Gavin Newsom Drops Out of California Gubernatorial Race

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has dropped out of the race for governor of California.

Said Newsom in a statement: "With a young family and responsibilities at city hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to — and should be — done. This is not an easy decision. But it is one made with the best intentions for my wife, my daughter, the residents of the city and county of San Francisco, and California Democrats."

The L.A. Times reports: "The harsh political reality, however, is the real reason is his campaign was getting no statewide traction, even with ex-governor, ex-mayor, current Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown in the political room as the invisible 800-pound donkey. Brown hasn't even announced as a candidate and has raised in excess of $7 million, several times that accumulated by Newsom. The sudden move -- always watch out for Friday afternoons in politics -- officially leaves the Democratic field temporarily empty of heavyweights seeking to head the nation's most populous state."

Harvey Milk, Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi in Massive SF Mural

What's being described as "the world's largest mural portrait" is set to be unveiled on Sunday at the Bob Pritikin Mansion in San Francisco's Noe Valley.

Fog City Journal reports: "The colorful mural by acclaimed artist Guy Colwell features Speaker Nancy Pelosi lancing a Republican elephant; a terminating Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger patting the back of a grizzly bear; Senator Dianne Feinstein bearing the California State flag; Mayor Gavin Newsom performing a same-sex marriage ceremony; former Mayor Willie Brown brandishing a hanging freshly pressed suit; former Board of Supervisors President Angela Alioto donning angel wings outside the Porziuncola Chapel in North Beach (an endeavor Pritikin helped to promote); a singing former Supervisor Tony Hall; former Supervisor Harvey Milk holding a Castro Rainbow Flag with former Mayor George Moscone by his side; actress Marilyn Monroe hugging baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio on the back of a giraffe; San Francisco Chronicle legend Herb Caen; actress Carol Channing; Emperor Norton; Jerry Garcia; topless stripper Carol Doda; Willie Mayes and Mark Twain, as well as the Zodiac killer, Jim Jones and Huey Newton - all set against an iconic San Francisco skyline."

The mural is 50 x 18 ft. The Pritikin mansion (some interesting photos here) is said to be San Francisco's largest.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty Enters San Francisco Mayor's Race

San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty will file papers with the city's Election Department this morning officially entering him in the city's mayoral race, according to the Bay Area Reporter:

"Dufty, 54, has made no secret of his desire to succeed Mayor Gavin Newsom, who will be termed out of office in January 2012. Should he be elected, Dufty would be the first openly gay person to be San Francisco's mayor...With the race expected to draw a crowded field of candidates, and his decision to limit political contributions to $200 from people who either live or work in the city, Dufty said he needed to enter the race now so he could begin fundraising. He will not accept donations from lobbyists, corporations, or political action committees."

The SF Chronicle reports: "He's been in politics for two decades, working in Washington, D.C., under two members of Congress, as an aide to former Supervisor Susan Leal, and as Brown's director of neighborhood services. Dufty's got one feather in his cap already: Steve Hildebrand, deputy national campaign director for President Obama's 2008 run, has signed on as his consultant. Among his campaign's co-chairs are Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and city Treasurer Jose Cisneros."

Cisneros is also godfather to Dufty's 3-year-old daughter, Sidney Maely Goldfader-Dufty. "He said she would remain his number one priority while he juggles his duties of being a father, a supervisor, and candidate for mayor. 'I think any parent has to balance their jobs, their lives, and the needs of their child. I am confident I can do that,' he said. "

Dufty Makes SF Mayoral Bid Official [bar]
Dufty Says He's in Mayor's Race [sf chronicle]

News: Gavin Newsom, Jupiter, LaToya Jackson, Newlywed Game

George Takei and Brad Altman to be first gay couple on revamped Newlywed Game.

Scientists spot planet with life-harboring potential.

LaToya Jackson fights AIDS with milkshake.

Gays in Serbia say they're "confident" police will protect them during a Gay Pride parade scheduled for this coming Sunday.

Gays to get lashes, fines, and prison terms under new law in Indonesia's Aceh province.

Manhunt conducts study of nation's biggest liars (warning - site NSFW).

Lady Gaga disses OUT magazine party thrown for her: "until she finally showed up at the Box at around midnight, about an hour after Out's party technically ended. By then most of the crowd — die-hard Gaga fans, who showed up mostly just to see her — had cleared. Gaga took a seat in a booth in the back of the balcony, ordered French fries, and refused to speak to reporters. She didn't even let Out magazine take her picture so they could, you know, say she actually attended the party they threw for her."

Clive Owen does Details.

Promise keeper: UK man honors fallen friend. "Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man’s funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31."

Jesus Luz: underwear model.

