Towleroad Guide to the Tube #305

BARACK OBAMA: Kicked off his "Change That Works for You" tour in Raleigh, North Carolina yesterday. Here's the full speech. Pam Spaulding notes that Obama said he'll be partnering with Elizabeth Edwards on health care.

LOVE WON OUT: PFLAG protests the "ex-gay" conference held recently in Orlando, Florida.

JIMMY CARTER: McCain attempts to make snappy quip comparing Obama to Jimmy Carter. It fails.

CHANNING TATUM: Loves you guys.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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News: Sean Penn, Nova Scotia, Parrots, Channing Tatum, HIV

Homeless man gets 35 years in prison for spitting on a police officer and saying he was HIV positive.

Sean Penn slams Obama's "phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional" voting record, expresses optimism: "I don't have a candidate I'm supporting and I'm certainly interested and excited by the hope that Barack Obama is inspiring. I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be. This is the most important election, certainly in my lifetime, and maybe ever."

You'll never guess who is broke and living in a trailer with 20 parrots? Well, actually, you might.

Marriage equality bill introduced in Minnesota legislature: "The Marriage and Family Protection Act was introduced by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, on Friday. The bill would make marriage a gender-neutral proposition in Minnesota, allowing same-sex couples to marry. It would also protect religious institutions that have moral objections to same-sex marriage from being compelled to perform such ceremonies."

Spains's Operacion Triunfo (the equivalent to our American Idol) recently featured a hot gay kiss.

McGreevey: Dina paid for the wedding, and honeymoon.

All's well in the land of Ry-chen.

Toronto Lutheran parish to defy church, risk expulsion, ordinate gay man: "Lionel Ketola will be ordained tomorrow night by a non-traditional American Lutheran group that ordains gay candidates. Their ordinations are not officially recognized in Canada or the United States. But despite that, he will then be hired by Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket, Ont., as an associate pastor, where he has interned for the past two years. Members of Holy Cross will also take part in the ordination ceremony."

Channing Tatum's GI Joe gear looks less than comfortable.

Police in Brighton, UK appeal for witnesses following attack on gay man by gang of youths: "About seven boys verbally abused the man, spat on him, forced him to the ground and kicked him in George Street. One member of the group was wearing a hooded top and another had white three quarter length tracksuit bottoms with a navy stripe, police said."

Gay pride group to march on county offices in Nova Scotia: "The group will raise the gay pride flag during a 7 p.m. ceremony at the town’s Water Street gazebo to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. The gazebo is a couple of blocks from the Municipality of Pictou County’s administrative building, where the gay pride flag will not fly. A February resolution banned all except government and First Nation flags from the county’s official flagpole. The municipality said the controversial policy doesn’t target gay pride groups specifically, but allows equal treatment of all organizations that want the county to fly their flags."

Joe Lieberman defends pastor John Hagee: "He represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel."

The legacy of Illinois' first openly gay legislator, Larry McKeon, who died this week: "Chicago had never held a meeting like this, for gays and lesbians interested in becoming cops, and for an hour and a half, bleached by ceiling lights, they asked questions. Two officers, among the few on the force willing to say they were gay, answered. Was the department planning to form a special gay unit? No. Did the department intend to set gay quotas? No. Was there a space on the application for sexual orientation? No. Leaning against a wall, watching, was the man who'd organized the meeting, Larry McKeon."

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Channing Tatum Suits Up for G.I. Joe

Character shots for the upcoming G.I. Joe movie have been released, and here's Channing Tatum well-armored (maybe a little too well-armored for some) as Duke.

Two more AFTER THE JUMP...

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First Shots of Channing Tatum as Duke in G.I. Joe

There's been a lot of talk about the movie version of G.I. Joe recently. Now, the first shots of Channing Tatum, who plays the role of Duke in the film, have surfaced.

Two more shots AFTER THE JUMP...

(photos via jfx online where you can find a few more)

PReviously
Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Co. in Stop-Loss [tr]
Fighting: Channing Tatum Puts Up His Dukes [tr]
Channing Tatum Battles for Seattle [tr]

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Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Co. in Stop-Loss

Promo images for the film Stop-Loss, about an Iraq war veteran (Ryan Phillippe) sent back to Iraq for a second tour of duty) have begun to trickle out. Here are a few new ones featuring the cast (Rob Brown, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phillippe, Channing Tatum, and Victor Rasuk) as well as a few solo shots of Phillippe and Tatum.

The film is co-written and directed by Kimberly Peirce, who as you may remember, directed the much lauded a999 film Boys Don't Cry. The film's site has been up for a while and has already generated nearly 300 comments on the Stop-Loss policy, which is the involuntary extension of a servicemember's enlistment contract. Check it out here. See the trailer AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Kelly Rowland, Sundance, Vermont, Johnny Weir, Florent

L.A. Times columnist asks why The Kite Runner, and its controversial boy-rape scene wasn't included in the GLAAD awards. Maybe because sexual orientation had nothing to do with it.

