News: Invisibility, Isaac Hayes, Georgia, Bill Maher, Chelsea

Seattle filmmaker and former city council candidate injured in anti-gay assault: "Cogswell and his friend were taken to the hospital, where Cogswell received five stitches in his cheek, and doctors found that his right orbital bone—one of the bones around the eye socket—had been fractured and his front teeth badly chipped. Cogswell says there’s a possibility that his fractured orbital bone could pinch a nerve or a muscle and require surgery. Cogswell’s friend had with scrapes and bruises."

RIP: Isaac Hayes dies at 65, Bernie Mac dies at 50.

Both Obama and McCain are reportedly heavily courting the vote of one particular celebrity who has so far held out from making an endorsement - guess WHO it is.

Gay Mormons reach out to LDS leaders: "They want the church to teach Mormon families to love and respect their gay sons and daughters, help gays and lesbians feel safe at church and to reconcile their sexual orientation and their spirituality. Affirmation had planned to make these points Monday when they were scheduled to meet with two LDS officials from the church's social services, but last month the church postponed the meeting indefinitely, said Dave Melson, Affirmation's assistant executive director, on Saturday. Instead, the LDS gay support group will present its proposals to the public at a Monday press conference."

Why is ABC so fixated on Edwards' affair and not on McCain's adultery?

Athletic supporter: George W. Bush displays class at the Olympics.

Scientists in process of rendering invisibility: "Scientists have taken another step toward the goal of rendering objects invisible using high-tech cloaks that redirect light..."

Some aren't happy about a new bike lane being proposed in NYC's Chelsea district, down 8th avenue.

UK Sussex police force tells citizens to get on the beat, but sends them to a far different instructive website than they were expecting: "Designers at Sussex Police encouraged locals to get involved with Operation Beat Sweep, but directed them to a website advertising hardcore porn, policemen strippers, explicit gay movies, brothels and 'sexy adult costumes'. Instead of www.sussex.police.uk, the flyers carried the address www.sussexpolice.co.uk - a rogue site not linked in any way to the force."

Michael Petrelis checks in on gays in Georgia following the Russian invasion.

Big Brother 10's Ollie uses "faggot" slur.

American Idol David Cook suits up for the Mets.

Costa Rican gay inmates denied conjugal visits: "The Constitutional Tribunal rejected a former inmate's appeal in a lawsuit against prison authorities who suddenly stopped his weekly conjugal visits to his partner, a current inmate he met when both served time in the same jail. The high court's brief ruling said the prison authorities' decision 'falls within the scope of their rights, duties and powers'."

Bravo plans for life post-Project Runway: "Another ingredient in Bravo's success is that 'we're a very gay-friendly network,' Berwick says. Back during the late '90s, she continues, 'we saw the impact in the ratings of gay-themed movies and a series we ran called 'My Fire Island,' ' an acquisition from England's Channel 4 about a gay couple and a lesbian couple and their summer-house time-share. So when the idea for 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' came across Berwick's desk in 2003, she didn't have to agonize before flashing the green light. Within a year, 'Queer Eye' had taken off like a comet, becoming the biggest hit in Bravo's history and bringing lots of viewers to the channel for the first time."

Bill Maher on the Olympics: "The Olympics are pretty gay. Have you seen the opening ceremonies? Makes Cirque de Soleil look like a John Wayne movie. It's become so feminized. We have to find out that the javelin thrower is fighting diabetes and he was brought up in an orphanage."

Pilot lands plane using text messages.

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News: Heather Matarazzo, Gay Principal, Costa Rica, Gym Pill

Anti-gay politics continues to drive Donald Wildmon's American Family Association: "According to Wildmon, who has stated that the results from Proposition 8 will determine the outcome of the 'culture wars,' 'If we lose California, if they defeat the marriage amendment, I'm afraid that the culture war is over and Christians have lost. I've never said that publicly until now -- but that's just the reality of the fact.'"

Heather Matarazzo (wiener dog!) to marry her girlfriend Carolyn Murphy. Congrats!

Obama to star in his own comic book.

