Larry Johnson to Sign with Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are signing former Kansas City Chiefs running Larry Johnson just over a week after he was released following a suspension for calling two reporters "faggots" and directing a similar slur at a fan on Twitter:

The Kansas City Star reports: "Peter Schaffer wrote in an e-mail that Johnson's deal would be finished early Tuesday, a day after Johnson reportedly was in Cincinnati to meet with Bengals coaches. Reports surfaced Monday that Johnson, who was released last week by the Chiefs after 6 seasons, was being courted by the Bengals after running back Cedric Benson suffered a hip injury in Sundays win against Pittsburgh. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told local reporters Monday that, if his team signed Johnson, the 29-year-old rusher would be insurance to Cincinnati's ailing running backs corps. Johnson will at least start his time with the Bengals as their fourth-string running back."

Equality Cincinnati called the move by the Bengals "a slap in the face."

Said executive director Lesley Jones: "We do not think that would be a favorable decision on the part of the Bengals. We would see this as a slap in the face to all the work we've done for equality and LBGT rights in Cincinnati. [The Bengals] must take action to prove that they support equality and LBGT rights in the city."

Ohio Lawmaker Proposes Repeal of Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

An Ohio lawmaker has introduced legislation to repeal the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, the Columbus Dispatch reports:

"Rep. Tyrone K. Yates, D-Cincinnati, introduced a resolution Tuesday that would eliminate Section 11, Article 15 of the Constitution, an amendment known by supporters as the Defense of Marriage Act. Voters approved the amendment by a 24-point margin in November 2004. The resolution is, to say the least, a long shot to pass. Making the ballot requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber. Even if every Democrat voted yes (an unlikely prospect), it would fall well short of the required votes."

The amendment reads: "Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #568

TOO ROUGH?: Bouncer slams gay man at straight bar during "guerilla gay bar" event in Cincinnati.

NUTS: Reporter gets nailed where it counts while chasing down Nancy Pelosi.

FIGHTING BEARDISM: Man rails against the American Mustache Institute.

FOX NEWS: Gets the SNL treatment.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Whitney Houston, Syria, James Franco, Gay Ice Cream

NYT tells New York Senate: Vote on marriage equality.

Actor David Carradine found hanged in hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand.

She's written a letter to daddy.

Real Housewife of New Jersey Danielle Staub fights back against anti-gay slurs: ""If you wanna do that thing that Italian guys do out here in Jersey, do it, but I'm taking offense by it."

Ed Westwick gives good face.

Whitney Houston to return: album release date set.

Gays in Syria beginning to come out: "Most of those behind the bold move are born into the urban middle-class, "the driving force behind homosexual emancipation," adds the young reporter, speaking to AFP on condition that he not be identified. 'It's on the Internet that they truly come out,' he adds. The world wide web is a way for gays to 'overcome social restrictions' and unwind in safe anonymity, or to build up a circle of acquaintances, he says. Some 200 Syrian gays banded together to form a group labelled 'I'm just like you' which published an appeal for tolerance."

Eminem discusses Bruno stunt: "I'm thrilled that we pulled this off better than we rehearsed it."

Sacha Baron Cohen sued for Bruno Bingo stunt.

James Franco pulls out of UCLA commencement speaking engagement: "I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to giving the commencement speech at UCLA's graduation this year. Unfortunately the date conflicts with me needing to be on location to begin pre-production on my next film. I wish everyone in the 2009 class the best of luck in all of their future endeavors." Or, you know, maybe this is why.

Sit-in held at site of Cincinnati-area gay bashing.

NGLTF reports reveal need for religious voices in fight for equality. Report author: "The findings of these two reports are highly relevant for future battles on marriage and family equality because these are deeply moral issues. Faith voices have much to contribute to the debate and authentic religious-secular partnerships are essential to achieving human and civil rights for LGBT Americans."

KRXQ radio host Rob Williams and Arnie States incite violence against transgender children.

Documentary about NYC Restaurateur Florent to show at New York's New Fest.

Are Twitter and Facebook robbing us of compassion?

Tolerance lacking at Virginia law schools?

Scoop: Big Gay Ice Cream Truck coming to the streets of NYC.

Sundance Channel celebrates Pride with digital shorts.

Lesbian couple allege discrimination at Fresno hospital: "Orbin said the paramedic told the nurse on duty that she had collapsed after marching 14 miles for civil rights, and the nurse gave her a dirty look and said 'ooooh.'  She continued, 'I asked if Teresa could come back with me, but the nurse told me I was in a no visitor zone. When I asked her why everyone else had visitors, she said 'those people are different'."

News: Santa Barbara, Outrage, Sacha Baron Cohen, Prop 8

Prop 8 boycott target Doug Manchester trying to make amends with LGBT community: "His plan – which his people warned this newspaper against publishing, even after a Hyatt representative discussed it – is to give $25,000 to a national organization that promotes civil unions and domestic partnerships. Manchester also is considering offering $100,000 in hotel credit to local gay and lesbian organizations so they can use the Grand Hyatt for events such as fundraisers. The $125,000 total matches what he gave to Proposition 8."

Sacha Baron Cohen bleached his nether regions for Bruno, but things went terribly wrong.

Towleroad's Corey Johnson profiled in Bay Windows, 10 years after making headlines by coming out to his high school football team.

McDonald's settles Louisville "faggots" case: "McDonald’s restaurant has agreed to pay $2,000 each to two Indianapolis men who complained they were subjected to anti-gay slurs and discrimination when they visited a McDonald’s restaurant on East Market Street last year."

