Left, Right, Left: Espada Back to the Democrats

New York State Senator Pedro Espada—who helped engineer a coup to flip control of the Senate from Democratic to Republican hands—is apparently ready to switch back to the Democrats now that he has a "handshake deal" to be Majority Leader.

The double-double-cross comes after New York Governor David Paterson's bold move to appoint Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, a power that Senate Republicans (and a judge) don't believe Paterson has in the first place.

The fate of a host of issues hangs in the balance, including a bill to bring marriage equality to New York.

P.S. It may (or may not) help the marriage-equality cause, but...who would trust a handshake deal with this shady character?

UPDATE: A deal has been reached in the New York Senate. Should be a wild ride.

Meet You at the Corner of Church and State

Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus of the New Life Covenant Church in Chicago is the man selected by outgoing Alderman Billy Ocasio to replace him on the City Council, representing Chicago's 26th Ward. Gay activists are leery of this succession because De Jesus's Assemblies of God church is against homosexuality.

De Jesus says he will not allow his religious beliefs to color his thinking on policy.

"I would tell [critics]: Isn't it ironic that you're asking me to be tolerant and you're intolerant to my beliefs. How is that? We already know there are differences. Let's put that to the side. What's hurting our community today? Let's focus on that."

I've never bought the old hypocritical liberals argument, which can be boiled down to, "Why are you so intolerant of my intolerance?" But if he is asking the LGBT community to take him at his word on his priorities, how about his words from an interview with Christianity Today last year, in which he said his main priorities were to oppose abortion and homosexuality, among other explicitly anti-gay sentiments expressed by the formerly Republican Rev. De Jesus in the media? Or the words he used to oppose an LGBT-friendly high school for Chicago?

Julio Rodriguez of the Association of Latino Men for Action warns, "We don't see how someone who has such a strong foundation with his church can separate his belief system [from] his public role, even though he thinks he can."

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will get to decide whether De Jesus comes aboard. Historically, he tends to honor the wishes of departing aldermen as to who succeeds them and De Jesus's support of President Obama's campaign can't hurt his chances. But at a public event yesterday, Daley said, "The gay community is a strong community in the city of Chicago; they're part and parcel of this great city. We got a number of questionnaires, people are coming in and we're going to be interviewing them."

He has until August 1 to fill the position.

Introducing Senator-Elect Franken

Harry Reid introduces Senator-Elect Al Franken for his first Senate press conference, quoting former Republican Congressman Vin Weber as saying Franken's detractors will be "pleasantly surprised" to find he "is a smart guy who's serious about issues and a hard worker." Franken reiterates that he is the second senator from Minnesota, not the magic sixtieth vote in the Senate. Hopefully, he's both.

"I am going to work day and night to make sure that our kids have a great future, and that America's best days lay ahead. I'm ready to get to work."

News: Zac Loses Hair, Kern Gets Stern, Goldman $tack$ the Deck

 Very important update: the Delhi High Court's ruling decriminalizing homosexuality actually does apply to all of India.

 Somewhat less important update: Zac Efron gets shorn.

 Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern (R-duh) issues a morality proclamation that equates homosexuality and marriage equality with sex trafficking and child abuse. Don't feel too bad—divorcées, those who bear children out of wedlock and porn aficionados don't make out any better.

 Has Goldman Sachs "engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression"?

 Rumors that Michael Jackson (who was mixing the painkillers OxyContin and Demerol with a surgical anesthetic called Diprivan) had a cancerous lesion removed from (what was left of) his nose are confirmed. His funeral service—dubbed Michael Jackson Celebration of Life—to be held Tuesday at L.A.'s Staples Center, is projected to be one of the most-viewed events ever, drawing comparisons to the funeral of John F. Kennedy, the Apollo 11 moon landing and the finale of M*A*S*H. Want to attend? Enter here for tickets.

 Happy birthday, Malia Obama.

 Why it's sometimes okay to ask Mexican students to "pull it out."

 New Moon star Kellan Lutz improves his Social Life.

 In light of the recent spate of air disasters, meet Juliane Koepcke, who at 17 in 1971 survived a plane crash, plunging two miles from the sky into the Amazon rainforest...still attached to her row of seats.

 Pirates: Not just for Somalia anymore.

 Is Martina Navratilova screwing over the gays...or are the gays screwing over Martina Navratilova?

 Vice President Biden's surprise trip to Camp Victory in Iraq leads him to tell George Stephanopolous the reports from Commanding General Ray Odierno were "more optimistic" than he'd expected. Biden also used the visit to see his son, Beau, who was stationed a few minutes away.

