News: Latvia, Ryan Reynolds, Cannes, Life Ball, Cambodia, GPS

New Hampshire Senate holding hearing on new language in marriage equality bill. To vote tomorrow.

Anti-gay activist allowed to lead first Baltic Pride March in Latvian capital of Riga. Activist: "It is only right that those against us should be allowed to express their views."

Robert Pattinson's hair arrives in Cannes.

Arkansas GOP Chair slammed over stump speech warning voters of the dangers of having an open lesbian in the state legislature.

Drama in Portland over new LGBT weekly magazine.

Ryan Reynolds to Betty White: "Why don't you go suck a hot c*ck."

Brazilian government releases plan to defend civil rights and adoption by gay couples.

POLL: Half of Nevadans oppose civil unions. "The poll, which did not gather opinions about gay marriage itself, found 38 percent of Nevadans favor domestic partner legislation, while 50 percent oppose it and the remainder are undecided. Democrats back the plan, incorporated in Senate Bill 283, by a 46 percent to 36 percent margin, while independents support it 47 percent to 42 percent. But Republicans oppose the proposal by a 71 percent to 23 percent margin, more than offsetting the Democrat and independent support."

Hilary Duff, Carson Kressley, Michael Urie come out for AIDS Walk New York, which raised $5.6 million.

Cambodia crowns first 'Mr. Gay'.

Vallejo, California student wins $25K settlement in ACLU harassment lawsuit against high school: "Comments were said like they don't know if I was a boy or a girl, I need to pull up my pants, I'm a lady. I couldn't be put into a girls locker room."

UK police stations lower Union Jack, raise rainbow flag in show of force on International Day Against Homophobia: "One police chief said the rainbow flag demonstrated his force's support for homosexuals who felt they were victims of prejudice. But critics warned that it was dangerous for forces to show support for particular campaigns."

While gay rights demonstrations in Moscow were marred by arrests, demonstrations in other Russian cities, like St. Petersburg, were notably peaceful. More photos.

Hearing for accused killer of Lawrence King postponed again: "A Ventura County Superior Court judge on Monday reset the first hearing for Brandon McInerney to July 8. McInerney's lawyer, Scott Wippert, says he needs more time to prepare documents before the preliminary hearing. McInerney, who is being prosecuted as an adult, has pleaded not guilty."

Inside Vienna's Life Ball. More here.

Kenyan archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth slams homosexuality: "For the African, gender is either male or female; other issues such as homosexuality should not arise. In this context, the belief of the African is consonant [with] the teaching of the Bible, namely God created only two sexes: male and female. God created Adam and Eve. God did not create Adam and Steve!"

Ultradome: Milo Ventimiglia set to produce and star in weird web series about intellectual film discussion.

South Carolina activists to protest omission of gays and lesbians from teen dating violence bill.

GPS satellite system on verge of collapse? "The satellites are overseen by the US Air Force, which has maintained the GPS network since the early 1990s. According to a study by the US government accountability office (GAO), mismanagement and a lack of investment means that some of the crucial GPS satellites could begin to fail as early as next year."

News: Chris Pine, Twitter, Carrie Prejean, Iraq, Joe Jonas, Avedon

Arkansas GOP chair Doyle Webb believes a lesbian can't be trusted with the state's budget!

Jonas Brother is first to attempt wet T-shirt sex symbol shot (while invoking celebrity crush Daniel Craig).

New Tony Kushner play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, begins previews in Minneapolis tonight.

Through they eyes of RIchard Avedon.

Together: Frankly, I'd rather see Hugh Jackman and Robert Pattinson as bound captives.

Effort to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams holds kick-out party: "Organizers of Thursday’s event at Nick’s Famous Coney Island restaurant said they wanted to spread the word about their efforts. And they gathered a standing-room only crowd that spilled outside the small establishment - though it was unclear how many were simply patrons uninterested in the recall. While organizers have a number of people already involved, they are hoping other citizens will sign up too." Focus on Breedlove.

It kind of seems like they Photoshopped Chris Pine's head onto suits in these GQ shots.