NYT: Outrage review. LAT: Kirby Dick interview.

Grand jury indicts inmate for 2002 hate crime killing in Cincinnati: "A man already behind bars is now facing charges for allegedly killing a gay man in a hate crime six years ago. Gregory Beauchamp was shot and killed in Over-the-Rhine on New Year's Eve 2002 at the intersection of Vine Street and West Liberty. According to witnesses, a man yelled anti-gay slurs at three men wearing women's clothing, then opened fire. Beauchamp was 21-years-old when he was killed. Until now, the identity of the shooter has remained a mystery."

Robert Downey Jr.  is in a hole.

Dudes surf as Santa Barbara burns. Pool party!

ABC picks up sitcom featuring gay family: "Twentieth Century Fox TV is behind the show, which follows the lives of three American families, as seen through the eyes of a filmmaker. One home centers on a traditional nuclear family, another is a gay couple with a newly adopted Vietnamese child; and the third consists of an older man who has just married a younger Latina wife.

Hugh Jackman on Ellen.

Mario Cantone on NY Governor David Paterson: "You know, a lot of people don’t like him, but I think he’s a little tough bitch. I think he’s tough. I think he’s like, ‘I don’t care if you don’t like me, I’m going to do what I want."

Undersea volcano near Guam has massive cone.

Randy Blue actor appeals suspension from Christian college.

RuPaul's Drag Race 2 casting...

Gosling gets a shiner.

John Cameron Mitchell chats with Tilda Swinton.

Texas city council candidate admits using gay slur against opponent's supporters outside polling place.

Meet Millionaire Matchmaker's gay millionaire, Kevin Grainger.

ABC News: Gay advocates eye Supreme Court. Victory Fund's Dennis Dison: "There have been 110 Supreme Court judges and 106 of them have been straight, white men. So it's high time to look outside those institutions that produced Supreme Court justices in the past and find someone with different life experiences and different perspectives."

Police academy cadet in Peru fights dismissal over gay rumors.

Same-sex couples find difficulties in getting health insurance: " Even if the relationship is formalized with the state in a marriage or union, that does not always obligate the employer to cover a same-sex spouse. For one thing, self-insured employers are not regulated by the states. And other benefit-providing employers that choose not to offer such coverage can sometimes use the Defense of Marriage Act — a law that forbids the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage — to trump state laws, said Ilse de Veer, a principal with Mercer"

News: Cincinnati, RuPaul, Liverpool, Right Whales, Rihanna, Nepal

Cincinnati activists concerned about local NAACP chapter's hiring of anti-gay attorney. Attorney Chris Finney has a long history as an Anti-GLBT Rights Activist and is involved with such groups as the CCV (Citizens for Community Values which has ties to Focus on the Family) and was instrumental in making  sure that the original hate crime laws in Cincinnati did not cover sexual orientation.

Massive comeback of right whales seen in Cape Cod Bay: "An aerial survey done last week by the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies indicated there were 60 right whales swimming in the bay, chowing down on the buffet of zooplankton in the waters offshore. That's six times the number of the endangered whales surveyors saw last year at this time."

Rihanna gets gun tattoo.

McCain strategist Steve Schmidt comes out in support of marriage equality: “I’m personally supportive of [marriage] equality for gay couples and I believe that it will happen over time. I think that more and more Americans are insistent that, at a minimum, gay couples should be treated with respect and when they see a political party trying to stigmatize a group of people who are hardworking, who play by the rules, who raise decent families, they’re troubled by it.”

LOGO renews RuPaul's Drag Race.

Former publisher of Bay Windows, Jim Hoover, dies at 53.

Another kid? Madonna off to Malawi again.

Federer grabs some attention courtside.

Nepal opening up as gay tourism destination: "In a break from the traditional mindset, some of the country’s tour operators have now geared up to lure foreign gay and lesbian tourists. Earlier, this kind of travel used to be closeted. A number of restaurants, discos and hotels have been established in the country that cater to gay and lesbian couples. Employees in these establishments have been trained to behave better so that visiting couples get the respect they are looking for."

Reality explosion: Kathy Griffin and Paris Hilton.

L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center launches fourth episode of its AIDS prevention web soap opera "In the Moment".

Pam Spaulding had her eyes opened at the North Carolina Equality Day of Action in Raleigh: "We had people come from as far away as Duck (that's on the Outer Banks) and to the mountain town of Hendersonville to meet with the legislators to discuss pro-LGBT legislation in the queue and to urge them to oppose the marriage amendment."

Through My Eyes: New documentary from the Gay Christian Network looks at how the homosexuality debate within the Christian church affects young gay people who identify as both Christian and gay.

British synth-pop singer La Roux drives in to town.

Last week, Michelangelo Signorile interviewed Tennessee lawmaker Stacey Campfield, who spearheaded the "don't say gay" bill that would forbid any discussion of homosexuality in schools in that state. Listen to the audio HERE.

James O'Connor gets life sentence for slaying of gay Liverpool teen Michael Causer: "Sentencing him to a minimum of 11½ years in prison Mr Justice King accepted O’Connor did not act out of homophobic motives, but described him as 'ignoble' and 'cowardly'. Co-defendant Michael Binsteed, 19, who was accused of perverting the cause of justice, was sentenced to 34 weeks in custody, suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service in 12 months. Speaking outside court, Michael’s parents, Marie and Michael Causer, said: 'This is another black day for Michael. It’s just pathetic.'"