News: Maine, Gray Hair, Snow Leopard, Lady Gaga, Mercy, Apple

LIARS: Maine anti-gay marriage petitioners using duplicitous tactics.

Lady Gaga has a tit explosion in Toronto.

Sacha Baron Cohen plagiarized his pink nude Berlin bodysuits.

New York Bar Association stands behind marriage equality.

Provincetown film festival kicks off.

Hate crime outside Casey's Bar and Lounge in Portland under investigation: "No arrests have been made, but the case has been sent to a detective with the Biased Crimes Unit, which is examining whether the alleged victim was targeted because she was gay. Customers of the bar said they have experienced homophobic slurs from people in nearby apartments. They said some have tossed water balloons and spit at them."

T.R. Knight to star in Parade at the Mark Taper Forum.

Madonna's Mercy arrives in London.

Recently-out 86-year-old World War II vet served as grand marshal for this weekend's Gay Pride parade in Columbus, Ohio.

NYT: Why the gay rights movement has no national leader.

Apple sells more than a million iPhone 3GS in first three days.

More reason that clowns are evil.

Residents of Napa, California rally for Pride: "About 100 people walked Saturday in downtown Napa for Napa Valley Pride 2009, an event in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people."

AfterElton covers Broadway Bares 19.0.

Mulberry, Florida mayor and drag queen roommate in domestic dust-up.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon now wear matching outfits.

Is gray hair protecting us from cancer?

Gay rights group in Indiana plans July 2 protest in Bloomington against constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Canadian and U.S. researchers' new approach to fighting AIDS: "Treating HIV/AIDS with a combination of antiviral drugs and chemotherapy seems to destroy both the circulating virus and immune cells in which the virus hides, a team of Canadian and U.S. researchers has found. In Sunday's online issue of the journal Nature Medicine, Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sékaly of the University of Montreal and his colleagues report finding cells where HIV hides from existing treatments. Anti-AIDS therapies known as highly active anti-retroviral treatments, or HAART, target the virus's replication process but have been hampered by these reservoirs of immune system cells hiding the virus."

Male model fix: Jamie Dornan.

Cell phone leads police to gay man's killer. Likely an internet hook-up gone wrong: "Officials said they believe the stabbing occurred after Fermaintt visited Pecora's apartment and then hailed a cab to go to the Bronx, according to city police. But once in the cab, police said, Fermaintt explained to the driver that he did not have cash and offered a watch and a cell phone to pay for the ride. When Fermaintt left the cab, he left the phone on the backseat, where the driver later found it and saw a worried text message that was from Pecora's sister." NY1 report.

Quest for the snow leopard.

Google Street View provides some useful evidence after a weekend building collapse in Brooklyn in which three were injured.

Youth Radio to cover 40th anniversary of Stonewall.

Major spelling error at Pat Buchanan conference to promote "English-only" initiatives.

Washington Post under fire for publishing 7,000 word piece on the murder of gay D.C. lawyer Robert Wone online only and not in print edition.

News: Diesel, Hayden Christensen, Indiana, Firefighters, Sam Adams

Jury out in murder case against anti-gay killers of Liverpool teen Michael Causer.

Kanye West steps out with gaybot.

Hillary Clinton talks about why she took job as Secretary of State: "It was not anything I had any reason to expect or had even thought about. I had to make a hard decision. We have so many of the same views of what we should do in the world." Gets Hardball award from Chris Matthews.

Porn producer Michael Lucas sends letter to Barack Obama requesting aid after seizure of adult video titles by Canadian authorities.

Gay tease Hayden Christensen chooses women.

One of Buffalo Continental plane crash victims was long time HIV prevention and gay men's health advocate: "Gonzalez came to New Brunswick from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, where he was a National Urban Fellow. Previously, he was executive director of Alianza Latina, a nonprofit organization addressing HIV/AIDS in Buffalo, N.Y.; and also education services director and community educator of AIDS Community Services in New York. Gonzalez also volunteered at a fitness center in East Harlem, N.Y., where he led free exercise classes for the poor."

POLL: 48% of New Jersey residents favor marriage equality, 43% oppose.

Madonna will not be appearing in vampire sequel.

Guess what day it is in Brazil?

