News: Shane Mercado, Kalamazoo, Nicolas Sarkozy, Bad Christians

Cincinnati Christian University’s chief financial officer Robert Williams arrested on gay 'sexual imposition' charges.

Aussie Idol star Anthony Callea says coming out has had minimal career impact: "You really have to be comfortable with yourself before you make that step. Everybody has an opinion. People say, 'You should have been up front about it', but you need to be comfortable. You don't want to get to 30 or 40 and be dealing with your sexuality. I wanted to do it my way. I didn't want my label or management to be a part of it, I wanted to write my own statement and express what I've gone through and dealt with."

Beyoncé and "Single Ladies" YouTube superstar Shane Mercadocome face-to-face at premiere of Cadillac Records.

Kentucky police officer convicted of murder of gay student who was his lover.

Former gay prostitute turned Christian extremist Bill Whatcott terrorizing Edmonton, Alberta residents with gay hate and anti-abortion flyers.

Roman Catholic priests told not to offend gays with "heterosexist" language.

Lance Bass on the move?

Kalamazoo, Michigan approves gay rights ordinance: "The city of Kalamazoo has stepped beyond existing state and federal laws, making it illegal to use sexual orientation to discriminate in housing, public accommodations and employment. The Kalamazoo City Commission voted 7-0 Monday night to adopt an expanded anti-discrimination ordinance that makes it a municipal civil infraction to discriminate against gays, lesbians and transgender citizens."

Graham Norton to join West End La Cage Aux Folles revival.

Nicolas Sarkozy doesn't have many new ideas, apparently.

David Gregory to host Meet the Press.

Thatcham, UK man warned he may go to prison for harassing his gay neighbors: "Philip Prior, aged 44, of Malthouse Close, was found guilty of harassing his neighbours Stephen Guy and Glynn Morton. Reading Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr Prior shouted homophobic comments, sang anti-gay songs and pinned gay pornographic images to the outside of his neighbours’ home. Mr Prior denied the offence claiming that any song he had sung was for his entertainment only. The court heard on Wednesday of last week how Mr Prior regularly changed the words in song lyrics to make them sound anti-gay, which he would sing loudly in his garden. Giving evidence, Mr Guy said he and his partner were subject to regular taunts from the defendant. The taunts grew so bad that the couple started making notes of the dates, times and details of all the comments."

Gay UK man kills lover on houseboat, stages cover up, court hears.

Report: Patrick Swayze's health failing. Swayze responds.

One of Gossip Girl's allegedly gay duo spotted swapping spit with female co-star.

Brad Pitt rebuilds New Orleans.

Producer Jon Peters slapped with male sexual harassment suit: " In a lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, Brian Quintana - a co-producer with Peters on the upcoming 'Superman: Man of Steel' - alleges that Peters subjected him to 'continuous and pervasive sexual harassment.' The suit states there were 'multiple instances where he was physically, sexually harassed by Peters, including being groped by male individuals at Peters' behest.' Peters would 'wrestle and rough up [Quintana] in a sexual manner... fondle himself in front of [Quintana]...often place his hand on [Quintana's] leg in a sexual manner,' as well as 'touch' his buttocks, the suit alleges. In addition, according to the suit, Peters demanded that Quintana 'drive male individuals onto the set for the purposes of granting sexual favors for members of the cast and crew [and] cover up allegations that . . . Peters engaged in sexually inappropriate acts in front of children.'" (via boy culture)

Researcher: "Undesirable" gay men engage in riskier behavior.

California priest instructs parishioners to go to confession if they voted for 'pro-abortion' Obama.

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No More Mr. Nice Gay? Christians Chased from Castro

On Friday night, before the day of protest we saw across the nation, a conflict erupted in San Francisco's Castro District between a group of residents and a group of Christians who reportedly meet every Friday on the same corner to preach to gays and lesbians about 'converting' into heterosexuals. This time, they were met by an angry mob and the conflict grew so large riot police were called to the area as the Christians were basically chased out of the neighborhood.

KTVU reports: "'Their rights were respected,' said Joe Schmitz, an opponent of Prop 8. 'They got a chance to go ahead and pray on the sidewalk and I had the opportunity to express my freedom of speech which is telling them to get out of my neighborhood.' San Francisco Police officers in riot gear formed a line and escorted the religious group into a van to safely get them out of the area. Members of the gay community insisted that their reaction to the Christian group was spontaneous. 'It was not an organized thing. We're tired of it. It's not religious. It's not a racial thing. It's about hate. We're trying to send a message across the world that we're standing up and we don't want this to go on anymore,' said Adam Quintero."

According to Joe.My.God, the religious right is already using the video (which you can see AFTER THE JUMP) as an example of the "intolerance" the gay community has toward the religious. While most of us know the hypocrisy behind that accusation, no doubt their followers eat these kinds of incidents up (just like this one).

