News: Michigan, Kris Allen, Boston Gay Bars, Kathy Griffin

3GS: Apple releases follow-up to iPhone. 3G now $99.

GALLUP POLL: 58% of conservatives favor gays in the military.

 Tween Idol.

Kris Allen signs record deal, discusses album.

Pat Steadman, first out gay man in the Colorado senate, sworn in.

Proposition 8 protest in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Faces of Us: "a photo campaign created with the purpose of bringing the fight for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights to the National spotlight. The campaign is still small, but growing, and shows the faces and identities of members of the LGBT community and allies who care about these issues."

Gay porn actor Timothy Boham (aka Marcus Allen) murder trial goes to jury: "Twenty-eight-year-old Timothy Boham testified Thursday that Denver businessman John Kelso committed suicide and that they had planned to make it look like a robbery for life-insurance purposes. But prosecutors say Boham shot Kelso during a robbery and a police detective testified this week that Boham confessed to the killing."

Two U.S. journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labor in North Korea.

Is the gay bar scene in Boston finished?

Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D List returning tonight at 10 pm: "Since 'D-List' premiered in 2005, Griffin’s career has moved in a different direction. So she thought her show should, too. 'It’s kind of silly to make the show about what it was four years ago, which was I can’t get a job, I’m going to go do stand-up at gay rodeo,' she said. 'It’s a very different place than I was in four years ago.' So this season, Griffin visits, among others, Lily Tomlin, Paula Deen, T.I., Gloria Estefan and Paris Hilton to get a glimpse into their lives."

Male model fix: Christopher Fawcett.

Signature collectors begin drive to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams. Organizer Jasun Wurster: "This is a positive, non-partisan and intelligent campaign that is comprised of very talented volunteers who are solely focused on holding Sam Adams accountable for his civic transgressions."

Images from a cocktail party held by the New York Times in honor of same-sex couples that have made their wedding announcements in the paper.

Snow falls in North Dakota in June.

Cristiano Ronaldo exposed?

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway reuniting on screen for Love and Other Drugs.

Michigan shift in public opinion on gays called 'seismic': "In October 2004, a Glengariff poll showed 24% of Michiganders supported marriage rights for same-sex partners, and only 42% supported legal recognition of civil unions. In the new poll, support for same sex marriage was 46.5% and for civil unions 63.7%. Forty-eight percent of state voters said they opposed adding marriage rights, the only one of nine gay rights issues not winning majority support."

UK Catholic mother launches legal battle after son is placed with gay foster parents. Catholic church says adoption rights for gays amount to child abuse.

Gay Bashing Colorado Cop Kell Hulsey Back on the Job

Kell Hulsey, a Greeley, Colorado police sergeant who last July threw the first punch in a bar fight that injured 35-year-old Brian Carter (pictured), is back on the job. Hulsey and his son Daniel were at the Pot Belly Deli Bar and Restaurant in Red Feather Lakes when they thought Carter, who has a lazy eye, was gay and checking Daniel out.

The Greeley Tribune reports:

"After the 2008 fight at the Pot Belly Deli in Livermore, Hulsey was suspended from the department, issued a summons from Larimer County, stripped of his sergeant’s stripes, fired and then re-instated. Until he went back to street duty, he’d worked a desk job in the department. He is now back as a sergeant of the night shift in the department. Hulsey’s reinstatement into his same job didn’t sit well with the owner of the Pot Belly Deli, David Duty. 'This case sends a message to everyone,' Duty said in a telephone interview Wednesday. 'It says that if you want to start a fight in a bar, you can get away with it.' Duty also said Sgt. Hulsey is not welcome at his bar. 'If he comes back in here, I’ll put him in the hospital,' Duty said. Hulsey was given a year of unsupervised deferred sentence, which means if he is not involved in another crime for a year, the charge will be dismissed. He also was ordered to pay $1,088 in restitution and $182 in court costs. By pleading guilty to the disorderly conduct charge, Hulsey was able to get the other charges of third-degree assault and harassment dismissed."

Murder Trial Begins for Former Gay-for-Pay Actor 'Marcus Allen'

It was almost two-and-a-half years ago when Timothy Boham (known also by his adult film persona Marcus Allen) was taken into custody just steps away from the Mexico border, on the run following the murder of Denver businessman John "JP" Kelso. Yesterday his murder trial began in Denver.

Boham had  been hired as a debt collector by Kelso, who founded Professional Recovery Systems, a Denver collection agency, but any relationship beyond a professional one remains unclear, although Kelso was openly gay. Boham, who has a daughter who was five at the time, had "numerous girlfriends" according to the Denver Post and once told a downstairs neighbor that he "sanitized" his apartment "by thoroughly scrubbing it because a gay man had lived there previously." Said the neighbor: "He hated (gays). He hated their lifestyle." Yet he had no problem being "gay for pay" in such movies as Falcon Studio's Through the Woods.

