Towleroad Guide to the Tube #390

GAVIN NEWSOM: On Prop 8, the fight continues.

ANCIENT ROME: Check it out on Google. No gladiators, unfortunately.

RACHEL MADDOW: Puts her pajamas on in solidarity with the bloggers.

SCHIZO DOG: Had me laughing by the end.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Gus van Sant's Milk Premieres in San Francisco

Sean Penn arrives to the Milk premiere at the Castro Theatre before a backdrop of "No on Prop 8" protestors. While Harvey Milk's story is political to its core, the film (trailer) could not have arrived at a more politically-charged moment in California's gay history, with marriage rights that have national implications hanging in the balance.

If anyone was there, feel free to give us a report in the comments section.

The SF Chronicle reports: "State Assemblyman Mark Leno, sporting a 'Harvey Milk for Assembly' button on his lapel, connected 'the exciting and tumultuous time' of Milk's gay rights activism to the 'ill-conceived measure facing voters on the ballot next week.' Mayor Gavin Newsom said he felt 'a tremendous amount of pride' to be attending the movie's premiere in San Francisco. Citing the changes seen from the 'anti-sodomy laws that were still on the books' in the 1970s to San Francisco today, he said, 'This story couldn't have happened anywhere else.' Supervisor Tom Ammiano (pictured/Brant Ward-SF Chronicle) was a friend of Milk's. 'This is about getting in touch with the grief process,' he said, then flashed an affectionately wistful smile. 'Harvey was a mensch. He could also be a diva. He would have loved knowing that Sean Penn would be playing him.'"

Donate to the "No on Prop 8" campaign HERE.

A larger selection of Milk premiere pics featuring Josh Brolin, James Franco, Diego Luna, Emile Hirsch, Dustin Lance Black, the producers, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, and others,
AFTER THE JUMP...

James Franco who plays Milk's lover Scott Smith.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Gavin Newsom, and Focus Features CEO James Schamus, whose letter to the Hollywood Reporter I posted last night.

Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black

Actors Diego Luna and Emile Hirsch, who play Jack Lira and Cleve Jones, respectively.

Executive producer Michael London with producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.

Josh Brolin and Diane Lane. A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence.

Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn.

Gus van Sant.

Earlier in the day, I mentioned yesterday, a streetcar was dedicated to Harvey Milk on 17th street between Castro and Market. Here is an excellent report on that ceremony.

For all of Towleroad's coverage on Harvey Milk the gay rights hero, as well as the film, click HERE.

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A Report from Ron Burkle's 'No on Prop 8' Beverly Hills Fundraiser

I have a report from last night's major 'No on Prop 8' fundraiser at Ron Burkle's estate in Beverly Hills.

Our source writes:

"First the good news: 'No on Prop 8' raised at least $3.9 million from last night's event! Ron Burkle underwrote the entire evening so that every dollar donated went to the No on Prop 8 campaign. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom donated $100,000. David Hyde Pierce donated $50,000. They also announced that in the past two weeks, 'No on 8' had taken in $10 million to the 'Yes on Proposition 8' campaign's $2 million. If I'm doing my math correctly, at this point we should be fairly even with the bigots in terms of funds raised.

"Mayor Gavin Newson opened the event by calling the fight for marriage equality the civil rights issue of our time.

"Patrick Guerriero stated that 'No on Prop 8' had just completed a Spanish language radio ad that was ready to air. He also announced that 'No on Prop 8' would soon be running recently completed ads specifically to address and counter the false claims made in the advertisements run by the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.

"Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stated that the campaign was trying to reach out to Hispanic voters and that he would volunteer to be the face of the television ads and the voice of the radio ads.

"Now for the entertainment!:

"Melissa Etheridge opened her set with Laura Nyro's 'Wedding Bell Blues', only she changed the lyrics 'Marry me, Bill' to 'Marry me, Jill.' She also played Janice Joplin's 'Bobby McGee'. Throughout the set she made lots of jokes as well as pointed comments about what Yes on Proposition 8's $25 million dollars could have bought (housing for people left homeless by Katrina, etc...) In the middle of her set, she said she wanted to help raise more money for No on Prop 8 by auctioning off a song, any song, for the highest bidder...with bidding starting at $50,000. There were no takers, so she started into her next song. She closed her set with 'Bring Me Some Water'. After that, Lorri Jean (director of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center) announced that two anonymous men (David and Paul, I believe), had agreed to donate $50,000 to No on Prop 8 if Melissa Etheridge would sing a song at their wedding ceremony on December 20. She accepted their proposal!

"Mary J. Blige followed Melissa Etheridge. I don't know her music, so I can't really tell you much of what she sang. The only one of her songs that I've been able to figure out is 'No More Drama'...very powerful! She also performed a cover of U2's 'One'. She looked AMAZING!"