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Protestors Hit Dallas Church That Advertised 'Gay is Not OK' Sermon

Last week I posted about First Baptist Church in Dallas which was to be the target of protest for a marquee advertising a sermon titled "Gay is Not Ok". About 100 people showed up to march outside the church on Sunday:

"Singing 'Jesus Loves Me,' about 100 people stood outside the First Baptist Church of Dallas in protest to the sermon, which was part of a series called 'Politically Incorrect.' Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress told First Baptist members to not believe the hate-speech hype and called the protest a plan to silence any criticism of homosexuality. 'In Romans I, it says because they rejected the true God and exchanged the truth of God for a lie, God gave them over to degrading passions - men with men and women with women,' he said. 'And so, the Bible says when the people reject the truth of God's word, they're open to any kind of immorality.' But Michael Robinson, the founder of Unified Community Against Gay Hate Crimes, said sermons like Jeffress' can lead to very serious hate crimes. 'What they are preaching from the pulpit is hate and that breeds these type of people to come out and do these type of crimes,' he said."

Watch the news clip from WFAA.

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1,000 California Pastors Launch 'Call to Arms' on Same-Sex Marriage

Pastor Jim Garlow of the 2,500-member Skyline Church in San Diego County organized a conference call of more than 1,000 mostly Evangelical ministers yesterday to discuss strategy related to the anti-gay ballot measure headed to California's ballot in November:

"The strategy session, which included input from lawyers and political consultants, was the opening of what conservative religious leaders hope will become a massive Christian outpouring of support for the proposed amendment. The effort will include a 40-day fast leading up to election day, along with 100 days of prayer. On the weekend before the election, Garlow told the ministers, the goal would be to fill Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and other amphitheaters with people praying for a ban on gay marriage...All told, organizers said, the ministers on the call lead congregations totaling about 1 million people."

If you remember, earlier this week I posted that the Church of Latter Day Saints is also gearing up for battle.

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Roseanne Apologizes for Her Comments About Gay People

Roseanne Barr issued a series of apologies yesterday for comments she made on a radio show which she regularly co-hosts. In her comments, which you can read here, Barr called politically active gays "narcissistic," saying that, like Evangelicals, gays and lesbians only care about themselves, particularly on a political level.

On her blog under a post entitled "My Bad", Barr said she was sorry for the comments, and urged folks to call into her radio show and "let [her] have it":

"I deeply regret that I have offended gay people. I said things that I do not really mean, before I had thought them through... I was wrong and I seriously apologize! Call me up today and let me have it! I will apologize and try to make clear what I really meant to say... which was that everybody needs to unite right now, and step outside of their own neighborhoods, groups, races and classes to stop Bush's war on our country and our people. I love gays and I hate division. I am just a big idiot with a big mouth sometimes. I will learn to be more careful! Please forgive me, I am so sorry!!!! Call (909) 888 - 5222 between 5 - 6 pacific time to give me your two cents."

Later, she clarified her apology with a second note of contrition and a call to action:

"The leaders of gay groups need to align with the leaders of Acorn, and other groups of poor and desperate Americans and fight against those who oppress all of us! I have met too many gays who are Republicans, and I cannot understand how they could choose that! Let's all leave our own bedrooms, kitchens, neighborhoods and groups and meet each other to form a diverse army that stands for Democracy and Economic Justice!!!! (Again I apologize for any pain or hurt I have caused those whom I have always loved and befriended)."

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Gay Escort Mike Jones Visits Ted Haggard's New Life Church

"As soon as the visitor from Denver walked through the church doors Sunday morning, heads turned. Word spread quickly: He was here."

As a fact-finding mission for the book he is writing about his experiences with Ted Haggard, gay escort Mike Jones attended a service at Haggard's New Life Church in Colorado Springs, where he reports he was greeted warmly and offered blessings from the parishioners.

Said Jones, who did not tell media in advance about his visit for fear it would taint the impromptu visit: "I had read a lot about the church, but there's nothing like seeing it for yourself. It wasn't to rub anyone's face in it by any means. I was wanting to get some perspective, to see where they are coming from, what the magnet is...There seems to be something missing, some realism, in my opinion, because it's so vast, like some kind of self-contained city"

Jones attended with a New York- based theater troupe called the civilians who were in the area "researching a project on evangelicals".

Jones' arrival proved emotional for some: "A couple of ladies cried when they were touching me. I was thanked for exposing the church, for helping Ted Haggard. A couple of them said they hoped I get God into my life. And they all said 'God bless you,' every one of them."

Associate pastor Rob Brendle told Jones that he felt God had used the gay escort as a tool to help the church: "I told Mike, 'I don't want to impose my religious beliefs on you, but I believe God used you to correct us, and I appreciate that.' The church's response to him was overwhelmingly warm. One of the wonderful and enduring truths of Christianity is to love people the world sets up to be your enemies."

New Life Members Welcome Jones [denver post]
Haggard Accuser Attends New Life Service [krdo denver]

Background...
Evangelical Leader Ted Haggard Steps Down After Gay Escort Claims They Had a Sexual Relationship for Three Years [tr]
Ted Haggard Voicemails Analyzed; Pastor Admits to Indiscretions [tr]
Mike Jones Fails Lie Detector Test on Ted Haggard But Test Administrator Doubts Test's Accuracy [tr]
Ted Haggard: Bought Meth, Didn't Use It; Received Massage, No Sex [tr]
Ted Haggard Letter: "I am Guilty...a Deceiver and a Liar" [tr]

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