News: 90210, Ecuador, Nate Berkus, Gay Pension, Alabama Prom

A Boy Named Gay wins NYT weird name story contest.

Meet the first cast member of the Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off.

Rally for Sally: 50 Pastors organize "free speech" demonstration for bigoted Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern.

Brown University bookstore to be renovated to make it "a little less gay." Director: "You can practically slice the homoeroticism in there with a knife."

Indonesian Muslim leader clarifies beliefs about homosexuality to Jakarta Post. Ma'aruf Amin, chairman of the Fatwa Commission at the Indonesia Ulema Council: "Yes, it's a social construction, but it is derived from the Koran. The Koran clearly states that homosexuality is unacceptable, and we ulema have agreed about that. It's a curable disorder. There have been many cases where homosexuals have realised what they did was wrong and became heterosexuals again. It's something that can be fought off. God created both good and bad behaviours, but He told humans to choose the good ones. So, it's a matter of options."

Nate Berkus strips down on a Hawaiian beach.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa on gay rights: "Let's be clear that the profoundly humanistic position of this government is to respect the intrinsic dignity of everyone, of every human being, independently of their creed, race, sexual preference. ... We will give certain guarantees to stable gay couples but matrimony will continue being reserved for a man, a woman and the family. ... Every person has dignity, that's to say, one must respect a person independently of their sexual preference. Be careful not to deny employment to someone because of their sexual preference. That is discrimination, that is unconstitutional."

Madonna will hurt you.

European Union Court rules in favor of gay man claiming his late partner's pension benefits: "'The refusal to grant the survivor's pension to life partners constitutes direct discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation if surviving spouses and surviving life partners are in a comparable situation as regards that pension,' the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the EU's highest court, ruled today. The Court of Justice left it up to German judges to decide the status of the pension."

Alabama lesbians win right to attend school prom: "Two Alabama high school students didn't think they would be able to dance the night away at their high school prom last weekend all because they're gay, and the school wouldn't allow them to attend. But that all changed in light of a federal judge's decision. A temporary restraining order was given to the Scottsboro City Board of Education. Chelsie Collins and Lauren Farrington are both students at Scottsboro High School and Saturday night is their school's prom."

UK Stonewall equality survey finds homophobia rife in British society.

Janice Dickinson: Crazy/Exhausted.

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Janice Dickinson and Her Go Softwear Harem

Photographer Michael Davis sent us a preview of some of the images he shot during tonight's episode of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. In the episode, Davis shoots a bevy of boys for the upcoming Go Softwear campaign, including openly gay model Paul Anderson (below).

No doubt Dickinson's loud-mouthed antics will once again be front and center.

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News: Facebook Bust, Brian Paddick, Equus, Slava Mogutin

Some students at Notre Dame donning "Gay? Go to Hell" T-shirts.

Bank intern busted by boss after "something came up at home" excuse for his day off was later revealed on his Facebook profile. He does make a cute fairy though.

Alabama gay activist Ken Baker dies at 50: "Unity United Church of Christ recently awarded Baker the Crystal Cross for his advocacy work. He was recognized specifically for his role in starting Equality Alabama and Communities of Faith for Full Inclusion. 'He's sure going to be missed around here,' said longtime friend and colleague Lynn Shaw, who is a past president of the Montgomery Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). 'I just can't believe how everyone's going to go on and function because he was involved in so many things.' Baker, who was gay, was known as a quiet, humble man who was creative and determined in his efforts to promote gay and lesbian rights."

Board of Education in Jefferson County in Kentucky recommends expanding harassment and employment policies to protect gay and lesbian employees, although transgender people are left behind for now: "We decided to include sexual orientation at this time, but decided to hold off on making a decision about transgender because, as of right now, gender identification is both a new and broad definition."

Janice Dickinson has joined the cast of the UK's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and nature is turning her into a savage: "I'm going to stab her in the middle of the night and take hers. You think I'm kidding? I'll eat her tits. I'll fry up those big old boobs."

Politicos nervous about upcoming "tell-all" book from former gay London top cop Brian Paddick to be released one month before critical election. Paddick: "You will be very surprised by some of the things in it, I can assure you."