New York Press takes a look at the East Village Boys. "The boys that we have on there, they sort of exist as the low-culture pin-up boys. It provides a good mix, having serious discussions without forgetting that we like to look at pictures of naked boys. When you read a newspaper, the most successful ones combine high and low culture. I don’t think most American newspapers do it well it all, but if you look at something like The Guardian, it’s serious but they also recognize that you want a little bit of everything and I think that’s kind of where we are...people come to the site for the cock, but they stay for the culture.” 

Anti-gay marriage amendment stopped in Indiana legislature: "Indiana’s Senate Republican Caucus voted this week not to consider a resolution that would have proposed amending the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.  This vote means the amendment is unlikely to advance during this legislative session.  The resolution would require approval by the Senate and House in two consecutive legislative sessions, and, if approved, would then go before the voters."

Former Project Runway designer Jack Mackenroth, who is interviewed this week by the San Francisco Bay Times, blogs fashion week in NYC.

SF Weekly: Heads to butt at upcoming Prop 8 town hall. "Supervisors Bevan Dufty, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, and Senator Mark Leno will all apparently be there, as will ball-busting gay blogger and activist Michael Petrelis, who has spent a whole lot of time castigating the architects of the No on 8 campaign. In January, Petrelis posted the names and phone numbers of the 16 members of the No on 8 executive committee. According to Petrelis's blog, Petrelis Files, he had to file a public records request with the Secretary of State to get the names. "Like practically everything [Equality California Executive Director Geoff] Kors and No on 8 touched, the closet and non-transparency ruled," Petralis wrote. Then said he hoped the executive committee, which included Kors, would spend the next year sweeping the streets of gay neighborhoods and participating in other acts of penance for wasting $45 million on losing gays the right to marry."

Stonewall, the FBU, the Local Government Association, the Chief Fire Officers' Association, Unison, the Asian Fire Service Association, the Fire Officers' Association, the GMB, the National Disabled Fire Association, Networking Women in the Fire Service and the Retained Firefighters Union call for end of homophobic bullying among UK firefighters.

Paris Hilton attempts rap with Snoop Dogg.

Diesel displays downtown denizens dining: "Around 9 p.m. the guests took their seats around a table in the window of the new store, which opens to the public on Thursday, in full view of confused passerby. They nibbled Olivier Cheng catering while a pack of photographers snapped their photos through the large glass window, and Diesel employees and some invited press roamed the store."

AfterElton talks to Keir Gilchrist, the gay son on The United States of Tara.

Is GLASS the first LGBT non-profit to fall victim to recession? "Wednesday night, eight days after its 25th anniversary, the board of directors of Gay and Lesbian  Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) voted 7-0 (with one abstention) to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this afternoon.  According to founder and executive director Terry DeCrescenzo, the staff is so "outraged" at the board's decision, they plan to ask a court to intervene and accept a reorganization plan instead."

Beaverton contractor launches crusade against Portland Mayor Sam Adams: "He passed out pamphlets detailing why Adams should be kicked out of office and said he plans to file charges with the state Thursday. PJ Mulcahy rented a room at Portland City Hall for Wednesday's press conference. He and several other people said Adams is not only an embarrassment to the city but they think he violated election laws for lying about his affair with a teenager. Mulcahy also brought a replica of the Ten Commandments and said Adams not only lied to the public, he sinned."

News: Dwan Prince, Indiana, Toni Collette, Virtual Sex, Lady Gaga

Maine state senator Dennis Damon introduces bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Assault conviction tossed out in brutal 2005 attack on Dwan Prince in Brooklyn.

Dante's Cover actor Gregory Michael signed as gay love interest for Calvin (Paul JAmes) on Greek: "Michael's character is described as a genetically-blessed (see pic, left), closeted Omega Chi active who comes out to Calvin -- which is all well and good until the two end up rooming together. Sexual tension abounds, as does some serious heavy petting (or whatever it is the kids are calling it these days)."

Australia accepting applications for greatest job in the world.

Check out the first episode of The United States of Tara with Toni Collette (You're terrible Muriel. It's Mariel).

Gossip girl makes best paparazzi escape ever.

Indiana lawmakers to try constitutional ban on same-sex marriage again: "The new proposed amendment states: 'Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.' In previous legislative sessions, the proposed amendment stated: 'Marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman. This constitution or any other Indiana law may not be construed to require that the marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.' Turner said that the changed language is meant to be clearer. It would not bar domestic partnerships, he said, but would bar civil unions."