Is the ill-conceived American Ab-Fab kaput? Are we lucky?

NYPD seeks ex-boyfriend in slaying of gay man in Brooklyn: "Tamiz Din, 50, was shot five times in the chest and stomach at 12:45 a.m. after he exchanged words with three men, police said. His wallet was not taken. Din, a livery driver for 20 years, had been due to testify in court today on assault and harassment charges he filed against Saleem Khan, his former boyfriend, police said. Din dated Khan, also a Pakistani immigrant, for 15 years before they split up in 2007."

Real life Twitter.

San Francisco activists to hold rally at Harvey Milk Plaza protesting executions of gays in Iraq on International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) this Sunday.

Joseph Gordon Levitt covers Vman.

Adam Carolla makes misinformed remarks on gay parents: "We just get it spoon-fed to us [that] everything’s great, everything’s perfect, there’s no difference between, you know a couple of dads, a couple of moms, couple of bis and a couple of pre-op transsexuals, and a mom and a dad…no difference. Now look, I’m all for gays adopting but let’s not mistake it for being nearly as good as a mother and a father. It’s not nearly as good as a mommy and a daddy… all things being equal, it is much better for a mother and a father to raise a child than it is two of anything, all things being equal."

Focus on the Family's James Dobson talks about "dangers" of hate crime laws.

"Carrie Prejean Day" DOA in Vista, California.

Shanna Moakler just couldn't stand behind Carrie Prejean's lies: "The turning point for me, I guess, was when I was watching the Today show and she was sitting there continuing to lie. And it's obvious to everybody that the lying is still going on. I just couldn't stand behind her. I wasn't going to New York with this vendetta against her and hoping that she would be decrowned. But I was hoping that she would, at one point in time, stop pointing fingers at everyone in the world and take a little bit of accountability or a little bit of responsibility for herself."

News: Pontiac, David Beckham, Presbyterians, Simon Rex, Arkansas

Iowa same-sex marriages begin peacefully, quietly. State sees 380+ couples.

David Beckham now fancies himself a clothing designer.

Worm cat.

CBS POLL: "Forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage."

NYT: GOP re-thinking stance on same-sex marriage.

The wingnuts are engaged and telling their own to wake up and tell their lawmakers where they stand on federal hate crimes legislation. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has provided a way for you to fight back and do the same.

Singer Craig David is a boxer man.

Right Wing Watch: 150 protest marriage equality in D.C. Organizer Bishop Harry Jackson to launch "the Armageddon of the marriage battle in this country" this Friday, he says: "Jackson predicts that about 1,000 church members and 100 pastors will show up to argue that the apparently unanimous support among D.C. Council members for recognizing same-sex marriage is an affront to Washingtonians and especially to blacks."

51% favor government investigation of "harsh interrogation techniques".

GM: Pontiac closing up shop.

Vermont marriage equality: $228,000 well spent.

The Presbyterian Church again rejects openly gay clergy.

Lambda Legal wins Social Security case for gay dad: "In a letter received today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reversed its prior determination to deny benefits to the children of a disabled gay father in Lambda Legal’s case representing the family against apparent antigay discrimination by the federal government."

SLDN asks Obama to "stand by [his] word" on repeal of military gay ban.

Simon Rex and Lance Bass get up in each other's business.

Preservationist group lists most endangered places in nation: "This year the trust made a point of highlighting the threat to Modernist buildings. Thus the inclusion of the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, where the actress Diane Keaton, a trustee of the organization, is scheduled to announce the list on Tuesday. The Century, built in the mid-’60s and designed by Minoru Yamasaki — the architect of the World Trade Center — was also chosen to focus attention on sustainability and the need to recycle existing infrastructure."

Top Utah politicians clash over same-sex marriage ban.

Know Thy Neighbor launches in Arkansas: "It has compiled a list, from public records, of all the names and addresses of the Arkansans who signed the petitions to put Act 1 on last year's ballot. This was the anti-gay measure, approved by voters, that prohibits adoption or fostering parenting by unmarried people living together. It's part of the anti-gay agenda of the Family Council, but as has been well reported, it first of all harmed children in need of homes."