Lily Allen's brother Alfie steps into Daniel Radcliffe's role in Equus.

Inside photographer Slava Mogutin's New York City go-go diary (warning: NSFW).

Fred Thompson to be endorsed by right-to-life, same-sex marriage foes in Iowa: "He drew an enthusiastic response from his audience when he praised the U.S. health care system and said: 'Let's not let the federal government mess that up.' The crowd also applauded when he brought up gay marriage and said: 'Whether marriage is between a man and a woman -- I thought that was decided a few thousand years ago!'"

Hugh Jackman's back at his favorite activity: getting naked at the beach.

Australian football club supporter mocked after receiving "gay" tattoo. Perhaps he should commisserate with the Dumbledore daddy.

North Carolina "ex-gay" minister proclaiming his success: "To follow christ and to say no to my behavior of homosexuality, um I really felt like I could live life differently that that's what God wanted, he wanted me to pursue him, not pursue men. So people can say, you can't change and I say yes you can." See ya at the next public park sex sting!

Gender Issues Analyst Melissa Fryrear of Focus on the Family continues to claim that all gay people have been sexually violated. (via pam's house blend)

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News: John Krasinski, Lobsters, Bavarian King, John Barrowman

Former employee of Goodyear wins $4.4 million in sexual orientation harassment lawsuit: "According to the suit, Sheffield neither hid nor flaunted her sexual orientation until her former manager encouraged her to bring her partner to an annual company dinner, where she received an 'adverse reaction' from another store manager, In 2003, her former boss was replaced by a new district manager, defendant Randy Reich, and a new service manager, David Johnson, was assigned to the store, the suit claims. Johnson 'immediately let it be known ... that he knew Sheffield was gay and did not like gays,' the suit claims. When Sheffield learned that Johnson carried a gun to work she confronted him about it and he confirmed it and threatened to pull it out and to urinate on her, she claimed in the suit."

Iggy, the dog Ellen DeGeneres cast off to much publicity, is about to bark off in a new PSA to bring awareness to the importance of pet adoption.

Yale University Dramatic Association targeted by homophobic graffiti: "At approximately 1:30 a.m. last Wednesday morning, a group of undergraduates involved in the Yale Dramatic Association found the words “drama fags” on the wall, located near the York Street side of the theater. 'It’s unacceptable,' Drama School Dean James Bundy said. 'It is deeply disturbing. I hope we find out who did it and I hope we can do everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.' Bundy said he was unaware of the incident before he was informed by the News on Sunday. Although most of the spray paint has been removed from the building, traces of the words are still visible five days later."

Next time you decide to broil that crustacean alive, you might want to think about whether or not you're causing it pain. The debate continues...

Australian gay activist dumped from Labor Party after physically intimidating the wife of the Environment Minister: "Mr Burns later described Mrs Turnbull in an email to Mr Turnbull as a 'fag hag impersonator of a wife' and condemning the minister as 'a weak and pathetic excuse for a human being'. The tirade came as the battle for the gay vote heats up in Mr Turnbull's Sydney seat of Wentworth, where Labor's candidate George Newhouse is polling strongly."

North Carolina Baptists set to expel church that welcomes gay people: "If all goes as expected, the 4,000-plus attendees at the Baptist State Convention will vote Tuesday morning to cast out Myers Park Baptist -- but only after short speeches from two of the church's leaders. One -- Nancy Walker, secretary to the church's board of deacons -- is a lesbian."

Some NSFW preview news on the upcoming season of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.

John Krasinski shoots some retro hoops for Men's Health.

New evidence surfaces suggesting "gay, wildly eccentric" King Ludwig II of Bavaria was murdered: "The real cause of King Ludwig's death has been a mystery ever since his body, together with that of his psychiatrist, was dragged from Lake Starnberg on 13 June, 1886. But the official version, which holds that he committed suicide by drowning, has never been completely refuted. Now, 111 years after the king's death, new evidence has surfaced which suggests that the builder of Neuschwanstein castle and many other bizarrely romantic architectural follies was murdered. The details are convincing enough to increase calls for the House of Wittelsbach, King Ludwig's family, to allow his body to be exhumed from its tomb in St Michael's Church in Munich to enable a new and conclusive post-mortem examination to be conducted."