Channing Tatum recruited for GI Joe film: "The 27-year-old modern-turned-actor will play Duke, a field commander and second-in-command of the G.I. Joe Team after Hawk. Other actors signed on: Sienna Miller as The Baroness, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaj (Lost) as Heavy Duty, Rachel Nichols (Alias) as Shana ‘Scarlett’ O’Hara and Marlon Wayans as Ripcord. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From the Sun) is also in negotiations to join the project."

Randy Lovely promoted to editor of The Arizona Republic, making him the nation's only openly gay editor of a major U.S. newspaper: "Lovely says he has never hidden his sexual preference, but is not among the most outspoken gay rights activists. 'There are many others who are much more involved. I support them, but I am not on the leadership,' he says of his NLGJA membership. 'I have not had to be anything other than what I am. I can't be the one to tell anyone they have to be out. But it is not something I am afraid of.'"

New York meatpacking staple Florent, which I did a long photo piece on two years ago, may be closing...

Johnny Weir ties with Evan Lysacek at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships but Lysacek wins for skating better in the free skate: "First place, second place, last place, I'm just happy with the way I skated. I was so nervous, and it's fantastic vindication to know I came back and didn't completely fall apart. I feel like a winner."

Keith Olbermann would trade personal success for a decent president: "I think this has been a disastrous presidential administration. I would have given what I have, in terms of broadcasting success in the nature of this newscast, I would have easily said…if I were given the choice of this or some responsible presidency in the last four years or eight years? I would have taken a responsible presidency."

Gay ordained Presbyterian minister Brian Webb-Mitchell shares tips for gay parents in new book: "I wrote the book because there was nothing out there that was pro-gay, pro-child, pro-family and pro-Christian. The books that dealt with gay parenting and Christianity were not very pro-Christian. If anything, they steered people toward the United Church of Christ and away from Catholic and Evangelical churches."

Adrian Grenier brings along his own little entourage.

New board game created by son of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Sebelius set inside a prison is called "Don't Drop the Soap": "Fight your way through 6 different exciting locations in hopes of being granted parole. Escape prison riots in The Yard, slip glass into a mob boss' lasagna in the Cafeteria, steal painkillers from the nurse's desk in the Infirmary." And whatever you do, avoid those gays in the shower room!

"Pro-family" conservatives in Arkansas launch drive to stop unmarried couples from adopting or becoming foster parents. Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council Action Committee: "Anyone who tells you that this initiated act is only about gay adoption is not telling you the whole story. Anyone who will tell you, though, that gay adoption has nothing to do with this act wouldn’t be telling you the whole story, either."

Sundance Film Festival winners announced...

Work: Kelly Rowland is proud as a peacock at G-A-Y.

Gay Miller Brewing executive Vic Milford shot and killed in Milwaukee robbery: "'At this time, this is a company grieving the tragic loss of one of its dearest employees,' [a Miller spokesman] said, in a statement. 'The immediate impact of this loss is being felt most by the family and friends of Vic Milford. And out of respect for the Milford family, we believe our attention is best served by caring for those most affected by this horrible tragedy.' Milford, a citizen of South Africa, had lived in Milwaukee since taking the Miller Brewing job in February 2005, Green said, and previously worked for SABMiller since 2002. Milford is survived his parents, who are residents of Zimbabwe, a sister in Australia and a man described as Milford's life partner, who lives in South Africa, according to a Miller statement."

Carol Channing is a robber magnet!

Gay Vermont legislator Jason Lorber moonlights as a stand-up comic: "When I first came here, people said 'You're the first comedian to come to the Statehouse.' I say 'I'm the first PROFESSIONAL comedian to come to the Statehouse'...Politics is about changing society and trying to make the world a better place. And performing makes me feel so alive. I love the creative aspect of it...Growing up, I never pictured myself being with a gay guy. Now, I've come to realize that I could never be happy being with a straight guy."

L.A. Times columnist: FOX News host John Gibson should lose his platform over Heath Ledger remarks.

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Fighting: Channing Tatum Puts Up His Dukes

So what's up with all these new fighting movies. Is it a trend inspired by the recent rise in popularity of Ultimate Fighting Competitions? I'd be inclined to think so. They all seem to be starring these pretty boys.

Here are some first shots from a new one starring Channing Tatum called, Fighting. I don't know, the photo kind of reminds me of Riff from West Side Story.

First Showing writes: "Fighting sounds a lot like Fight Club, but with a lot less imagination and Brad Pitt and a lot more realism. The cast includes Channing Tatum as the main character Sean Arthur as well as Terrence Howard, Brian J. White, and Luis Guzmán. Sean Arthur is a young man who scrapes up a living hustling counterfeit merchandise in NYC. With family tragedy in his past and his father keeping him at a distance, this outsider has little to motivate him. A chance encounter with veteran street-fighting coach Harvey Boarden (Howard) leads to a whole new career for Sean. The ensuing bouts get tough, especially with the criminal element horning in, so Sean gets tougher. He will fight to win, not only the prize money but also the unexpected new relationships that are strengthening him."

Since the plot sounds a bit tired, the least they could give us is some skin.

Can't we all just get along?