Hunkerin' Down

A Continuous Lean looks back at the 50th anniversary of a national squatting trend:

"That is exactly what happened in 1959 when a bunch of University of Arkansas fraternity brothers decided to make their chair-lacking displeasure known by 'hunkerin‘' all over campus. The funny looking practice spread throughout Southern colleges and then eventually throughout the entire country."

News: Annie Leibovitz, Sydney Shark, Justin Timberlake, Presbyterians

Man in sailor suit gay bashed in Seattle's Central District.

Annie Leibovitz pawns her life work to save finances: "Last fall, Annie Leibovitz, the photographer, borrowed $5 million from a company called Art Capital Group. In December, she borrowed $10.5 million more from the same firm. As collateral, among other items, she used town houses she owns in Greenwich Village, a country house, and something else: the rights to all of her photographs."

USA Today on Mike Penner/Christine Daniels' transgender regret: "It's unfortunate and it's relatively uncommon but certainly not unheard of. The simplest way to think about it is being trans is something that never goes away. ... There's just a fairly constant social pressure to just go back. You don't have to be a genius to understand that society doesn't really accept this."

Empathy fat: Model/trainer hottie eats for his clients.

Colorado same-sex partner benefits bill clears Senate 22-12 despite hideous comments from homophobe state senator Scott Renfroe.

Obama's changing health care plan: "The budget -- and I was cautioned that the wording 'is changing hourly' -- will direct Congress to "aim for universality." That is a bolder goal than simple affordability, which can be achieved, at least in theory, through subsidies. Universality means everyone has coverage, not just the ability to access it. And that requires a mechanism to ensure that they seek it.

Protestors continue to harass Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Inequality defied in New York.

San Francisco Chronicle in danger of closing: "If it can't reduce expenses dramatically within the next few weeks, the Hearst Corp. said it will close or sell the Chronicle, northern California's largest newspaper with a paid weekday circulation of 339,430. Hearst didn't specify a savings target nor a deadline for wringing out the expenses. A Hearst spokesman didn't immediately respond to messages Tuesday. But management made it clear that the cost-cutting will require a significant number of layoffs."

Hedi Slimane tackles Courtney Love.

Bull shark hooked, freed in Sydney Harbor.

GOP poll on domestic partnerships in New Mexico misstates facts: "The poll, commissioned by the state GOP, found that more New Mexicans were in favor of domestic partnerships (47 percent) than opposed (42 percent). But that support fell when individuals were asked a question that erroneously equated domestic partnerships with same-sex marriage, with 52 percent opposing domestic partnerships compared to 42 percent supporting it. That latter poll question specifically misstated how same-sex marriage became state law in two other states, judging from a handout given to reporters."

Phoenix is offering their latest single "1901" as a free download on their website.

Ciara - Justin Timberlake "Love Sex Magic" track leaks.

Haus of GaGa: Lady GaGa launches iPhone app.

Hugo Chavez record on gay rights lauded by gay leader despite minimal advances in 10 years: "On Feb. 12, Heisler Vaamonde, a long-time LGBT-rights activist known for his allegiance to the Chávez regime, read a prepared statement in front of reporters expressing the Bloc's strong support for the referendum as he argued that equality for gays and lesbians could only be achieved through the Chavista revolution. As he spoke, he was flanked by ten other members of the organization, who wore t-shirts with an image of Chávez and caps emblazoned with a red star."

Kathy Griffin scores $2 million memoir deal.

Largest Presbyterian church in Arkansas elects gay deacon: "The largest Presbyterian Church in the state has elected a gay deacon. This comes just a day after the Presbytery of Arkansas votes to allow gays and lesbians to be ordained ministers, elders, and deacons. The Presbyterian denomination nationally, changed the interpretation of the constitution last June."