Girls hockey team in Woodstock, New Brunswick wins award from Human Rights Commission: "The Woodstock High School Lady Thunder hockey team has won the 2009 New Brunswick Human Rights Award for refusing to let rival teams taunt their teammates about their sexual orientation. The Human Rights Commission says it wanted to reward the team for its action in standing up against homophobia."

Jupiter captured comet for 12 years, then let it go.

Buju Banton concert canceled in Salt Lake City: "Banton's record label, the New York-based Gargamel Music, immediately denounced the cancellation, issuing a news release with the title 'The Voice of Jamaica Will Not Be Silenced.'"

L.A. gays raise money for Maine's marriage equality battle at fundraiser.

Harry Potter theme park to open in Orlando.

Inspection on Inception.

Which movie star is looking for a good gay time in Vancouver?

Seattle Police Officer's Guild joins Coalition to Approve Referendum 71 in Washington: "This is a very important issue that affects many of our members. We at the Seattle Police Officers Guild are proud to join the coalition and hope other law enforcement organizations around the state will join us in support for this referendum."

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) speaks out in favor of DOMA repeal.

Is Gavin Newsom planning on dropping out of the California gubernatorial race?

Second 'gay porn twin' sentenced for Philadelphia burglaries: "Twenty-seven-year-old Keyontyli Goffney, of Arlington, N.J., pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal conspiracy on Thursday and was sentenced to time served. Goffney's twin brother Taleon pleaded guilty to the same crimes in July but was sentenced to at least three years in prison because of previous arrests."

Ireland's 'Harvey Milk' David Norris: 'The Sky Didn't Fall on Chicken Lickin' When Gays Married in California

The first openly gay politician to be elected in Ireland, Senator David Norris, was in San Francisco yesterday for a speaking engagement. Norris, who is seen as Ireland's Harvey Milk according to SF Chronicle, had some kind words about Mayor Gavin Newsom and some thoughts on marriage equality.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

According to the paper, "In the 1980s, Norris filed a landmark case to decriminalize homosexuality, taking the Irish Attorney General to court. He lost in both the Irish High Court and the Supreme Court, but was not deterred. With Mary Robinston (sic) -- later Ireland's President -- as his attorney, the case of Norris v. Ireland eventually would be heard before the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in his favor and changed Irish law forever. Norris says he expects that fight for marriage equality will go on -- and says that supporters shouldn't be deterred by some, even in the gay community, who suggest it's 'not time' to challenge the issue of same sex marriage before the Supreme Court. Rubbish, he laughs. 'I want the whole lot now, with the cream and cherry on top,'' he says. 'And an apology.''"

News: Whoopi Goldberg, Burger King, Botox, Rick Warren, Idaho

South Carolina Governor Sanford returns from AWOL trip, says he went to Argentina. Now we know why.

Blade Runner Frank Lloyd Wright house on sale.

The most blatantly sexual Burger King ad ever.

Washington Post debuts gay-inclusive marriage announcement section.

Whoopi Goldberg conquers fear; flies for the first time in 13 years.

Gavin Newsom raises rainbow flag at San Francisco City Hall.

Robert Pattinson bloodied up.

Rick Warren tells breakaway Episcopalians and Anglicans: "We are to love the people of the world no matter what they believe; we are to not love the value system of the world. And the problem today is lot of Christians are getting that reversed. They love the value system and hate the people."

Mormon breakaway group wants reconciliation with gays.

Limited-edition Harvey Milk photomosaic to raise money for LGBT Community Center and the GLBT Historical Society: "Called 'Milk,' the artwork uses 2,300 black and white photos of Milk and the Castro during the 1970s from the historical society's archives to recreate a photo of the slain San Francisco supervisor taken by his close friend and photographer Dan Nicoletta."

Sally Kern goes off on Obama's radical homosexual agenda.

Not only is Botox a remedy for emotion, it may be effective against baldness.

SURVEY: 23% of people in Northern Ireland would mind having a gay person as a neighbor.

Boise, Idaho authorities target men in outdoor sex sting: "We were 100 feet from Mystic Cove Park where school's out, kids play, it is a secluded area. But who's to say that children can't be down there running around? We have been monitoring this particular area of the Boise River. We have zero tolerance for this behavior and will continue all necessary enforcement efforts necessary to stop it from re-occurring."

More beefcake from Milan fashion week.

But when will they ditch their promise rings?

Obama drafting federal protections for trans employees.

New gay travel portal launched in Tel Aviv.

San Diego City Council passes resolution urging repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

Mixner: What if the Obamas had to live under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? "First of all, Michelle Obama and the children would have to immediately move out of the White House. Base housing would absolutely not be available for same sex couples and their families. In fact, they would be ineligible for any housing, PX or other benefits accorded to straight people. While serving as Commander in Chief, Barack Obama would have to find ways to secretly and safely meet with his wife and children since if anyone knew he had a same sex family he would lose his job and all his benefits. In some cases, they could impeach him for having a same sex relationship."