Virtual sex is almost(?) a reality? New device duplicates action during on-screen adult films

Discovery Channel discovers gay men!

Gay Halifax couple files human rights complaint: "Ken Saunders decided to leave the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre on Dec. 30 rather than remain a patient after he said a nurse on the neurological unit where he was being trans­ferred made an insensitive com­ment. Three other patients in the unit were women. The nurse allegedly said, 'You shouldn’t mind. You’re a gay male.'"

Robert Pattinson in hairy situation with Twilight bosses.

Polish MP asks former Polish Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński: are you gay?

Gay rappers speak their truths.

Second employee from Tennessee hotel claims termination over sexual orientation: "Stoddard's termination follows that of David Hill who was fired last week from the hotel. Stoddard and Hill claim that they were fired because of Surti's anti-homosexual views. But, Surti maintains that both men were fired for other reasons. Surti said in an email to Stoddard that he was fired because he lied to the media about Hill's termination."

Lady Gaga announces huge list of tour dates.

Cristiano Ronaldo named FIFA Footballer of the Year.

According to Brit tab The Sun, Some London police officers are refusing to frisk transgender people, saying it's against their religion. Former top cop Brian Paddick: "As far as I know there's no religion that says you can't search trans-gender prisoners is there? This just shows that there is still discrimination and sexism in the force."

News: Obama, Indianapolis, Lil O'Reilly, eHarmony, Meh

Suspect in murders of gay elderly men in Indianapolis arrested in California.

Leading gay activists in Belarus meet face-to-face with leaders of the far right in Minsk: "With the theme ‘Do radical organizations have the right to exist’, the seminar was organised by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. 'It was very good that we and our opponents could see each other face to face and to talk,' commented Sergei Androsenko of the Belarusian Initiative for Sexual and Gender Equality."

Who did People name its sexiest man alive?

Seven gay officials named to Obama transition team: "Three of the seven gays named to the transition panels — businessman Fred P. Hochberg, former San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg, and labor attorney Elaine Kaplan — held high-level positions in the Clinton administration. The Obama officials also named President Bush’s former ambassador to Romania, Michael Guest, to a transition panel assigned to review issues pertaining to the State Department. Guest became the nation’s second openly gay ambassador when Bush appointed him to the Romania post for a term lasting from 2001 to 2003." The others are Rick Stamberger, president and CEO of online publisher SmartBrief, Inc., Brad Kiley, of American Progress, and Thomas Soto, co-founder of Craton Equity Partners, a 'clean techonology' investment fund.

Follow his lead: Justin Timberlake debuts new track.

The kid behind Lil O'Reilly. And if you missed the video, one of them is here.

Dating site eHarmony to allow gay matchmaking in settlement deal: "The California-based company will begin providing same-sex matches under as part of a settlement with New Jersey's Civil Rights Division. Garden State resident Eric McKinley filed a complaint against the online matchmaker in 2005. Under terms of the settlement, the company can create a new or differently named Web site for same-sex singles. The company can also post a disclaimer saying its compatibility-based matching system was developed from research of married heterosexual couples. Neither the company nor its founder, Neil Clark Warren, admit any liability. In addition, eHarmony will pay the division $50,000 to cover administrative costs. It will pay McKinley $5,000 and give him a free one-year membership to its new service."

Madge gets $10 million for Louis Vuitton campaign.

"Meh" recognized as word by Collins English Dictionary. Meh.

Westboro Baptist Church planning bus campaign in D.C.?

You'll never guess who's rockin' that pornstache now.

There's more to the story of Friday's incident in San Francisco's Castro district, in which a group of Christians were chased out of the neighborhood for trying to convert gays. Those Christians were part of Joel's Army, a group that demands that the United States be ruled by strict Biblical principles.

Boston radio station runs fake promo of anti-gay jokes mocking Gay Games potentially coming to Boston.

Britney and The Beatles featured in a few new mash-ups from DJ Earworm.

News: Marilyn Musgrave, Banksy, Gay Kiss, Ben Barnes, Indiana

London gets World Gay Pride in 2012.

Bidding frenzy breaks out over British pub adorned with Banksy rat.