Australian Christian group says gays using children as "trophies": "The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) told the Standing Committee of Law and Justice's inquiry into adoption by same sex couples that children should ideally be raised by a mother and father...The move to legalise adoption by same-sex couples was ideologically driven by gay activists, Mr Shelton said. 'Not content with having discrimination removed, (they) are now pursuing symbolic gains and holding up children as trophies for their own agenda,' he said."

News: White Knots, Eclipse, Yves St. Laurent, Arkansas, James Franco

NYT Op-Ed: A compromise on same-sex marriage? "It would work like this: Congress would bestow the status of federal civil unions on same-sex marriages and civil unions granted at the state level, thereby conferring upon them most or all of the federal benefits and rights of marriage. But there would be a condition: Washington would recognize only those unions licensed in states with robust religious-conscience exceptions, which provide that religious organizations need not recognize same-sex unions against their will. The federal government would also enact religious-conscience protections of its own. All of these changes would be enacted in the same bill." Pam: Flawed...

Matthew McConaughey shows the Brazilians how to flex.

James Franco wins Independent Spirit Award for Milk.

Jaguars: First Mexico, now Arizona...

Who wore a White Knot last night at the Oscars?

Yves Saint Laurent art auction expected to bring in $250 million: "A large portion of the proceeds is to go to a foundation to support AIDS research." His longtime partner Pierre Berge talked about the collection last December: "I’m very happy to have made with Yves one of the greatest collections of the century. In a few years, I will be very pleased to see at an exhibition the label ‘Provenance Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.’ In time people will tell one another, ‘You really should know about these two guys, who lived in the 20th century in Paris.’ I don’t believe in God. I only believe in human beings, in memory. That’s all. The memory will persist."

Norwegian iTunes leaks Kelly Clarkson album to the internet one month early.

Possible self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci discovered in southern Italy: "The damaged oil-on-panel portrait was discovered by Nicola Barbatelli, a medieval historian, while he was researching the archive and picture collection of an aristocratic family at Acerenza (population 3,000), an ancient village perched on a rock above the river Bradano near Potenza in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The family has asked to remain anonymous."

Michael Jackson planning "biggest comeback in history": "In one of the most lucrative music deals ever, the cash-strapped singer is reportedly on the verge of securing £1.5million-a-night to perform. Sources close to the negotiations have dismissed rumours of recent ill health and say a deal is weeks from being announced. The residency at the 20,000-seat arena will eclipse the longest run of 21 shows at the arena by U.S. singer Prince in 2007. Jackson is said to favour London over a U.S. venue because he still enjoys huge popularity across Europe."

Dallas Voice interviews U.S. Congressman Jared Polis.

Madonna pulls a Benjamin Buttons before heading to the Vanity Fair party.

Medical examiner details injuries of Ryan Keith Skipper, says slain man tried to fight back: "Deep cuts and slashes covered his back, neck and shoulders. He also had small bruises on the back of his head from falling or from someone hitting him, Volnikh said. It was the cut to the throat that killed the 5-foot, 10-inch man, Volnikh testified. The cut was 3.5 inches deep. A blade tore through his skin, tissue, muscles and, more fatally, an artery. Skipper quickly bled to death."

Japanese probe photographs penumbral lunar eclipse as it orbits the moon.

Relatives remember Harvey Milk: "The first time I ever met Harvey was at our wedding. He flew in from California to be our best man. He was already in the Navy, a deep-sea diver. I thought he was very stunning when I saw him. He came in his Navy uniform and seemed to be charming, very charming."

Arkansas Presbyterians approve gay ordination: "Arkansas Presbyterians voted overwhelmingly Saturday for a constitutional amendment to allow noncelibate homosexuals to serve as deacons, elders and ministers in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The lopsided 116-64 vote surprised leaders of the Presbytery of Arkansas, a collection of nearly 100 congregations spread across central and northern Arkansas.  'It tells me that there’s no predicting the Holy Spirit,' said Interim General Presbyter Sallie Watson, shortly after the vote. The presbytery, which has roughly 15,300 members, had narrowly rejected a similar proposal in 2001."

France not ready for a gay president.