News: Berlin, Christina Aguilera, Fire Island Pines, The Salahis

Bullet that hit Rep. Eric Cantor's office in Richmond was fired randomly, police say.

Listen: Snippet of Christina Aguilera's new single "Not Myself Tonight".

Swimming with sharks: Anderson Cooper goes back for more.

CBS 5 bids an emotional farewell to retiring openly gay reporter Hank Plante.

Washington Secretary of State files brief to Supreme Court arguing for release of petition signer's names in Referendum 71 case: "In a brief written by Deputy Solicitor William Collins, the state defends the Public Records Act and the state’s release policy. The act of signing a petition is described as a public legislative action by citizens, essentially like seconding a motion on a bill. No constitutional rights are abridged, and indeed, voters’ need for pertinent election information is enhanced, the brief says."

James Franco's fiction debut.

Pennsylvania judge denies lesbian couple a divorce.

Two gay Republicans join D.C. Council race: "Marc Morgan, who’s challenging Graham, and Timothy Day, who’s challenging Council member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5), describe themselves as moderates with progressive views on social issues and moderate-to-conservative stands on economic matters."

New owners of Fire Island Pines resort talk about what they'll do to it: "Their immediate plans for improvement are focused on improving the Blue Whale Restaurant, redesigning the Pavilion nightclub, adding a pool deck next to the hotel, and completely revamping the Hotel Ciel (known popularly as the Botel), a cinderblock monstrosity famous for its musty rooms, broken fixtures, shared bathrooms, and insanely inflated rates."

White House party crashers win: Salahis to appear on Real Housewives of D.C..

Indonesia bans gay conference: "The decision was made after considering public objections by Muslim groups and the Indonesian Ulema Council, an influential board of Muslim clerics, he said. 'There are indications that the event could trigger a social crisis and cause public unrest,' Brig. Gen. Ishak said. 'This ban was issued for the sake of public order.'"

Jesus Luz models in 3-D.

The frequently vandalized memorial to gay victims of the Holocaust in Berlin is causing controversy for plans to feature two lesbians in the "kiss" video viewable through the memorial's small window: "Alexander Zinn, a board member of the foundation that maintains the former Nazi concentration camps near Berlin, said such a move would distort history as there were no known Holocaust victims targeted for being lesbian."

Preble Street Homeless voices for Justice receives almost $10,000 from 150 new donors: "The group lost $17,400 for this fiscal year when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Washington-based Catholic Campaign for Human Development canceled grants because of Preble Street's support for same-sex marriage in last fall's statewide gay marriage referendum."

Lithuanian Prime Minister in radio interview: "In my personal opinion, Lithuania is tolerant enough a country, in comparison to such countries like Norway or Denmark, and you can neither call it Nazi, nor homophobic."

Bruno Goes 'Nude' at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Bruno and his crew arrived for the film's Berlin premiere in a set of nude bodysuits complete with organ appendages and pubic hair, completing a week of over-the-top promotion in Amsterdam, Madrid, London, and Paris.

Video, AFTER THE JUMP (plus unblurred version of above photo)...

Woman Attacked by Polar Bear after Jumping into Tank at Berlin Zoo

Apparently Knut, the celebrity and former cub with whom the polar bear above shares his tank, has deceived some into believing that the animals are nothing but plush toys.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Berlin Wall Brezhnev-Honecker Kiss to be Destroyed, Restored

 A section of the remaining Berlin Wall painted by graffiti artists in 1990 just months after the rest of it was officially opened is to be steam-erased and re-painted, and has the artist behind this kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker furious:

"Dmitri Vrubel, who never agreed to his artwork being destroyed, is not happy with this explanation. "I've got no problem with a restoration," he told SPIEGEL ONLINE. 'But now it will be a new picture. I can't simply repeat my first painting.' The Russian painter first heard about the renovation from a newspaper report. After contacting officials in Berlin he was sent an agreement, entitling him to expenses of €3,000 euros. 'But why €3,000 euros? Why not 30,000 or 300?' asked Vrubel, who has seen his image put to commercial use adorning mugs, postcards and plates in Berlin. 'It is being sold, but I have never seen a cent of the profits.' Alavi of the artists initiative confirms that problems persist today with the marketing of the East Side Gallery. "Under German law, art that is created in a public space does not enjoy copyright protection. But he says his group may go to court in order to raise public awareness of that problem."

