News: Ivri Lider, Provincetown, Anderson Cooper, Aurora Borealis

Provincetown police to receive civil rights training following negligence over several hate crimes that have occurred at the tip of Cape Cod. Police Chief Warren Tobias reportedly remains unwilling or unable to communicate with victims and LGBT anti-violence advocates: "At a committee meeting last week, Provincetown acting Police Chief Warren Tobias said he would not seek input from those who complained this summer, such as the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project in Boston and off-Cape resident Richard Hall." Here's a refresher...

Hunk du Jour offers up a lengthy interview with out Israeli singer Ivri Lider. Lider: "I think famous people coming out is an extremely important thing that helps to change lots of peoples' views. It also helps a lot of young people who are dealing with their sexuality and the feelings of being isolated and alone in the world. With regard to Israel, or at least Tel Aviv, you could probably call it one of the gayest cities in the world. For most people here, it's just not an issue."

John Kerry urges military working on investigation into slain Arghanistan lesbian soldier Ciara Durkin's death to work faster: "The Durkin family has waited patiently for more than two months for a final report on Ciara’s death. This incredible family deserves answers, without delay, so that they can begin to find some closure."

Minneapolis church and others take stand: No heterosexual marriages until same-sex marriage is legal. Reverend: "If you feel that gay and lesbian people are loved and credited by God, then how can we continue to discriminate against our brothers and sisters?"

Scientists discover energy source of Aurora Borealis: " New data from NASA's Themis mission, a quintet of satellites launched this winter, found the energy comes from a stream of charged particles from the sun flowing like a current through twisted bundles of magnetic fields connecting Earth's upper atmosphere to the sun. The energy is then abruptly released in the form of a shimmering display of lights, said principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos of the University of California at Los Angeles."

Suck it Jesus, Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List just got renewed: "Official word from Team Kathy, EMMY award winning My Life on the D-List has been renewed for a forth season. But this just isn't any renewal. Instead of six episodes, try ten on for size."

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams refuses to allow Bishop Gene Robinson or "turn-coat" Martyn Minns to attend next year's Anglican Lambeth Conference.

The harrowing career of Anderson Cooper: the newsman must evade both chest-beating gorillas and Kelly Ripa.

Christian video site GodTube bans the word gay, yet allows 'fag' and 'dyke'.

Madonna to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five.

Gay British Stonewall volunteer receives prestigious Diana award: "I'm so proud to receive the Diana Award. When I was bullied for being gay there was no one I could talk to and when other young people told me about their experiences of homophobic bullying, I knew I wasn't alone. I was determined to set up a youth group where people like me in my local community could share their experiences and offer each other support in dealing with the bullying we faced."

Bring Jack back: Project Runway fan starts campaign to bring back Jack Mackenroth, who left the show this week after developing a staph infection. If you missed his Flashdance parody, don't.

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Gay Israeli Singer Ivri Lider Discusses Military Strongarm

Israeli singer Ivri Lider, who says he was "chosen the last three years as the favorite artist among soldiers," talks about the government's recent actions barring him from performing for failing to complete his military service (he was discharged), and the statement he refused to sign:

"They just called in the middle of the week and were like, 'We want you to sign this paper.'I said, 'Listen, I want to cooperate. I want you to be comfortable with this, but I can't sign something like this.' I think asking an artist to sign a letter that starts with the word love -- 'I love the army' -- is a little confusing. The word love is maybe not the right word to use. And at the end of the letter they had this part saying that I will be obligated to donate shows every year. It was a little insulting—it's something I've been doing for the last 10 years with no one asking me, just because I wanted to. And suddenly this commander will take all the credit? That was just not acceptable to me."

More with Lider at OUT.

Background
Ivri Lider Blacklisted from Performing for Israeli Military

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Ivri Lider Blacklisted from Performing for Israeli Military

Gay Israeli singer Ivri Lider is one of a few artists who have been barred from performing for Israeli troops because the military says he has failed to complete his military service:

"...three days before a gala concert for 10,000 soldiers Sunday night, the 33-year-old star was dropped from the lineup. The abrupt cancellation was a result of the army's disappointing call-up this summer, which yielded the fewest draftees in five years. Worried Israeli leaders are now moving to stigmatize entertainers and other celebrity role models who have failed to complete mandatory military service. Lider, who was discharged from the army after serving one month, is one of the first to feel the backlash. 'The fact that those who do not serve in the military can become cultural heroes is worrying,' Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern, the army's personnel director, told a recent meeting of state broadcast regulators."