The Post reports: "Chief Deputy District Attorneys Bonnie Benedetti and Diane Balkin told the jury that Timothy Boham, 28, attempted to rob his former boss, J.P. Kelso, in Kelso's home in the 3600 block of East Seventh Avenue in November 2006. But Kelso refused to open his safe, a struggle ensued, and Boham shot Kelso in the head, they said. Defense attorneys Amber St. Clair and Kristan Wheeler told the jury that Kelso had committed suicide because he was despondent over the breakup of two relationships."

News: YouTube Porn, Atlanta, Francis Bacon, Illinois, Cher

Illinois to pass civil unions next week?

Congressman Howard Berman, who said earlier this week that he expected action soon on LGBT issues within the State Department, suggests that more is to come from the White House in June: "I think the White House is preparing to make an announcement on a number of issues. I’m predicting here, not informing, that by the Stonewall anniversary we will have a very clear picture of what the administration is doing.

Tim Gunn makes leap to comic books.

Cher and Christina Aguilera to star in film together?

Openly gay activist and lobbyist Pat Steadman wins Colorado state senate race: "The special election was open only to members of the Colorado Democratic Party. The vacancy came after openly lesbian Senator Jennifer Veiga resigned the seat to move to Australia with her partner and her partner's family. Veiga was the first openly gay member elected to the Colorado General Assembly, and Steadman is now the first openly gay man to serve in the Colorado State Senate."

Tom Cruise and son appear in public together.

Bordeaux: short film features 15,000 still images of Zachary Quinto.

Prominent Canadian architect Arthur Erickson has died at 84. He came out in 2006 in this profile.

Dead finback whale washes ashore in Provincetown.

New Hampshire marriage equality all about compromise: "Rep. Jim Splaine, prime sponsor of the main gay marriage bill, said Thursday that advocates will use the next two weeks to educate lawmakers about the religious protections Lynch wants. 'The governor's made it clear he wants to stick to the core principles he's offered,' said Splaine, D-Portsmouth. 'We can do this.'"

Mariah Carey announces the name of her new album on Twitter.

Retrospective: If paintings had voices Francis Bacon's would shriek. "Bacon specialized in blur and atmosphere; he captured the tumult of homosexual sex in motion by borrowing from photographs, film stills or images of other art, conveying a sense of athleticism and sweat, violence and tenderness, furtiveness and shame. Homosexual sex was a criminal act in Britain, where he lived most of his life, well into the 1960s."

ABC News picks up story of Miss California Carrie Prejean's lesbian mom.

Gay rights group says Catholic Diocese of Maine is violating tax laws by funding anti-gay campaign.

YouTube hit by porn attack: "Video-sharing website YouTube has removed hundreds of pornographic videos which were uploaded in what is believed to be a planned attack. The material was uploaded under names of famous teenage celebrities such as Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers. Many started with footage of children's videos before groups of adults performing graphic sex acts appeared on screen. YouTube owner Google said it was aware and addressing the problem."

Former spokesman for Portland Mayor Sam Adams talks about why he left.

Disney World to feature animatronic Obama.

A lusty gallery of Kellan Lutz photos.

Zona Rosa: Gays find acceptance in Mexico City. "It's really hard to be gay in the smaller, more conservative states within Mexico. I moved to Zona Rosa not just for my career but also for a chance to finally try and be accepted within my community."

Picking up dog crap makes George W. Bush realize he's a real person again.

Atlanta mayoral candidates speak to LGBT voters: "The candidates gathered for a forum of about 150 people held at the Amsterdam Cafe in Midtown. Mayor Shirley Franklin, a two-term incumbent, is prohibited from running for a third consecutive term. Several candidates stressed their past achievements and support for the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. One out of every seven Atlantans is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, community advocates say. The community has become an influential force in city politics, particularly in neighborhoods near downtown."

News: Olympic Torch, Marie Osmond, White Night Riots, Bette Midler

Obama and Cheney face off with speeches on terrorism.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of San Francisco's White Night riots, which happened after a court handed down the most lenient sentence possible to Dan White (voluntary manslaughter) for the murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone.

What was Vancouver smoking when they designed the new Olympic torch?

Army veteran Brian Hughes in WSJ: Time to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

New Hampshire Republican lawmaker and marriage equality supporter reveals "festering wound" of Governor John Lynch's request for revision of marriage legislation. GOP urging veto.

NOM comes out biting on NH.

First screen shots of Rihanna and Kanye West's new video "Paranoid".

Gerard Butler acts like the village idiot at The Village Idiot.

