Idaho Production of 'Rent' Under Fire Because Characters are 'Infected with AIDS' and Gay: VIDEO

Is it 1985 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho? You'd think so. A production of the musical Rent at The Lake City Playhouse is under fire:

"This rock opera is stirring controversy because some of rent's characters are infected with AIDS or HIV and some are gay."

The playhouse has received dozens of letters and people are planning a protest of the show when it opens on January 13.

Contact the Lake City Playhouse HERE and tell them you and Towleroad support them!

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

LGBT Stories: Teen Becomes More Popular After Coming Out In Conservative Town

BY NATHAN MANSKE

We filmed Derrick's story in Pocatello, Idaho. When we first arrived in Pocatello, we stopped at a diner to grab some dinner and a beer, which became custom after a long drive. 

After I went back in, the young waitress made a joke about leaving my friends at the table to go talk on the phone. She was quite the talkative and friendly waitress and kept asking questions, why we're in town, what we're doing, etc. I then noticed she had a small rainbow chain dangling from her necklace. I told her all about the site and the Tour and that we were having an event at Idaho State the next day and that she should come. She did and she brought some friends. Add that to Derrick's ultimately optimistic story, our little visit to Pocatello was a bit of a surprise hit.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Nathan Manske and Marquise Lee embarked on a 4 month, 50 state tour of the United States collecting stories for their I'm From Driftwood site. We'll be sharing some of the stories they collected along with some of the insight into what they saw. They're still encouraging people to submit their written stories via IFD. You can follow IFD on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Boise State Football Player Charged in Widening Male Rape Case

Some disturbing news out of Boise State University.

Reuters reports:

Three college football players and two others are facing a raft of sexual crime, battery and false imprisonment charges stemming from incidents at a high school in Blackfoot, Idaho, last year, according to court documents.

Police say the five athletes forcibly penetrated fellow members of the high school basketball team and battered and restrained the victims in a locker room and on a school bus during a three-month period that began last December.

Charged are Anthony Clarke (pictured), now a freshman wide receiver at Boise State University, Nathan Walker, a tight end for the Idaho State University Bengals, Logan Chidester, a freshman on the football team at Carroll College in Montana and Tyson Katseanes of Blackfoot, all 19. A fifth, unnamed defendant has been charged as a juvenile in the case.

Since the charges have been filed, more victims have come forward:

Blackfoot Police Captain Kurt Asmus said on Thursday that law enforcement officials had contacted additional victims since charges were filed earlier this month based on allegations made by four people.

"It has mushroomed from there," Asmus said. "Now that everything is out, more victims are coming forward because they realize they are not alone and they don't need to be afraid or embarrassed."

He said authorities are tracking leads in other states and that additional charges were likely.

Larry Craig to Co-Host Radio Show, Won't Take Toe-Tapping Questions

Former Idaho Senator Larry Craig will be filling in this afternoon for conservative host Nate Shelman on his Boise-based radio show this afternoon:

"Shelman, who will be vacationing, said Craig will field phone calls and focus on politics, elections and the economy. Shelman said he doesn’t expect Craig to take questions about his 2007 conviction for misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection with a sex sting in a men’s room at the Minneapolis airport. 'It’s an understood agreement,' Shelman said. 'I don’t think he wants to relive it.' Craig has phoned in to speak with Shelman since retiring in 2009, but Monday's three hours in the Boise studio will be his first extended appearance. "

Boy Gets Tongue Stuck to Flagpole in Real-Life Christmas Story

A boy in Boise, Idaho got his tongue stuck to a pole in a scene reminiscent of the 1983 classic, A Christmas Story. Firefighters were summoned and the boy's tongue was unstuck with a splash of warm water.

Watch the news report and the classic clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: #uknowhowiknowuregay, Sharks, Steve Hildebrand, Maine

1,000 take to the streets in Friday protest over homophobic attacks in Rome.

Jesus on Mars?

Jeremy Piven hits the beach.

Has-been rapper Fabolous behind offensive #uknowhowiknowuregay Twitter trending topic.

Obama advisor Steve Hildebrand thrashes President, Dems: "I gave up a lot to elect Democrats, and I expect them to give it up for me. I’m going to speak loudly. The Republicans don’t have power unless the moderates and the Blue Dogs give it to them — which is what they’re doing now."

Des Moines, Iowa man claims he was removed from a bar for being gay.

Ted Haggard apologizes for violating an entire congregation.

Nampa, Idaho's transgender candidate Melissa Sue Robinson, who recently announced she was suing Twitter over fake account defamation, gets profiled by AP: "This farming and manufacturing town of about 83,000 residents, where a sugar factory and a local hospital are among the biggest employers, doesn't seem to be all that concerned that Robinson previously lived as a man."

New Zealand transgender MP visits Nepal.

Beach closed: Great White Sharks tagged off Cape Cod.

USA Today on Judy Shepard, her new book, and a federal hate crimes law: "Shepard, who loves playing mah-jongg and drinking martinis, admits to being 'flummoxed' at times about the gay and lesbian world. But, she adds, 'It's not important that I understand it. It's important that I accept it.'"

Britney Spears shocks concert crowd with actual singing.

Washington Post ombudsman on Brian Brown NOM puff piece: "Hesse said she decided to let Brown tell his story, as opposed to extensively quoting what others say about him. Her editors didn't object to the concept. Having Brown's story told in his "voice," Hesse reasoned, would allow readers to best assess his arguments. Fine in theory. But it deprived readers of hearing from others who have battled Brown and find him uncivil and bigoted. To them, he represents injustice. They should have been heard, at length."

NOM's Maggie Gallagher spews lies on Maine radio show.

Calvin Klein model Jamie Dornan launches international male model search.

Scientists identify trio of genetic mutations linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Schwarzenegger's phones blitzed over 'Harvey Milk Day': "So far, the governor’s automated phone line for constituents has received more than 100,000 calls about the bill, most against it, according to Mr. Schwarzenegger’s office."

Real World's Scott Herman shows off his assets.

Little Britain's David Walliams is nominated for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize for his book about a cross-dressing schoolboy. The prize honors the funniest books for children.

Church of Scotland selects gay man, Scott Rennie, to train as a minister.

Maine Archbishop Richard Malone asks churches to fill coffers for fight against marriage equality: "The bishop has asked churches to take up a special second collection next weekend to support Stand For Marriage Maine, the group leading the effort to repeal Maine's same sex marriage law."