Israeli officals are reportedly concerned because of a decline in call-up to military service:

"The campaign to tighten conscription, the most concerted here in years, has stirred a national debate about security and values. Blacklisting is the most controversial part of it, widely criticized as a witch hunt. Some of those singled out were legally discharged from the army but are nonetheless being branded as evaders. 'Artists are constantly being asked to perform for the public benefit, but on a hot-potato issue they can become easy targets and be branded as public enemies,' said Rami Fortis, a prominent singer not on the blacklist. 'What is happening is frightening.'"

Lider's spokesperson Roni Arditi said that the military has demanded Lider sign a letter that says "Ivri Lider loves the IDF and respects its values."

Arditi added: "Ivry Lider was enlisted to the army and was released by the army for medical reasons, according to the law. For the past 10 years, Lider has voluntarily performed in front of soldiers. There is no place for such a thing (the IDF's letter) in a democracy."

Left: Lider's video for his recent single "Jesse". In 2005, Lider won the "Male Singer of the Year" award from Israel's major national and local radio stations. He has sold over 160,000 albums.

Israel's military shame campaign [la times]
No gigs for dodgers [ynet]

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News: Barbara Boxer, Ivri Lider, Mike Gravel, Keanu Reeves

Senator Mike Gravel: Why I Wasn't Invited to the HRC Gay Debate. Gravel: "Yesterday the Human Rights Campaign announced that it will not invite me to the first-ever presidential debate on gay issues because I didn't raise enough money. To say that I'm shocked is an understatement. I can confidently say, of all presidential candidates, I've been the most outspoken advocate for gay rights."

NewNowNext talks with out Israeli singer Ivri Lider about a few things, among them musicians' refusal to discuss their sexuality: "It’s an interesting discussion because, on one hand, an artist - he’s a person and he has his world and all kinds of things that could be hard for him, like maybe his family. But on the other hand, I feel that it’s a shame that more people do not do that. I think it’s good for them and good for our community and we need that. We need people…especially artists that people look up to. We need that."

Rob Cole, journalist who helped create national readership for The Advocate, has died at 76: "His work was encouraging to other gay journalists, such as Mark Thompson, a former Advocate senior editor and author of books on gay spirituality, history and culture. 'In those days, for someone to leave a mainstream career and work for a struggling gay newspaper was an extraordinary act of courage and bravery,' Thompson said."

It never ends: more Becks, more!

Spike in NYC syphilis cases among gay men "disconcerting," say officials: "The 260 cases reported during the first three months of 2007 compares with 128 during the same period last year, the city's Health Department reported. Men accounted for 96% of new cases, and most occurred among the homosexual population. The 10 cases reported by women, meanwhile, signal the potential for further increases among that group, health officials said."

Weeping mother takes the stand in the 2001 gay bashing murder trial of John McGhee: I did not recognize my son. His face had no shape. He was all purple and blue. What I saw was monstrous. I couldn't believe it. I was afraid to kiss him."

Keanu Reeves cops out.

Michael Cunningham to give reading in Provincetown this Sunday.

Barbara Boxer: "Impeachment should be on the table.": "I’ve always said that you need to keep it on the table, and you need to look at these things, because now people are dying because of this administration. That’s the truth. And they won’t change course. They are ignoring the Congress. They keep signing these signing statements which mean that he’s decided not to enforce the law. This is as close as we’ve ever come to a dictatorship. When you have a situation where Congress is stepped on, that means the American people are stepped on. So I don’t think you can take anything off the table. Because in fact the Constitution doesn’t permit us to take these things off the table…"

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #148

PARIS HILTON: Gives most boring interview ever to Larry King.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: MSNBC reporter won't lead with Paris Hilton.

JOHN and ELIZABETH EDWARDS: CNN covers their differing opinions on gay marriage.

IVRI LIDER: Gay Israeli pop star's first U.S. single, "Jesse". More on Lider at AfterElton.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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