Donate to the 'No on Prop 8' campaign HERE.

***As a footnote to this report, I'd like Towleroad readers to know that based on the tracking the campaign has done off links from this site, together you have raised at least $63,000 so far for the 'No on Prop 8' campaign.

More reports at Variety, The Advocate, and Bilerico.
(Etheridge/Blige photos Becky Sapp©Berliner Studio/BEImages)

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News: Chile, Gavin Newsom, Connecticut, Marcia Brady, Sharks

Majority in Connecticut support same-sex marriage ruling: "Fifty-three percent of Connecticut residents support Friday's historic ruling by the state Supreme Court that legalizes gay marriage, while 42 percent of residents polled said they do not."

ONE Archives to open first museum dedicated to LGBT history in West Hollywood: "The museum -- really a micro-museum at 600 square feet -- has set a macro goal for itself: to bring little-known aspects of gay history out of the library closet and into the public sphere. The museum is an offshoot of the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, which is affiliated with USC. The old magazine covers dedicated to gay marriage come from ONE magazine, the first gay publication in the country."

Marcia Brady's tell-all confession: I was addicted to coke and quaaludes, had sex for drugs, dated Michael Jackson, had two abortions, bulimia, and almost lost my virginity to Greg Brady.

Karl Lagerfeld just bought a six-bedroom, 1840 landmark house on an island on Lake Champlain, Vermont.

Bush supporter Dennis Hopper: I pray Obama wins.

MEAT: Gerard Butler opens BBQ in Hollywood.

Damien Hirst tops list of powerful people in the art world: "Hirst is also a good example of how contemporary art reflects modern life. Like our shopping centres, our art world is dominated by superbrands: Hirst in Europe, Jeff Koons in America and the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami (whose recent American retrospective included a Louis Vuitton boutique selling Murakami-designed fashionwear)." [LIST]

Shark blood offers hope for cancer.

Kenya's elephants now text message conservationists before raiding villages: "Kenya is the first country to try elephant texting as a way to protect both a growing human population and the wild animals that now have less room to roam. Elephants are ranked as 'near threatened' in the Red List, an index of vulnerable species published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature."

Australia debates the merits of mantyhose.

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom has become the single-best tool for same-sex marriage ban backers: "His pictures have become the rallying cry for Prop. 8. It's unfortunate for him, and it's unfortunate for the anti-Prop. 8 campaign. I don't know that I would change his behavior, because he's representing his constituency, and he's been totally consistent in his position. But he's become everyone's worst nightmare."

L.A.: Stars come out to Skybar to defeat Prop 8. "Chad Allen, Eric McCormack, Dana Delaney, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Thomas Roberts, Katherine Joosten, Loni Anderson, Heather Tom, and Eduardo Xol who were among the celebrities there to raise money for 'No on 8 - Equality California.'"

TOUR: Britney Spears will take her show on the road this spring.

Chilean gay rights group steps up against Catholic bishop and Evangelicals: "MOVILH strongly criticized Bishop Juan Ignacio González Errázuriz, whose San Bernardo Diocese is located just south of Santiago, for writing a public letter urging Chileans not to vote in this month's city elections for candidates who support granting certain rights to gay and lesbian couples...MOVILH also is up in arms about a Saturday conference held by the Isacar Movement, a network of Evangelical professionals. Isacar called the conference to address the so-called Anti-Discrimination Law currently under consideration in Chile's congress."

The least attractive photo of The O.C.'s Benjamin McKenzie you'll likely ever see.

SPOILER: Meet Mad Men's new gay character.

Producing duo acquire rights to French-Canadian comedy Taxi 0-22: "The two will be shopping an American version of the series, which centers on Rogatien Dubois, an outspoken and politically incorrect taxi driver. A modern-day Archie Bunker type, Dubois wrestles with his many prejudices and the fact that his 20-year-old son is gay."

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Historic Civil Rights Field Trip Slammed by Same-Sex Marriage Foes

The Protect Marriage campaign (which is behind the misleading "Yes on 8" ads that claim same-sex marriage would force schools and religion to adopt some sort of 'homosexual agenda') is infuriated that a group of first-graders went on a field trip to San Francisco City Hall to watch their teacher get legally married to her partner.

Video link HERE.

The SF Chronicle reports: "The 18 Creative Arts Charter School students took a Muni bus and walked a block at noon to toss rose petals and blow bubbles on their just-married teacher Erin Carder and her wife Kerri McCoy, giggling and squealing as they mobbed their teacher with hugs. Mayor Gavin Newsom, a friend of a friend, officiated. A parent came up with the idea for the field trip - a surprise for the teacher on her wedding day. 'She's such a dedicated teacher,' said the school's interim director Liz Jaroslow."