Markey-Musgrave race in Colorado attracts big outside bucks: "Musgrave campaign manager Jason Thielman said much of the independent spending is driven by the incumbent's support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. He said that's led wealthy gay-rights activists, particularly Denver philanthropist Tim Gill, to spend millions of dollars against her in the three most recent elections. 'The radical homosexual movement driven by Tim Gill hates Marilyn Musgrave, and they are willing to spend anything and everything to settle their vindictive agenda,' Thielman said."

McCain attack ad emphasizes "bLACKS". McCain surrogate bashes "the gay."

DNC responds to anti-gay mailing from Indiana Democratic statte senate candidate Andy Schemenaur. DNC: "While this flier is disappointing, it's a reminder that while we have made great progress to ensure equal rights and protections under the law for every American, clearly there is still more education that is needed even within our party."

Study of galaxies suggests we may live in a fractal universe.

Meredith Vieira is a liar!

LOSER: Gay meth addict lawyer who caused scene on Southwest flight goes to jail. "Moody, now 44, groped and fondled a flight attendant then picked up a 7-year-old boy, hoisted him over his shoulders and proceeded down the aisle...According to the arrest affidavit, the incident began in Indianapolis when Moody boarded the plane with three friends and loudly asked, 'Where is the gay section?' He then proceeded to drink heavily from a liquor supply in his luggage. The flight attended said Moody groped his buttocks, back and abdomen and invited him to the lavatory to have sex."

U.S. expects message from Bin Laden before election?

Jason Statham takes it off for Transporter.

Two gay men arrested for kissing in Mexico: "Eric Schroeder, 22, and Jose Mendez, 35, were accused of committing "a moral misdeed" (una falta a la moral), jailed for 15 hours and fined 2,000 pesos ($148). Schroeder told the paper that on Oct. 10 the couple was "resolving some differences that we had" and, as they walked out of the house, 'there were a few hugs and a kiss out front.' At that point, police arrived, handcuffed them, then drove them around while they 'picked up more people who presumably had committed other crimes,' he said."

Ben Barnes falls into The Gap.

Lance Bass gets handled by Chelsea Handler.

Cowardly act: D.C. police officer finds anti-gay graffiti scrawled on his locker.

Madonna and A-Rod helicopter to secret rendezvous in the Hamptons.

OUT: Jesse Oxfeld on gay reporters on the campaign trail "It’s a job that requires you to have some of the attributes of a loner -- few commitments, an ability to pick up and disappear from your life -- without having the personality of a loner. You have to be social enough and socially adroit enough to read people, talk to people, and get them to talk to you. 'Is it a total surprise to me, if I were to go and look at it analytically, that gay guys want to be political reporters, and might excel at it?' asks another reporter. 'No. Because to be a good political reporter you have to be interested in power and sophisticated in seeing where it works and how it shifts. And I buy into the theory that growing up as a kid who feels different, you get to be very sophisticated about where power is, just in your own experience. You feel outsiderish, and you have that critical perspective.'"

Man Sought in Slaying of Two Elderly Gay Indianapolis Men

Earlier this week I posted about the murders of Milton Lindgren, 70, and Eric Hendricks, 73, who were found dead Monday morning in the Indianapolis home, killed apparently by blunt force trauma.

Police are now seeking 56-year-old Michael Brown for questioning in the case:

"'Mr. Brown was at the scene at the time officers were called to investigate what happened at the house,' said Indianapolis police Sgt. Paul Thompson. 'He was one of the two individuals inside that stated the two individuals inside had not been seen or heard from in a while. Investigators did interview him initially, however, they have reason to interview him again.' Brown was described by police as white, 5 feet 10 inches, about 170 pounds, clean shaven with curly or wavy blond hair. He was last seen driving a silver Dodge Avenger with an Indiana license plate No. 243 SAQ. Friends of Lindgren and Hendricks told 6News' Rick Hightower on Tuesday that they believed the men were killed because they were gay. Police reports show that the men had their phone and cable lines cut twice in the past few months and that anti-gay statements were posted on their front door. Investigators said that while they do believe the vandalism was related to Lindgren and Hendricks being gay, they didn't know if their killings were."

Previously
Two Elderly Gay Men in Indiana Slain in Potential Hate Crime [tr]