Congratulations to Joe.My.God for winning the Best LGBT Blog at the 2007 Weblog Awards.

Queerty pays a video visit to the OUT 100 celebration.

POETRY: Is Pakistan's educational curriculum the target of a plant by the Bush administration? "In December 2005, a Pakistani youth discovered that the first letter of each line of a poem in his English primer spelled out the name of "P-R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T G-E-O-R-G-E B-U-S-H." The anonymous poem -- called "The Leader" -- listed the qualities of a great statesman in a series of painfully stiff rhyming couplets."

AfterElton takes a critical listen of a new musical offering from openly gay actor John Barrowman: "...most fans of the openly gay Torchwood and Doctor Who actor are likely to be aware that he has a background in musical theater, having appeared in shows from Anything Goes to Sunset Boulevard in London’s West End. The new album, a set of covers which put an easy-listening spin on classic pop, soft rock, and yes, musical theater numbers might therefore seem to be displaying a fairly recognizable side of Barrowman, as opposed to, say, an album full of heavy-metal music.

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News: Camilla Parker-Bowles, Reggae, Whale, Keith Olbermann

The Rev. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, which hosted the "Love Won Out" "ex-gay" conference in 2006, has retired.

Japanese "eco-tourists" hoping to catch glimpse of majestic whale in its natural habitat instead witness whale's slaughter at the hands of fishermen.

Camilla Parker-Bowles says she won't attend memorial service marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana this week.

Keith Olbermann names Mike McConnell, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh the "World's Worst" in network debut.

Janice Dickinson's models just can't stop getting naked.

Ron Paul on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': "If a heterosexual or homosexual sins, that to me is the category of dealing with their own soul. Since we cannot have only perfect people going in the military I want to separate the two because I don't want to know the heterosexual flaws, nor the homosexual flaws and that's why I got in some trouble with some of the civil libertarians because I don't have any problem with Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Because I don't think that, for the practicality of running a military, I'd just as soon not know every serious thing that any heterosexual or homosexual did, and those flaws have to do with all our flaws because each and everyone one of us has those imperfections."

Gays in Polish media distance themselves from recently-published list of homophobic politicians: "[This] is a private initiative of the authors, reflects private opinions of the authors and their friends, and by no means represents an opinion of sexual minorities’ organisations or gay people in general. We do not accept placing names of politicians known for their actions for rights of sexual minorities close to those whose homophobia is apparent."

Great White Shark under observation in pen off coast of Malibu.

Whistleblowers on contractor fraud in Iraq face stiff penalties: "If you do it, you will be destroyed."

Florida Rep. Bob Allen to appear in court today on blowjob charges: "Judge Oscar Hotusing will decide whether the evidence presented in the case constitutes a crime. Police say in a Titusville park restroom July 11, Allen agreed to pay $20 to perform oral sex on an undercover officer, a charge the seven-year lawmaker has vehemently denied. Whether Allen testifies in the 2:30 p.m. hearing depends on what the state attorney's office presents, said Greg Eisenmenger, one of his attorneys."

Reggae Carifest goes on despite protests from GLAAD.

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Janice Dickinson, Models, Declare Themselves Fur-Free

Janice Dickinson and dozens of her models created a spectacle on Hollywood Boulevard yesterday as the self-declared 'world's first supermodel' declared herself officially "fur-free".

Dickinson was lifted in the air by gay former Survivor contestant J.P. Calderon.

The action was sponsored by PETA. Said Dickinson: "By showing some of our skin, we hope to help save animals' skins." It's unclear whether an end to animal-tested cosmetics or leather is also on the agenda.

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News: Al Gore, Facebook, Mike Gravel, Backstreet Boys, Scottsdale

Al Gore wanted by voters, according to new Michigan poll: "The crowded field of presidential hopefuls isn't crowded enough to suit Michigan voters, who prefer two unannounced candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations, a new Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll shows. Former Tennessee Senator and TV star Fred Thompson would lead the GOP pack and former Vice President Al Gore would top the Democratic slate should they decide to run, according to a statewide survey of 400 likely Republican and 400 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan conducted last Wednesday through Monday by EPIC/MRA of Lansing."