The trip was justified by the school as an observation of a moment of historic and civil rights significance — a same-sex marriage.

Prop 8 supporters are, of course, labeling it "indoctrination." Said Yes on 8 spokesperson Chip White: "It's just utterly unreasonable that a public school field trip would be to a same-sex wedding. This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to have an understanding of its purpose."

In related news, lawyers are warning stations across California that a "Yes on 8" ad released by Protect Marriage last week is false and misleading and stations are being urged not to air it.

The ad in question, which I posted last week, you can check out again AFTER THE JUMP...

Class surprises lesbian teacher on wedding day [sf chronicle]
Donate to the campaign against Proposition 8 — HERE.

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Friends Remember Life of Del Martin in San Francisco

A public celebration of the life of Del Martin open to the public packed San Francisco's City Hall rotunda yesterday afternoon as speakers and performers remembered the gay rights pioneer who in 1955 helped found the Daughters of Bilitis, which would become one of the nation's first gay rights organizations. Her longtime partner, Phyllis Lyon (above) sat next to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom during the ceremony.

The SF Chronicle reports: "Martin, 87, died in San Francisco on Aug. 27 - less than three months after she and her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, were among the first same-sex couples to legally wed in California, putting a public face on a social and political battle being waged in statehouses, courtrooms, voting booths and at the pulpit. There was only one overt mention of the state ballot measure that asks voters to decide whether to overrule the state Supreme Court and write a same-sex marriage ban into the California Constitution. 'Out of respect for (Martin's) work and for her legacy, each of us needs to double our commitment to ensure that on Nov. 4, Phyl and Del's marriage will be upheld by the voters,' said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco."

Leno was the author of the measure that would have created an annual special day of recognition for gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk in California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill on Tuesday.

(image Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle)

PReviously
Lesbian Couple of 50 Years to be First Married in San Francisco — Again [tr]
BREAKING: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Comments on Death of Gay Marriage Pioneer Del Martin [tr]

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SF Mayor Gavin Newsom to Honor Del Martin at City Hall Today

One day after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's shameful veto of a measure that would have approved a statewide day of recognition for the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk, gay rights and marriage pioneer Del Martin (below, left) is to be remembered at a public ceremony at 2:30 pm in the rotunda at San Francisco City Hall:

"Among the scheduled speakers are Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Rev. Cecil Williams, activist Aileen Hernandez, former ambassador to Luxembourg James Hormel, writer Jewell Gomez, poet Janice Mirikitani and Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also had planned to attend, but the economic crisis will keep her in Washington."

Today, Newsom penned a remembrance for the Huffington Post:

"Del Martin was an activist, a mother and grandmother, a leader in the fight for equality and, most importantly - the spouse of Phyllis Lyon. I was honored to be present at the marriage of Phyllis and Del nearly four years ago, when they were the first couple married in San Francisco's remarkable 'Winter of Love.' Just a few short months ago, I was touched when Phyllis and Del asked me to preside at their marriage ceremony, held after the California Supreme Court confirmed that separate is not equal, and that marriage equality is a right and privilege guaranteed to all Californians. It felt like our whole city was there to bear witness to the remarkable love, life and work of Phyllis and Del. The two of them lived their lives out loud. They are heroes in the struggle for marriage equality."

Newsom also called for more action against Proposition 8, the measure that would ban same-sex marriage in the state: "Proposition 8 would turn back the clock and eliminate the ability to marry for millions of our fellow Californians. That's why, today, we shouldn't leave flowers in memory of Del Martin. We can honor her service best by helping defend the cause she championed her entire life - equality for all."

Watch a clip of Newsom at the recent marriage ceremony for Martin and Lyon at SF City Hall, as well as our interview with Newsom at the Democratic National Convention, his first remarks after hearing of her death, AFTER THE JUMP...

And the ceremony:

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Vetoes 'Harvey Milk Day' Bill

Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed legislation that would have approved May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day" in California.

Said Schwarzenegger in a statement: "I respect the author's intent to designate May 22nd as 'Harvey Milk Day' and a day of special significance for California public schools and educational institutions to honor Harvey Milk as an important community leader and public official in the city and county of San Francisco. However, I believe his contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level by those who were most impacted by his contributions."

The bill was authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno.

The California Senate approved the measure along party lines in August. Not one Republican voted for it. Religious right wing activists had been lobbying Schwarzenegger's office for weeks to have the legislation quashed, upset that it would 'promote homosexuality' in schools. Looks like they won.

This is outrageous. Milk is a civil rights leader who deserves this recognition. Let's not let the right win on same-sex marriage as well. Schwarzenegger should be ashamed.