Brooklyn principal comes out to his students: "'I thought it might fit in with the lesson about paranoia and making assumptions about people just because they are different,' Mr. Michael says of the timing. He had already alerted his staff and invited them to participate in the discussion, which several teachers did. He'd also spoken with Brian Ellner, a senior counselor to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and gotten his support. Still, Mr. Michael couldn't help but feel nervous at first."

At Lambeth Conference, gay Nigerian talks of death: "Homosexuality does exist in Africa - it's not a Western thing, as our African bishops would want people to believe."

Tom Cruise and Scientology facing $250 million racketeering lawsuit.

Thousands march against same-sex civil unions in Costa Rica: "The protest march began at 8 a.m. in front of the Hospital San Juan de Dios, and finished around noon in La Sabana park. The march was organized by the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance, bringing together religious Costa Ricans from around the country. “We’re calling out against the law that the Legislative Assembly is considering, to allow for homosexual civil unions,” explained march participant, Reynaldo Salazar.

Scientists test 'gym pill': "The researchers have shown that four weeks after administering one drug to mice, the animals were able to run 44% farther than untreated mice, despite not exercising. The finding raises the possibility of treatments for muscle-wasting conditions in humans, but also recreational 'gym pills' that confer a performance gain without the pain."

Titty von Tramp comes out against anti-gay Northern Irish politico Iris Robinson: "Titty Von Tramp, Northern Ireland's most famous drag queen, strutted her stuff among SDLP Youth members yesterday at a protest in Belfast against homophobic comments made by the First Minister’s wife, Iris Robinson. The demonstration, held outside the City Hall, was held as part of Gay Pride Week which culminates with a parade through the city centre tomorrow followed by a carnival in Custom House Square."

John Mayer looking pumped.

New Mexico 911 operator files suit against Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, saying he was harassed about his sexuality, complained, and then was fired in retaliation: "He had worked as a dispatcher since July 10, 2006, according to the suit. He claims he was subjected to disparaging remarks about his sexuality almost immediately after being hired and in front of his co-workers. The remarks allegedly included a disparaging term for homosexuals."

Prosecutors won't seek hate crime charges in brutal anti-gay Dallas attack because men already face maximum penalty: " Bobby Singleton, 29, and Jonathan Gunter, 31, both of Garland, each face a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The first-degree felony carries a punishment of five to 99 years in prison. The men, who have not yet been indicted, are being held in the July 17 beating and robbery of Jimmy Lee Dean, 42. Mr. Dean was kicked and hit with a handgun about 1 a.m. in the 3900 block of Dickason Avenue, near Oak Lawn Avenue, according to a police report. He was hospitalized with serious injuries and was unable to speak to investigators for at least 24 hours, police said. Witnesses told police one of the suspects shouted gay slurs at Mr. Dean during the attack. Investigators also believe the men targeted Mr. Dean because they thought he was gay, police said.", Gym Pi

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Enrique Iglesias Hugs Male Fan who Rushed Him

Enrique Iglesias played the Imperial Festival in La Guaciama, Costa Rica yesterday and was surprised by a male fan who rushed the stage during his performance. Iglesias, rather than call security on the young man, put his arm around him and continued singing. It's not the first time the singer has responded warmly to his male fans.

Previously
Enrique Iglesias Serenades Male Fan at G-A-Y in London [tr]

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Civil Union Bill Introduced in Costa Rica

Lawmaker Ana Helena Chacon, of the Social Christian Unity Party, introduced a bill that would legalize civil unions in Costa Rica, a country steeped in Catholicism. There was no indication on how the bill might fare, according to Reuters:

"Under the proposal, same-sex couples would be granted marital-type rights like bereavement leave, inheritance and power over medical decisions. It stops short of recognizing same-sex marriage or allowing adoption by same-sex couples."

Said Chacon: "This is a bill that guarantees the respect and tolerance for couples that are of the same sex."

Costa Rican activist Abelardo Araya added: "We gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders already enjoy all the duties but not all of the rights of citizenship. The country has a system of homophobia that is almost institutionalized."

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