens just once every decade, and one quarter of the world's Anglican bishops (many from African nations) are boycotting the conference, exposing the rift caused by the Episcopal Church's ordination of Gene Robinson five years ago, Reuters reports:

"Church officials said that 230 of the 880 bishops in the Anglican worldwide communion were staying away from the Lambeth conference being staged in the English cathedral city of Canterbury, spiritual home of the deeply divided church. Bishops from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, who boast some of the fastest-expanding congregations in the Anglican church, were among those who pledged to snub the conference. "Liberal and conservative clergy have been brought to the brink of schism over the ordination in 2003 of Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop in the church's 450-year history.

Robinson, of course, was snubbed by the conference, but still plans to hold events in Canterbury, England, where the conference is held. Said Robinson of the boycott: "With young men knifing each other in the streets of London and a billion or more people going through life on less than a dollar a day, what a shame , what a waste it is for the Anglican communion to be tearing itself apart over two men or two women who want to make a Christian family together."

While giving a sermon at a service on Sunday, Robinson was confronted by a protestor who branded him a "heretic" and demanded Robinson repent.

Quarter of world's Anglicans boycott conference [washington post]

Recently
Archbishop of Wales Says He Would Consecrate a Gay Bishop [tr]
Heckler Calls Gay Bishop Robinson a 'Heretic' at Sermon in the UK [tr]

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Archbishop of Wales Says He Would Consecrate a Gay Bishop

Dr. Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, said over the weekend that he was in agreement with gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson about gay clergy and that he would consecrate a gay candidate for bishop if that candidate was qualified:

"If there was a candidate who was in a homosexual relationship that would be discussed. It would be my job to say 'you have to vote according to your conscience, but I’m duty bound to tell you that it will have repercussions as far as the wider Anglican communion is concerned’. If they said they want to do that well so be it. If a priest had a partner and someone nominated them that wouldn’t be a bar to them becoming a bishop."

Morgan's comments come on the eve of this year's Anglican Lambeth Conference from which Robinson has been excluded. As I posted earlier, Robinson's presence has already been noted by a heckler during a sermon over the weekend.

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Heckler Calls Gay Bishop Robinson a 'Heretic' at Sermon in the UK

Gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, who is in the UK defying Anglican leaders who have banned him from the annual Lambeth Conference, was the target of a heckler at a service on Sunday and was forced to stop his sermon. The Daily Mail reports:

"The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, the American churchman whose appointment as Bishop of New Hampshire triggered a devastating split among Anglican leaders, was branded a 'heretic' by the lone protester. Bishop Robinson began his sermon by expressing his sadness that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart. The long-haired heckler repeatedly jabbed his finger and shouted 'repent, repent, repent'. He said the bishop 'preached the Gospel but departed from it' and claimed it was he who was behind the schism. The bishop had to halt his sermon as a slow hand-clap by members of the congregation began in response to the heckling. The hymn Thine Be The Glory was sung as the protester was escorted from St Mary's Church in Putney, South-West London. When Bishop Robinson resumed speaking, he asked those present to 'pray for that man'."

See video of the sermon and the heckler (and more on the Anglicans, Robinson, and Lambeth), AFTER THE JUMP...

Robinson was banned from Lambeth so that he would not become a focus of the event. As the AP notes, that strategy has backfired.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu over the weekend pleaded for unity within the Anglican Church, calling it a "mistake" for the Church to exclude Robinson form the conference. Said Tutu: "The Anglican church prides itself - and this is one of its greatest attributes - it prides itself on being the church that is comprehensive, meaning it includes all kinds of points of view. One of the sadnesses about the current crisis is that we seem to be jettisoning this wonderful inclusivity that is a characteristic of our church."

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