Milk's story is, of course the subject of a major feature film directed by Gus van Sant starring Sean Penn, to be released at the end of November. You can read all our Harvey Milk and our Milk coverage here.

Watch the film's trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Gavin Newsom Featured in Anti-Gay 'Yes on Prop 8' Ad

Backers of Proposition 8, the measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California, have bought $10 million worth of airtime to broadcast this new ad featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announcing, "It is going to happen now, whether you like it or not." It's Newsom's speech on the day that the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

In contrast, opponents of Proposition 8 began broadcasting an ad last week with a much gentler tone.

Watch the 'Yes on 8' ad, AFTER THE JUMP...

No on Prop 8 campaign manager Dale Kelly Bankhead sent out an alert yesterday slamming the ads claims:

"Their ad claims that the California Supreme Court "mandated" the right to marry for same-sex couples and, as a result, school children will be taught about same-sex marriage unless Prop 8 passes. Of course it's a blatant lie. What the Court did was uphold the Constitution's promise of equality. And the proponents know that their claim that the law requires that children be taught about same-sex marriage in school is also a lie, just like the other false claims in their misleading ad. But honesty clearly is not a value that the proponents of Prop 8 believe in."

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Paterson and Newsom to Headline NYC Fundraiser to Defeat Prop. 8

New York Governor David Paterson and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will headline a $5,000/ticket fundraiser on Thursday at the upper east side pad of philanthropists Michael Recanati and Ira Statfeld:

"The money raised will be used for efforts to defeat Proposal 8 (sic), the ballot initiative that would amend the California constitution to recognize only marriages between heterosexual couples. Proposal 8 was put on the ballot in response to a decision in May by the California Supreme Court, which ordered the state to begin processing marriage licenses for same-sex couples...Advocates of same-sex marriage in New York have found a loyal supporter in Mr. Paterson, who directed all state agencies earlier this year to recognize marriages between homosexual couples that were performed outside the state."

In other anti-Prop 8 news, Ellen DeGeneres posted a message on her blog urging her readers to "Vote NO" on Prop 8.

Said DeGeneres: "There’s a California Proposition on the ballot that’s a little confusing. It’s Proposition 8. It’s called, 'The California Marriage Protection Act' -- but don’t let the name fool you. It’s not protecting anyone’s marriage. Not yours. Not mine. The wording of Prop 8 is tricky. It’s like if someone asked you, 'You don’t want dessert, right?' But you do want dessert so you say, 'Yes,” which really means you don’t want dessert. And if you say, 'No,' which means you do want dessert -- it sounds like you don’t. Either way, you don’t get what you want. See -- confusing. Just like Prop. 8. So, in case I haven’t made myself clear, I’m FOR gay marriage. And in order to protect that right -- please VOTE NO on Proposition 8. And now that you’re informed, spread the word. I’m begging you."

recently
BREAKING: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Comments on Death of Gay Marriage Pioneer Del Martin [tr]
Spielberg and Capshaw Give $100,000 to Fight Gay Marriage Ban [tr]
Brad Pitt Donates $100,000 to Fight Same-Sex Marriage Ban [tr]
Former Mormon Bruce Bastian Gives $1 Million to Fight Prop 8 [tr]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #352

STEPHANIE CUTTER: Michelle Obama's chief of staff slams John McCain over 'pig in lipstick' nonsense. Where was McCain when one of his supporters called Hillary Clinton a bitch?

RAPE KITS: MSNBC is onto Sarah Palin...

GAVIN NEWSOM: Speaks out against Prop. 8. If you missed our interview with him at the DNC, check it out here.

9 TO 5: The musical opened the other night, and when it abruptly halted mid-performance because one of the sets malfunctioned, Dolly Parton, who was in the audience, saved the day by giving an impromptu performance. She rocks.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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BREAKING: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Comments on Death of Gay Marriage Pioneer Del Martin

Moments ago we spoke with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at the LGBT Caucus at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

We're sad to report on the death of Del Martin, who, with Phyllis Lyon, became the first same-sex couple to be married in the state of California, both in 2004 and again in 2008. Martin was 87. Newsom married the couple.

Newsom gave an exclusive interview to Towleroad following his remarks. You can watch it above.

A choked up Newsom also commented on the death of civil rights hero Del Martin from the podium. Said Newsom: "[She was someone who] defined, love, devotion, and constancy. She defined, from my perspective, what marriage is supposed to be about."