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Channing Tatum Battles for Seattle

Channing Tatum dons (and removes) riot gear for the 2007 film Battle in Seattle which chronicles the World Trade Organization Seattle riots of 1999. Tatum and Woody Harrelson play riot cops in charge of quelling the anarchists who caused $20 million in damage to downtown Seattle in one of the nation's largest political uprisings. Here are a few of the first images from the film, which despite the serious subject matter promise to offer at least a few opportunities for Tatum to pout those model lips and show off his tattoos.

More stills from Battle in Seattle here.

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Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum do Stop-Loss [tr]
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Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum do Stop-Loss

It seems these days that every young actor must serve his country — on film. These are some shots from the set of Kimberly Peirce's Stop-Loss (named after the army's method of forcing troops to serve extended terms of duty) starring Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum.

It seems so many of the war films we're getting these days paint a picture of a more dissatisfied military. This one concerns a soldier who refuses to return to battle after a government order to do so.

Said Peirce in 2005: "This is a story about great guys who do the right thing by fighting for this country, and are then done wrong. The fatality rates for second and third tours are very high, and you understand why these guys feel like they've being asked to play another round of Russian roulette."

Peirce's last film was 1999's Boy's Don't Cry.

(photo source)

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The Dance Phenoms: Channing Tatum and Cat Deeley

In case you haven't seen Step Up, here's its main attraction, Channing Tatum, in his pre-acting days. The model/actor/dancer made an obvious cross-marketing appearance on last week's uber-gay summer reality dance competition, So You Think you Can Dance (clips here and here). The finale of that show, which is one of my summer favorites (a hot hour of mindless fluff), airs tonight.

One of the best additions to its second season has been the new British host, Cat Deeley. She was profiled in this week's Sunday Styles section of the NYT, and told them that despite her presence on the show, she's not much of a dancer: "I only dance when I go to clubs with my gay friends. I do a couple of hair flips and booty shakes and let them dance around me. They're brilliant."

With competitors like this, no wonder she fits in so well!

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Dancing Fools [tr]

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News: Synchro Swimming, Channing Tatum, Lieberman

Police in Jerusalem have banned a protest meant to object to the recent ban on a Gay Pride parade there. Authorities say they are worried that it will incite violence. Organizers say they will go ahead with the protest anyway.

Robert Perry, the gay man who was attacked with a hatchet by Jacob Robida at Puzzles Lounge in New Bedford and later complained that paramedics who arrived on the scene mistreated him, has had his claims dismissed by state investigators, who found no evidence of abuse.

STUDY: Circumcision lowers risk of HIV infection by 60%. Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight Aids Richard Feachem: "We know the factors that cause HIV to spread rapidly in a country - the number of concurrent sexual partners, the use of condoms, the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases and male circumcision. Other things being equal, in a circumcised population you have a low and slowly developing epidemic and in an uncircumcised population you have a high and fast developing epidemic."

Channing Tatum steps up.

Following loss to Ned Lamont, Joe Lieberman abandons Democratic Party, vows to run as independent. Demands for removal from committees begin: "He is a disloyal Republican partisan. He now openly defies the will of the Democratic voters, and would rather risk our party's future, our chance to take back the Congress in the fall, in order to coddle his increasingly-conservative ego."

Governing body for aquatic sports tells team of gay men that synchronized swimming is only for females, bars them from competing: "While men have been competing in mixed and single-sex teams since for over 20 years, the IOC and FINA refuse to allow male or mixed teams to compete. There has been concern that an 'over-flamboyant' approach to the sport could tarnish its image. Founder member of the Tsunami Tsynchros Bob Wheeler defended their approach, he told the San Jose Mercury News, 'Free routine's all about creativity. We don't wear floral bathing caps. We have small Speedos usually, and we deck 'em out with glitter and things like that.'"

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A number of cars with rainbow flag stickers in Des Moines, Iowa have been targeted by vandals who scratched images of penises into the paint and attached photos of naked men to them with shaving cream. All the cars were owned by women. Police are treating the vandalism as a hate crime.

Channing Tatum puckers up for GQ.

Although he has said recently he's through with music, George Michael has stepped out from behind the wheel to release a new single, called "An Easier Affair."

Indian Prince Manvendrasinh Gohil is cut out of his inheritance rights and sent packing by his family after coming out to them: "I knew that they would never accept me for who I truly am, but I also knew that I could no longer live a lie. I wanted to come out because I had gotten involved with activism and I felt it was no longer right to live in the closet. I came out as gay to a Gujarati daily because I wanted people to openly discuss homosexuality since it's a hidden affair with a lot of stigma attached."

Commission on Gender Equality: Guest house owners in Cape Town, South Africa have the right to cater exclusively to gay men.

Stoli "gets real" with gays: vodka maker underwrites documentary looking at the lives of "real" gay men and lesbians.

Anderson Cooper feeling stalked by fame: "I was at a book signing in New York and a clearly deranged woman approached, and she had a book, and she said, 'I can't afford this book but please read the note.' Clearly, she was a schizophrenic. Anyway, she left, the book signing was done, and as I go into my car - I have a security guy and he puts me in my car - she's sitting in my car. And they close the door, and I'm like, 'Oh.'"

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