Janice Dickinson and manslave step out on the town.

Outsports' Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler talk to Salon about their new book, The Outsports Revolution: "We don't try to undermine gay stereotypes. We simply try to be who we are."

Me-Me-Me talks to the Backstreet Boys. Brian: "We could get a gay [member]! We are missing a member. Some of my good friends are gay; it’s not a big deal but unfortunately, we don’t have a gay member. Not to my knowledge anyway. But if someone wanted to come out, I’d love them just the same."

White House upset over Hillary Clinton campaign ad claiming Americans are "invisible" to President Bush: "As to the merits of it, I think it's outrageous. This is a president who, first and foremost, has helped millions of seniors across the country have access to prescription drugs at a much lower cost," Perino said. "As to whether or not our troops are invisible to this president, I think that is absurd and that it is unconscionable that a member of Congress would say such a thing." (watch spot)

Facebook launches "stunning" custom interface for the iPhone.

Hillary Clinton to open for Ellen DeGeneres.

Mike Gravel slams Hillary Clinton over gay rights stance: "By drawing upon the language of states rights, Hillary embraces the tradition of John Calhoun and the defenders of slavery along with Strom Thurmond and the segregationists. Throughout our nation's history, every time national public opinion turns against oppression, opponents of progress use states rights to present themselves as defenders of liberty in the face of federal power. States rights has always been the last refuge of the bigots. Now Hillary has given rhetorical cover to the homophobes. If she wins the Democratic nomination, opponents of gay marriage will cite her statement to justify their opposition to national marriage equality over the next decade."

Following recent gay bashings, Scottsdale, Arizona's mayor Mary Manross is trying to make sure gays know they're welcome there.

The way to Jake Gyllenhaal's heart is clearly through his stomach.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #133

RON PAUL: Defends his positions on CNN Late Edition.

BILL MAHER: Why aren't any of the Democrats talking like Ron Paul?

SICKO: A sneak peek at the new film from Michael Moore.

JANICE DICKINSON: Her appearance on the UK's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Here's part one.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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News: Val Kilmer, Subtropical Storm, Paris Hilton, Touch iPod

Vote on proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts has been postponed until at least June 14th: "Before it can reach the 2008 ballot, the proposed amendment needs the backing of 25 percent -- or at least 50 lawmakers -- in two successive sittings of the Legislature. It won approval in the previous Legislature in January. Those opposed and in support of gay marriage agree that based on past votes and the stated positions of incoming lawmakers, about 57 support the amendment. There are 200 lawmakers in the House and Senate."

Subtropical storm Andrea, the first named storm of the season even though the season doesn't officially start until June 1, is dissipating off the Atlantic coast.

Tim Russert describes meeting of Republican congressmen with Bush, Gates, Rice, Rove, and Snow: "[O]ne said 'My district is prepared for defeat. We need candor, we need honesty, Mr. President.' The president responded, 'I don’t want to pass this off to another president. I don’t want to pass this off, particularly, to a Democratic president,' underscoring he understood how serious the situation was."

Idle Idol gossip: Former American Idol contestant Jim Verraros claims Mario (I'm not gay) Vazquez was recently seen "wasted" at a gay bar in Syracuse, New York.

Val Kilmer has turned into a daddy bear.

NYC gay millionaire Steven Green, jailed for being one of the city's worst landlords and sentenced in February to 33 months for tax evasion and real estate fraud, was recently hit by a car.

Apple patent filing shows multi-sided iPod with touch screen interface.

The world's self-proclaimed first supermodel Janice Dickinson on gays, George W. Bush, and her ongoing sex appeal: "He’s out of control. I’m going to go out and start breaking things because I’m so angry. The most important thing I’ve done with my kids is that I’ve raised them in an environment that is gay-friendly, so they’re not homophobic. It’s important to pass the torch on. But I embarrass them. If I wear a slutty dress my son cringes. Basically, all of his friends want to fuck me. 53 and 19-year-old men want to fuck me!"