Added Newsom, regarding their decision to marry Del and Phyllis in 2004: "We decided to put a human face on the issue. We called Phyllis and Del and asked if they could be that human face so we could bring that suit. We actually started the marriage ceremony before 9am because that's when the courts were going to open. We proceeded to marry some other couples. The next day we woke up and the headlines were, "The world is coming to an end."...It went on like that for a day or two. They filed another restraining order. The judge said 'you filled out the forms incorrectly,' so we had a whole day to say 'I DO' and we did. We had no idea. It was just Phyllis and Del that morning, and we had no idea what it would start. To do nothing more extraordinary than Britney Spears did at her first marriage in Las Vegas. We ultimately were stopped by the California Supreme Court. But we were not deterred and we were committed to what we saw as the challenge of our lifetime...[This year] we thought again to call Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon to again be the face of our movement. What a gift. At a time, I didn't even imagine. Right at this moment, as I speak to you. I get it. We had the gift of a lifetime, and that was the ability to get both of them to say 'I Do.' Again. The question now, is are we going to afford that opportunity to thousands of other couple in the state of California? We need your help."

For all our DNC coverage, click here.

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News: Marriage Language, Jupiter, Harvey Milk, Bahrain

California marriage ballot measure language changed: "Proposition 8 on the November ballot had been described as a measure to limit marriage between a man and a woman. But the Secretary of State's office says that description was changed to reflect a May 15 California Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. The ballot title and summary now describe the initiative as a constitutional change to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry. The revised language also says California could lose several tens of millions of dollars in sales taxes if same-sex marriage were banned. Critics of the measure say the change accurately shows the initiative would take away a current right of Californians."

Close up on Jupiter.

Bunny boiler: Tricia Walsh-Smith puts another hit out on Kathie Lee Gifford, sells husband's condoms on eBay.

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom weds in Montana.

UK Survey: 4 of 5 Protestants say gay sex is a sin.

Shia Labeouf crashes car, arrested for DUI.

'Harvey Milk Day' bill awaits action in California senate: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken no position on the bill, which awaits action in the Senate after passing the Assembly, 45-28, with most Republicans voting no. Randy Thomasson, of Campaign for California Children and Families, which opposes AB 2567, said the bill is a new tactic in a long push to portray homosexuality in a positive light to kids. 'Harvey Milk Day is the equivalent of having Gay Day at every school in the state,' he said."

Bahrain MP: No homosexuals allowed.

Play about gay Christians offered up to bishops at the Anglican Lambeth Conference.

Lucas Grabeel on shooting Milk: "No one told me how great I was. The director hardly spoke to me. I was just doing my thing and talking to these amazing actors. In the beginning of shooting, I thought, 'You guys must hate me. I must be the worst actor. I don't know what to do' and they were like, 'You were hired to do the job. That's why he hired you.' It was an amazing epiphany."

Mario Lopez immortalized in oil.

UK activist Peter Tatchell slams Northern Irish homophobic politicians: "It is particularly hypocritical for unionist politicians to play the homophobic card when their hero, William of Orange, had male lovers."

Anti-gay New Jersey group National Organization for Marriage stepping into California gay marriage battle: "NOM, a taxable political advocacy group that can raise money without contribution limits, has quickly built up some fundraising muscle. It started a California chapter in January. By March, the group had raised just over $775,000, according to campaign finance filings. Only the California umbrella group ProtectMarriage.com has raised more for the cause. While NOM's biggest chunk in California _ $250,000 _ came from the Knights of Columbus, the group has also raised smaller amounts from individuals. The group says it has now raised more than $1 million in California and more than $2 million overall."

Naked Cowboy cuffed, mocked in SF.

Matthew McConaughey takes 20-day-old son surfing.

Washington Post looks at the transgender homeless: "It's hard to explain -- just as the spectrum of gender is hard to explain. Parents' and society's rejection of children who don't fit the norm is hard to explain, too. But most confounding of all is the forbearance these young people have in the face of intolerance and cruelty. They go -- like the definition of trans-- 'across, beyond and through' preconceptions. They are unlike anyone I have encountered before."

Director of Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival fires director Carol Coombes: "'Carol is British and in 60 days she might have to leave the country,' said Harvey Burstein, a festival founder and former board member. He said Coombes' visa requires she be employed in the film industry and that she was to get her permanent residency or green card in November. Coombes, fired on Friday, joined the festival in 2001 and became director a few years later. She declined to comment. 'It's a very unfortunate complication of a very heartfelt, thought-out decision,' said festival board member Mark Gilbert."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #330

DENNIS KUCINICH: Thanks to you, impeachment will be heard Friday.

GAVIN NEWSOM: Talking Points Memo interviewed San Francisco's mayor at Netroots Nation.

DESPERATE: John McCain says "it seems to me that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." Smirks. Joe Klein: "I can't remember a more scurrilous statement by a major party candidate. It smacks of desperation."