 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent its 2009 Priority Issues Survey to all of its fave donors, asking them to vote on which issues should be prioritized this year. See if you can name a dozen Democratic priorities without listing a single LGBT issue—because the DCCC can.

 You're never too old to camp it up.

 New York Governor David Paterson, who's only slightly more popular than H1N1, is meeting with Senate Republicans and Democrats (who are actually a few percentage points below the flu) today as a spokesman suggests progress is being made toward sharing power.

 What it took for Sherri Shepherd to refuse candy.

 The Queen of Pop salutes the fallen King—the second leg of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour kicks off in London tomorrow with at least three major set changes. On the Jacko tip, portions of "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" are reportedly incorporated into a new version of "Holiday" (replacing Hard Candy album track "Heartbeat"), which is already packed with bits of "Everybody" and the new song "Celebrate." Other surprises spoiled here. (Good luck getting to O2 Arena.)

News: Amsterdam, Oraine Barrett, DNC, Ants, Gay Apartheid

Mixner: U.S. in state of Gay Apartheid.

Signorile: Did the DNC LGBT fundraiser really bring in a million dollars?

New York local mag HX sold. Matthew Bank: "We've had an incredible time creating what we feel is the best local gay magazine the world has ever seen, and I am proud that even in this difficult economy we were able to ensure that this magazine that is dear to the hearts of so many readers will be able to continue under capable new ownership."

Paula Abdul and Cindy McCain pill panic?

Propofol, drug used for surgical anesthesia, found in Michael Jackson home. Entertainment Weekly publishes four tribute covers.

Canadian HIV vaccine ready for human trials.

Human Rights Campaign volunteer assaulted at Omaha Gay Pride after tossing stickers into Bible-beaters wagon.

Farrah Fawcett laid to rest.

White House won't appeal $500K ruling in favor of transgender employee of the Library of Congress in discrimination case.

God Says No: James Hannaham, author of new novel about religious repression, life in the closet, and sex in the bathroom, is interviewed by Salon.

Single colony of ants a new world superpower!

Thomas Norman, veteran district attorney who prosecuted Harvey Milk - George Moscone murder case which resulted in a lenient verdict against Supervisor Dan White and the subsequent White Night riots, dies.

Victory Fund endorses 15 new candidates.

The Hitler stealth planes that could have dropped a bomb on NYC: "The 142-foot wingspan bomber was submitted for approval in 1944, and it would have been able to fly from Berlin to NYC and back without refueling, thanks to the same blended wing design and six BMW 003A or eight Junker Jumo 004B turbojets. As the documentary shows, had the Nazis extended the war in 1946 and developed the atomic bomb as planned, the Ho 18 could have been their Enola Gay."

Vibe magazine to close immediately.

Ghosts: Stephen King remembers Michael Jackson. Public viewing scheduled at Neverland.

Oraine Barrett does Brazil's DOM magazine.

Muslim mayor in conservative Amsterdam suburb flies flag for gays: "Ahmed Marcouch, 41, is on a self-appointed mission to end homophobia in Slotervaart, just a stones' throw from the capital but light-years away from its anything-goes mentality. To make his point, Mayor Marcouch recently invited Amsterdam's annual Gay Pride parade to pass through his constituency when it takes place in August. 'It is necessary to confront this issue, to say that homosexuals are normal people like all of us and that we require them to be respected,' Marcouch told AFP."

New Project Runway is 100% heterosexual safe.

Cristiano Ronaldo attacks "fan" over video camera: "Ronaldo reportedly kicked in the window of a car the girl was sat in, sending shards of glass all over her. The teenager was treated for cuts on her arm in hospital and later reported the attack to police, it was claimed...The teenager is said to have told police she was videoing Ronaldo because she was a fan. However, some reports said she was with a freelance paparazzi photographer who had allegedly been following the star."

Minnesota Supreme Court: Al Franken Winner in U.S. Senate Race

The Minnesota Supreme Court has declared Al Franken the winner in his U.S. Senate race against incumbent Norm Coleman:

"'Affirmed,' wrote the Supreme Court, unanimously rejecting Republican Norm Coleman's claims that inconsistent practices by local elections officials and wrong decisions by a lower court had denied him victory. 'Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled [under Minnesota law] to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota,' the court wrote."

UPDATE: And Coleman has conceded.

Watch MSNBC report, AFTER THE JUMP...