News: Nate Berkus, ENDA, Ken Keechl, Argentina, Beenie Man

Following judge's ruling, paperwork issued for Argentina's first same-sex marriage.

Kardashian sisters don duct tape for NoH8 campaign.

Joe Jackson's last money grab before MJ's fillings?

Retired military chaplains come out in support of repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

ENDA mark-up postponed.

Philippines elections board (COMELEC) says gays "overly represented" in Congress: "Comelec second division chairman Nicodemus Ferrer was defending the poll body’s rejection of the application of gay-rights group Ang Ladlad for party-list representation. 'I have been telling them, you are not under-represented… actually you are over-represented in the Lower House and Upper House,' Ferrer told reporters in an interview. But Ferrer declined to name names."

While Levi does Playgirl, Neil Patrick Harris does Playboy.

Ken Keechl takes over as first openly gay mayor of Broward County, Florida.

Petition Obama to support federal court challenge to Prop 8.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Community Center of Central Florida in Orlando and nearby gay-owned business hit by anti-gay graffiti: "...a swastika and the words 'Gay Pawer,' 'Die Fags,' 'Go To Hell' and other homophobic slurs. Damage to the two buildings is estimated to be over $1,000.The Center is currently working to cover the messages on the building to deter additional damage."

Horrific undercover investigation of treatment of pigs on factory farms.

Anti-gay Jamaican singer Beenie Man's appearance at Australia's Big Day Out has been canceled: "A statement from the Big Day Out's producers today says that while the concert organisers believe the controversial musician has now renounced homophobia, the storm of protest this week after the announcement that he was in the line-up means his continued involvement would prove too divisive."

Anderson Cooper helms Elton John AIDS Foundation event in NYC.

Chris Pine suits up for GQ's 'Man of the Year'.

Oprah interior designer Nate Berkus to get his own syndicated daytime show.

Max Blumenthal on Palin's ghostwriter Lynn Vincent: "Vincent may have been an effective literary collaborator, but like Palin herself, she entered the project with considerable political baggage. Vincent’s commentaries for World are punctuated by inflammatory characterizations of gays, minorities and liberals that have already provided fodder for Palin’s critics. Among Vincent’s most strident statements were her description of homosexuality as a 'deviant' mental disorder and labeling of President Barack Obama as the 'face of the minority survivor' of abortion, which she dubbed the 'Black Genocide.'"

Tim Gunn on the one item of clothing he can't stand: "I cannot wrap my brain around the ubiquity of Crocs. Kelly Ripa [on "Live with Regis and Kelly"] said, 'I insist that you put them on because they're so comfortable.' And I put them on. I am looking down at my feet, and I feel like I have hooves! They're horrible. If we all succumbed to the comfort trap, to dress as if we never got out of bed -- then we should never get out of bed."

Judge in Argentina Rules Gay Couple Can Marry

A judge in Argentina has reportedly ruled that Jose Maria Di Bello and Alex Freyre can marry, Reuters reports:

"An Argentine judge has granted a homosexual couple permission to get married, setting a precedent that could pave the way for the Catholic country to become the first in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage. This week's ruling by Judge Gabriela Seijas in Buenos Aires, which became the region's first city to approve civil unions between same sex couples in 2002, may increase pressure on lawmakers to debate a gay marriage bill currently deadlocked in Congress. 'The law should treat everyone with the same respect according to their singularities, without the need to understand or regulate them,' Seijas said in her ruling, which could still be overturned by city authorities. The couple, Alex Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello, said in a statement posted on a gay rights Internet site that the decision would allow them to become 'the first gay couple in Latin America to get the right to marry.'"

Watch a video (in Spanish) of Di Bello and Freyre shot in April, after the couple's application to marry was rejected, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Michael Jackson, Argentina, Jenny Durkan, Barbie, Coyotes

Rex Wockner: 8,000 volunteers working in Maine, and more needed...

Mario tries to find the right shade.

Joe Jackson on the King of Pop: "He's worth more dead than he was alive."

Schwarzenegger says "fuck you" letter was a complete (8 billion to one) coincidence.

Damn: Elton John is spry.

Gay City News interviews Kirsten Gillibrand: "a new advocate emerges..."

32 LGBT organizations issue joint statement on hate crimes passage: "This week, we call upon lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, families and allies to take this opportunity of increased media and public attention on hate crimes to educate co-workers, classmates, neighbors, family members and friends about our lives, and about why we need not only their friendship and love, but their vocal support for a more just and equal America for LGBT people."

WATCH: clip of Britney Spears' "3" music video.

First openly gay U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan begins work...

GLAAD board member dies on Atlantis vacation: "According to sources on board, Spencer Yu, a Los Angeles attorney, suffered cardiac arrest October 21 while on the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, which was chartered by Atlantis for a seven-day trip along the Mexican Riviera. A medical team attempted to resuscitate Yu for 45 minutes before he was taken to a Puerto Vallarta hospital, where he showed no brain activity. Yu was later taken off of life support. "

How often do you hear of anyone being hunted down and killed by coyotes? This is terribly sad.

Inside Candis Cayne's closet.

The Keith Haring documentary Drawing the Line is broadcast on Ovation this weekend.

Perhaps the most profitable and overrated flick of all time.

Introducing, the Barbie Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken Doll.

Argentina considers same-sex marriage: "'We can't expect social equality if the state is legitimizing inequality,' said Maria Rachid, president of Argentina's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Federation. 'We now have the social and political context necessary to change the law.' ... Rachid said more than 20 lawmakers have signed on as supporters of same-sex marriage, and they believe they have enough votes in committee for a full vote in the lower house. It would then go to the Senate."

Arjan chats with Blake Lewis.

Boston gay bashing case to go to trial: "Darren Morgan, 46, and Howard Rice, 50, are charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct and civil rights violations, said Conley. Both men will appear in Boston Municipal Court on Dec. 10. The charges are the result of an incident on June 15, according to Boston police. Morgan and Rice were on Washington Street when the victims walked towards them from a bus stop, police said. The pair allegedly began to verbally abuse the two men, targeting them on the assumption they were gay, said police."

Smells Like Teen Spirit: Steven Klein Explores Pit Sniffing in Argentina

Electric Youth magazine (which recently showcased model/actor Justin Gaston) features a new portfolio by photographer Steven Klein shot in Argentina. Not quite sure what to think about the choice of cover image except to say that it's the pits.

Hot Argentinian Man Melts to Draw Attention to Global Warming

Writes Treehugger: "Located in Buenos Aires’ Plaza Francia, the oozing young man passes out fliers urging spectators to use public transportation, conserve water, reduce, reuse, recycle and to use energy-efficient appliances. This imaginative piece of guerrilla publicity highlights the fact that much of the funding of the Argentinian Red Cross goes to assisting those who have been most affected by natural disasters exacerbated by climate change."

Argentina Passes First Nationwide Gay Rights Measure

Same-sex couples have been granted the right to receive the pensions of their deceased partners provided they have been cohabiting for at least five years:

"The government's national decree will 'put the rights of all cohabitants on a level playing field,' Boudo said. Gay activists welcomed Monday's announcement as the fruition of years of campaigning the government to grant them the same rights as heterosexual married couples. Gay civil unions already are legal in five cities, including Buenos Aires. The measure is 'historic' and marks a 'step forward' for human rights because it is the first nationwide gay-rights measure approved by the government, gay activist Pedro Paradiso Sottile told The Associated Press."

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