YIKES: Bullfighting ring collapses in Colombia. Nobody was seriously hurt, except, perhaps those poor bulls later.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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News: Robert Novak, New Yorker, Katy Perry, Montreal, Gavin Newsom

Yuengling Beer distributor's driver fired following anti-gay assault on Brad Walsh, photographer boyfriend of fashion designer Christian Siriano.

Vanity Fair takes jab at New Yorker cover.

OK: Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears to reunite.

Eurogames get underway on Thursday in Barcelona: "More than 30,000 tourists are expected to attend the Olympics-style games which could pump 30 million euros (47.6 million US dollars) into the local economy, according to Barcelona gay sports group Panteras Grogues (Yellow Panthers) which is organising the event."

Send Newsom in: SF Mayor obtains city computer codes from imprisoned city computer tech Terry Childs after week-long stand-off: "The first thing I want you to know, Mr. Mayor, is that when you walk out of this room, you will have the computer codes."

Hispanics make up 22% of new HIV cases: " So far, the toll of AIDS in the nation's largest and fastest growing minority population has mostly been overshadowed by the epidemic among blacks and gay white men. Yet in major U.S. cities, as many as one in four gay Hispanic men has HIV, a rate on par with sub-Saharan Africa."

Project Runway winner Christian Siriano discusses his new fashion line...

Male model Bruce Hulse recalls his first gay-themed shoot with Herb Ritts: "His request was one I might not normally have accepted, but I knew that Herb would take exquisite and tasteful photographs that would be seen by the world as art. I also didn't want to pigeon-hole myself as being homophobic. I wanted to be receptive to any and all ideas, as long as they involved the right team and the best photographers."

The New Old Gays: Apparently, swish is back.

Rihanna takes a ride into "Disturbia" with David LaChapelle.

Syndicated columnist Robert Novak cited after hitting a pedestrian with his black Corvette in DC. Claims he didn't know he hit anybody but witness says victim was splayed across the front of his car.

35-year-old Swedish serial killer of gay men sentenced to life in prison.

Robert Mapplethorpe remembered by some of his subjects.

Giorgio Armani is a Speedo guy.

Katy Perry and the media's "kiss" of hypocrisy: "Not only is the media sending a mixed message in heralding Perry, they’re undermining any stand they might want to take in support of gays in the future. How can anyone heed their warnings not to disrespect gays when they roll out the red carpet for an artist who has done exactly that? The real point seems to be they’ll do anything for an audience."

Car-free zone in Montreal's gay village a huge success: "Even the naysayers, those who were opposed to closing the street, have changed their tune as the terrasses stay packed from Wednesday to Saturday night and merchants are dancing to the tune of ringing cash registers."

The International Herald Tribune goes on a shopping trip in Provincetown but mostly at the Marc Jacobs boutique.

Hartford Courant: 2010 Census must count gay marriages. "Bureau officials should acknowledge the reality that same-sex couples are legally married in the United States — and fix their procedures for counting and describing America's estimated 780,000 same-sex couples and their families. They should certainly stop altering the accurate responses of same-sex couples who describe themselves as married. Decisions about data collection should not be driven by political and value-laden judgments about marriage. They should be grounded in the demographic and legal realities of this nation."

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News: Newsom's New Quest, Is Eating Ribs Presidential?, Boyfriends Will Be Boyfriends, It's A Rubyfruit Jungle Out There & More

Two-term San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom—famous for his support of legalizing gay marriage—launches an exploratory bid for California governor. He's expected to face opposition from a crowded field of fellow Democrats when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger vacates in 2010.

Via Queerty: New Jersey Congressman Steve Rothman has changed his position on gay marriage—thanks to the advice of his lesbian stepdaughter. He's also joined the House Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus.

A special court has upheld the Nepal Army's decision to expel a woman for being a lesbian.

Two women in Iceland will become the first same-sex couple to have their relationship "validated" in a church following new laws that took hold there on June 27. The laws do not define same-sex validations as "marriage." The official who will perform the service, Rev. Sigurdur Grétar Sigurdsson, says, "In my opinion it is a very appreciated development because many priests in the State Church have already organized ceremonies for many years where they pray for and bless gay coupes who have earlier had their cohabitation confirmed by state officials."

Buzzkill: About 600 Starbucks locations will close in the next year, 70% of which opened after 2006.

The NRA will be gunning for Barack Obama's chances this fall, spending $40 million dollars to paint him as a Second Amendment foe.

Clay Felker, New York Magazine founder and husband of Gail Sheehy, dies at 82 after battling throat cancer. Felker and co-founder Milton Glaser were forced out of their jobs in 1977 by Rupert Murdoch, leading to a staff walk-out. The magazine's most famous article, "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night," was the basis for Saturday Night Fever, and its "best" lists have made it a staple for actual and aspiring New Yorkers. Amazing quotes here.