Castillo del Lago, former Madonna home goes on sale for $15 million. "When Pytka bought the mansion from Madonna in the mid-'90s for roughly $5 million, he considered it a standout compared with what else was on the market. Under her ownership, the house gained its notable red-and-yellow exterior. Although Pytka researched the home's history and looked at the original color, he opted to keep Madonna's color scheme."

General assembly of the Church of Scotland divided over gay minister: "On Saturday evening, elders will debate the appointment of Mr Rennie, a 36-year-old divorced father-of-one, as minister at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen."

1969: New York Public Library to feature exhibit on emergence of gay liberation.

Marie Osmond discusses her lesbian daughter Jessica: "I love my daughter! She's my baby girl, come on. So what if she's gay? She's my daughter and she's an amazing woman and a good kid. I raised her, she better be good." You may remember her recent radio interview on the subject.

Colorado Governor signs bill allowing gay employees to share benefits with their partners.

Bette Midler and 50 Cent: New BFFs.

On the red carpet at LOGO's NewNowNext Awards...

Nevada Domestic Partnership bill called "vital" for state economy: "Our state cannot afford to lose any more revenue to other destinations because of a reputation as a place which is not socially or politically the right place to do business or to vacation."

D.C. Democrats in same-sex marriage debate.

Massachusetts marriage equality works: debunking the lies of the Right.

Investigation of Ireland's Catholic-run schools reveals rampant sexual abuse of students by male priests.

Anti-gay former Santa Fe, Texas city council candidate Michael Aldous arrested on drug possession charges: "During his campaign for a seat on the Santa Fe City Council, in which his father, Warren Aldous also ran, the two promised voters that if elected they would try to slash the budget of the Santa Fe Police Department in half.  Michael was battered in the press for making derogatory remarks against "homos" referring to an announced gay candidate."

News: Jon Huntsman, Ethiopia, Katy Perry, Hubble, Ethan Zohn

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire would like to see a marriage equality bill on her desk. SIGNS "everything but marriage" law.

John Mayer in lipstick assault.

The Pool: Inside a White House photo-op. 

AFP on the secret life of gays in Ethiopia: "Under its penal code, the very act itself can bring three years behind bars. And if the offender 'makes a profession of such activities' the penalty rises to up to five years. The law also seeks a maximum sentence of up to ten years if any kind of coercion is involved. Yet, there are calls for more stringent rules against the homosexual community whose exact size is impossible to determine due to fears of repression."

Colorado conservatives see "chipping away of legal barriers" to civil unions.

Hollywood Reporter: Taking Woodstock a "solid but minor" Ang Lee film.

Political masterstroke? Obama nominates Utah Governor Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China.

Katy Perry's Adam Lambert cape censored on iTunes.

Obama names lesbian Jenny Durkan for U.S. attorney: "Obama himself said that all six of his nominees for U.S. Attorney 'have distinguished themselves as fair, tenacious and respected attorneys throughout their careers in both public and private service.'  And Gov. Gregoire had this to say: 'I am so pleased the Obama administration also recognizes Jenny's leadership and experience, and nominated her for this important position.  I hope the Senate will act quickly on the nomination to confirm her.'"

A commentary on the NASA TV live feed of the Hubble repair: "One of the striking things, watching the astronauts work, is how slowly everything goes. They move slowly, slowly, slowly, like fish in glycerin. They can barely bend their hands to grasp tools because of all the pressure keeping them alive inside their suits."

Former Survivor winner Ethan Zohn battling cancer: "On April 30, Zohn was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin's disease. The diagnosis came after months of unexplained itching and night sweats, originally thought to be a skin condition."

Madonna denies that she's planning to hold Kabbalah ccommitment ceremony with Brazilian boytoy Jesus Luz.

Chris Pine demonstrates the wonders of gold-digging for the paparazzi.

First record to be released on Justin Timberlake's record label TenMan gets some vocal help from Timberlake himself.

Male model fix: Todd Sanfield.

Conyers on Obama: "Why is he becoming so conservative now that he's got the job?"

New strategy against AIDS involves insertion of a gene that produces protective antibodies: "The new method worked in mice and now has proved successful in monkeys, too, they reported Sunday in the online edition of the journal Nature Medicine...That doesn't mean an AIDS vaccine for people is in the wings, Johnson said. Years of work may lie ahead before a product is ready for human use."

Iowa attorney: risks paid off in marriage case. "Was the case winnable? Would it pose a security risk to the firm? Would other clients disapprove and take their business elsewhere?The firm's senior lawyers discussed the concerns, Johnson said, but quickly gave him the go-ahead. Over the next several years, Johnson estimates his firm poured roughly $500,000 into research, travel, and other expenses for the case."