Paris Hilton drives again, proving arrogance has no speed limit.

David Beckham, like George and Laura Bush, wants to help fight malaria.

Helsinki, Finland is hosting this year's Eurovision Song Contest, the gayest pop show on the planet: "If you took the talent portion from the Miss America pageant and crossed it with American Idol, the end result would look a lot like Eurovision (or ESC, as fans like to call it). It's all about being big, bombastic and noticeable."

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News: Hitler, Tom Cruise, Naomi Campbell, Apple TV

GLAAD taken to task by Here! Networks for policy of excluding gay media from its award ceremonies. Letter: "We believe that all gay media companies should be allowed to submit work for consideration. That collective group of LGBT voices in print and online journalism, radio, television, Telco, podcasts, and videocasts are quite literally changing the world. The New Gay Media has grown, matured and in many cases is taking the lead on groundbreaking points of view, yet GLAAD remains entrenched in old "mainstream" thinking."

New photoblog Shorpy features images from 100 years ago.

UK House of Lords set to debate rules requiring religious agencies to accept same-sex couples as adoptive parents.

Simon Cowell's package reportedly not a British landmark. A Socialite's Life: "On Monday night's airing of The Late Show With David Letterman, American Idol judge Paula Abdul revealed an unfortunate nickname for her colleague, Simon Cowell. When Letterman asked Abdul, 'You honestly hate Simon, don't you? He's smug and he's arrogant. And he thinks you want to have sexual activities with him,' Abdul responded, 'You are right about that. But that will never happen - because his nickname is 'Small Ben.'' We look forward to hearing what Cowell's nickname is for the former pop princess."

Pete Doherty drops trou for French magazine.

Major Indiana employer comes out against gay marriage ban: "The Columbus engine-maker [Cummins, Inc] said the measure would make it harder to recruit good workers and give the domestic partner benefits it now offers its employees."

"World's first supermodel" banned from fashion show for bad behavior.

Naomi Campbell turns community service into a fashion statement: "Yesterday at 8 a.m., the catwalker - performing her court-ordered community service - strode into the Pier 36 Sanitation Department in a Chanel cap and $1,000 Christian Louboutin boots, her work shoes slung over the shoulder of her $1,500-plus Azzedine Alaia coat. The penitent prancer could have bought two years' worth of gear for the price of her outfit. Sanitation employees are given a $900 yearly uniform allowance, which they use for things like shoes, vests, shirts and gloves. But instead,Campbell dressed for a fashion show, not a day mopping floors and scrubbing toilets."

Apple TV, which will allows users with iTunes to watch movies, listen to music, and view photos on their televisions by sending them wirelessly from their computers, is shipping and the first reviews are in!

Director Bryan Singer and Tom Cruise attempt to assassinate Hitler in new film.

Human rights activists urge go-ahead for Moscow Gay Pride parade.

Andy Roddick: I touch myself.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube: #92

ELLEN DEGENERES: Behind the scenes at the Academy Awards.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Special comment on Bush's funding of jihadists linked to Al Qaeda. (Part 2 here)

RYAN SEACREST: Models a pair of Scooby Doo boxers.

JANICE DICKINSON: Open call for Aussiebum models.

Check out our past guides to the Tube here!

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Former Survivor Castmate J.P. Calderon: I'm Gay

Although his activities in and around gay people and nightlife were widely reported, former Survivor: Cook Islands castaway J.P. Calderon (seen below with openly gay castmate Brad Virata) had never come out publicly. That will apparently happen on this Wednesday's episode of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, according to Instinct magazine, for which he does a cover shoot during the episode.

"It’s not every day somebody gets slapped in the face with a major magazine like Instinct, Janice Dickinson, her TV show. I think I’m just supposed to do this!" says Calderon. "I'm coming out and I'm living."

Of the self-described world's first supermodel, Calderon says, "We started a little bit butting heads, but I love Janice Dickinson. I want everyone to know, she is the coolest person in the world."

The episode airs this Wednesday, January 24 on Oxygen, and Calderon is featured on Instinct's February issue. You can see the cover for that issue, after the jump...

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