Is Bush the best president ever...on AIDS issues? (Consider the source.)

Guess which presidential candidate is the more desirable barbecue guest, according to an AP poll?

T.R. Knight and boyfriend Mark Cornelsen spotted giving gay angst a bad name.

Heart-Breaking: Marriage does not do the trick for all of us, even those lucky enough to live in states where it's legal.

Interfaith Advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People in Rochester (New York) issues a doctrine for achieving Dr. King's "Beloved community" that includes banning hate crimes against transgendered people.

Rubyfruit Bar and Grill is joining Florent as a memory. The bar, named after Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle, is the victim of higher rent (it's up from $6,500 to $11,000 since 1994) and, perversely, the greater acceptance of gay people in the past decade. "Back then in 1994 there wasn’t this liberation yet for lesbian women, so it became a haven with private, intimate dinners, great wines, a place to hold hands and feel comfortable being out and having dinner Here we are in 2008, where they no longer need to have their own place. They can go anywhere and do whatever they want. It’s kind of a good thing, I guess," said Rubyfruit’s owner, Debra C. Fierro.

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Lesbian Couple of 50 Years to be First Married in San Francisco — Again

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, together for more than 50 years, were the first couple to marry in San Francisco in 2004, and Mayor Gavin Newsom plans to allow them the same honor this year.

In fact, they will be the only couple married in San Francisco City Hall after 5pm on June 16th. Others who wish to be married at SF City Hall will have to wait until the 17th.

Said Newsom: "What we want, the narrative coming out of it, is about them and what they represent - their story, their history. This is really where it all started."

The SF Chronicle reports: "The photograph of Lyon and Martin's wedding, at which Newsom officiated at City Hall, has been credited by some as being an iconic image that has influenced how people across the country perceive same-sex marriage. The two also were plaintiffs in the recent case in which the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal...Lyon and Martin first met in Seattle in 1950 and moved in together in a Castro Street apartment on Valentine's Day 1953. Two years later, Lyon and Martin, and three other lesbian couples founded the Daughters of Bilitis, which historians call the first lesbian organization in the United States. Lyon and Martin have been leaders of the lesbian community ever since."

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Rosie O'Donnell says She'll Wait to Marry

Rosie O'Donnell, who married her partner Kelli Carpenter at a ceremony in San Francisco's City Hall in February of 2004 after Mayor Gavin Newsom gave the go-ahead, says she'll wait this time before getting remarried:

"O'Donnell told AP Radio that she and Carpenter are 'going to wait until it's legal everywhere, because otherwise, I said to Kelli, we'll be going around touring the country on the marriage tour every state by state....Once it gets to be at the federal level, once every state recognizes the marriages of every other state, I think that'll be the time we would do it," the 46-year-old comedian said. Asked if she thought that time was near, O'Donnell replied, 'Yes....The same way it was illegal for black and white people to marry at one point and people couldn't conceive of that ever being different, I do think that two consenting, law-abiding adults who want to share their life together should be allowed to do that,' she said."

Same-sex couples are set to begin marrying on June 17, however, San Francisco officials have asked the state if they can begin marrying couples at 5:01pm on June 16.

Said Newsom: "Unquestionably, we hope to extend beyond 5 o'clock. Why wouldn't we? People have longed for this for 30 and 40 years. I don't think we should deny that just on the basis of a bureaucratic timeline."

Hundreds of couples have reportedly made appointments to marry on the 17th and soon after.

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Gay Marriage Foes File Request to Suspend Unions Till Election

Hoping that a measure on this November's ballot constitutionally banning same-sex marriage might be approved by voters, groups who fought the recent lawsuit resulting in the legalization of same-sex marriage have filed papers asking the court to suspend any unions until after the election:

"The organizations, including the Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund and the Alliance Defense Fund, filed a request with the court Thursday afternoon seeking the delay until after the November election. That's when the state's voters will likely decide a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. 'Permitting this decision to take effect immediately - in the light of the realistic possibility that the people of California might amend their constitution to reaffirm marriage as the union of one man and one woman - risks legal havoc and uncertainty of immeasurable magnitude,' the filing states. A spokesman for San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said they would fight any delay in issuing the marriage certificates to gay couples. Lawyers for the city are expected to file a legal response next week."

In related news, SF mayor Gavin Newsom reacted angrily to reports out of San Diego that the county might allow clerks there to refuse to perform same-sex marriages:

"On Wednesday, San Diego County Clerk Gregory Smith said he would consider allowing clerks to bow out of processing such marriages if they had moral or religions objections. 'I was pretty shocked about all that, candidly, and pretty outraged,' Newsom told Reuters in an interview. 'This is a civil marriage that civil servants have a responsibility to provide, so for civil servants on religious grounds to start passing judgments, they, I think, are breaking the core tenet of what civil service is all about. I've got very strong religious beliefs. So now, all of a sudden, I don't have to do certain things, even though that's my responsibility as mayor?'"