(via slog)

News: Orcas, Shepard Fairey, Twilight, Marc Jacobs, Iran, John Kerry

Vermont Senate gives final okay to same-sex marriage bill. "Lawmakers passed the measure on Tuesday in voice vote with no debate." On to the House.

SHOCK: Hundreds of killer whales seen in Gulf of Mexico.

Robert Pattinson smells like a man, a dirty one.

Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone to adopt?

Berlin police force bans fashion labels over their popularity among neo-Nazis: "The brands Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, ACAB, Alpha Industries, Consdaple, Lonsdale, Pit Bull, Outlaw, Troublemaker and Thor Steinar have all been put on a black list. According to police authorities, the labels are seen as a sign of right-wing extremist views and it would be damaging for officers to be associated with such ideologies. Disciplinary action will be taken against officers found wearing any of the brands at work."

NBC police drama Southland introducing gay cop (spoilers).

Twilight sequel's wolf pack is introduced.

Freedom Action Inclusion Rights (F.A.I.R.), a Southern California-based grassroots organization fighting for marriage equality And the repeal of California's Proposition 8, partners with Shepard Fairey to open 'Love Unites' store. 100 percent of the proceeds go toward efforts to repeal Proposition 8 and secure equality in California.

Openly gay Valparaiso University student stripped of senate seat after row over what constitutes "minority" status: "The student senate leaders learned that its bylaws did not include sexual orientation as a qualifying minority status. The position should be set aside only for racial and ethnic minorities, according to school officials. That has been the 'historic pattern,' said Reggie Syrcle, executive director of university relations."

Iran considers death penalty for "offensive" bloggers.

Divorce Court preview: Ted Haggard now a heterosexual without issues.

Inside the viewing party for RuPaul's Drag Race with Bebe and Rebecca Glasscock at NYC's Therapy bar.

GLAAD Director of Entertainment Media Damon Romine taking job with Screen Actors Guild.

Emile Hirsch gets serious for L'Uomo Vogue.

John Kerry writes in the Huffington Post about the Massachusetts gay immigration case I posted about on Friday: "I believe Tim and Junior should be reunited based on their legal marriage in the state of Massachusetts. I believe that all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be assured equal protection under the law...But when you cut to the chase, I don't believe Tim and Junior, or any other couple in a similar situation, should have to wait for Congress to come around to the truth that laws like DOMA are discriminatory and wrong."

Oprah interviewing women leaving men for other women today.

Big Gay Musical finds distributor: "Embrem Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to 'The Big Gay Musical,' a musical comedy film directed by Casper Andreas and Fred M. Caruso starring an ensemble of Broadway actors. It plans to premiere the film, currently in postproduction, at film festivals this summer. The cast includes Liz McCartney ('South Pacific'), Jim Newman ('Minnelli on Minnelli'), Joey Dudding ('A Chorus Line'), Marty Thomas ('Xanadu'), Andre Ward ('Xanadu'), Daniel Robinson ('Hairspray'), Jeff Metzler ('Mary Poppins'), Brian Spitulnik ('Chicago'), Josh Cruz ('Wig Out'), Celina Carvajal ('Tarzan') and Steve Hayes, one of the stars of the film 'Trick.'"

Anti-Gay Berlin Attacks Inspire Citywide 'Kiss' Campaign

A new campaign against homophobia has launched in Berlin, sponsored by Germany's Lesbian and Gay Federation in response to recent anti-gay attacks in the city. The poster campaign, which began appearing yesterday, features three variations of a gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couple embraced in a kiss. It contains the words "Love Deserves Respect" in German, as well as Turkish and Arabic.

Said gay Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit to the Berliner Voice: "Unfortunately, there have been many months of homophobic attacks. The mere fact that a kiss between two people triggers hatred and violence is sad and incomprehensible."

The two other versions, AFTER THE JUMP...