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Harvey Milk Bust to be Unveiled Tonight at SF City Hall

Today, at 6pm, on what would have been Harvey Milk's 78th birthday, a bust (model pictured, below) in his honor will be unveiled at City Hall by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. The bust will occupy a permanent place atop the staircase in the City Hall rotunda.

The decision to place the bust atop the staircase capped weeks of haggling, according to the Bay Area Reporter: "'This bust has been traveling around City Hall like you wouldn't believe,' quipped Joey Cain, co-chair of the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee. Cain said the committee wanted the bust to be in the rotunda. During Milk's time in office, noted Cain, Milk never rode the elevator to the second floor. Instead, he walked up the grand staircase every time. 'Harvey has a quote – I don't know the exact wording of – in which he said when gay people walk into City Hall, they should walk right up those stairs to let people know they are here,' said Cain. 'Putting it outside the entrance to the Board of Supervisors' chamber in this rotunda has great symbolic significance."

Watch the NBC News footage broadcast on the evening of Milk and Mayor George Moscone's assassination, which includes Dianne Feinstein's still shocking announcement of their untimely deaths, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Courtney Love, Provincetown, Mario Lopez, Woodpecker

Archbishop Desmond Tutu honored by International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in San Francisco. Tutu: "How sad, how tragic, that the Church be so concerned with this issue when God’s children all the world over are suffering. I ask for your forgiveness for the way the Church has ostracized you."

Sotheby's photography auction off to strong start.

Is Courtney Love rehearsing for a Valley of the Dolls remake?

The artist known as Prince has joined the line-up for this year's Coachella Music Festival.

More on the gay Yale impostor!

Anti-gay Christian group in Maine launches referendum aimed at banning same-sex marriage and gay adoption: "The referendum also would eliminate sexual orientation as a protected class under the Maine Human Rights Act and would take away funding that supports civil rights teams affiliated with the state Attorney General’s Office. Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, said that if the Secretary of State’s Office approves his petition, he’ll begin recruiting organizers to gather signatures. Putting a referendum on the state ballot requires about 55,000 signatures, or 10 percent of the turnout for the last gubernatorial election."

First gay bar outside of Ireland's major cities opens in Strabane, Northern Ireland. Rainbow Project leader: "What the opening of this bar is saying is that, yes, our small towns have a gay community too and they are welcome and they are valued. I have been a gay rights activist for 25 years and when I started out, gay people were moving away in their droves because they were deemed socially unacceptable. But now we have this development and it is one of the biggest steps I've seen for the gay community. What it is saying to us is stay, there is something here for you."

Hey bird lovers: woodpecker with freakishly large beak photographed.

Rosie O'Donnell fighting tabloid claim that she abuses her kids.

Gay domestic abuse survivor Pedro Velazquez Fernandez to speak at rally in Des Moines, Iowa: "I feel like when I'm getting to know somebody, I can't trust him. I hate to say it, but I think ... love doesn't exist."

New York magazine has 21 questions for Simon Doonan.

Singapore cable operator fined for showing lesbian kiss: "Singapore's Media Development Authority, which regulates and censors media and the arts, said on Wednesday it fined StarHub S$10,000 ($7,246) for airing a commercial for a song that featured 'romanticised scenes' of lesbians kissing and portrayed the relationship as 'acceptable'. The music video of the song, titled 'Silly Child' by Mandarin singer Olivia Yan, shows an intimate kissing scene before one of the women rejects her boyfriend at the end of the clip. 'This is in breach of the TV advertising guidelines, which disallows advertisements that condone homosexuality,' the media authority said."

New ferry route launches between Gloucester, Massachusetts and Provincetown.

Mario Lopez about to hit the Broadway stage in A Chorus Line.

Gavin Newsom punks protestors with seismic bait-and-switch at San Francisco Olympic torch procession: "'I am very upset,' said Rosie Salis, 51, who came in from Foster City to see the relay. 'There were lots of people here with their kids. They had to wait for four or five hours, and it's very disappointing.' Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, a vocal critic of Newsom's administration, was equally unhappy, as was the local ACLU chapter. 'Gavin Newsom runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country - secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace,' Peskin said. 'He did it so China can report they had a great torch run.' Newsom emphatically denied those accusations. 'We felt it was in everyone's best interest that we augment the route,' Newsom said. 'I believe people were afforded the right to protest and support the torch. You saw that in the streets. They were not denied the ability to protest.'"

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